Residential vs. Commercial Exterior Painting: What’s the Difference?
When people think about exterior painting in Topeka, Lawrence, and Eudora, they often picture houses first—front porches, siding, trim, and decks. But at Graystone Painting & Refinishing, we also help business owners keep their commercial buildings looking sharp and protected.
While the goal is the same—durable, attractive protection from the Kansas weather—the way we approach a residential home vs. a commercial exterior is very different, especially when it comes to products from Sherwin-Williams.
Here’s how those worlds differ, and why it matters when you’re choosing a painter.
1. How the Buildings Are Used
Residential Exteriors
Your home is about comfort, curb appeal, and long-term protection. With residential exterior painting, we’re focused on:
Siding (wood, vinyl, fiber cement, stucco, or brick)
Trim, fascia, and soffits
Front doors, shutters, and garage doors
Decks, rails, and fences
For homes, we often use premium lines like Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Exterior and Duration® for excellent durability, color retention, and weather resistance.
Homeowners typically care about:
Rich color and a beautiful finish
Long intervals between repaints
Products that handle sun, wind, and freeze–thaw cycles
Commercial Exteriors
Commercial buildings—offices, churches, retail spaces, warehouses—are about function, durability, and brand image:
Larger wall surfaces (masonry, tilt-up concrete, metal, EIFS)
Storefronts, metal doors, canopies, and railings
High-traffic and high-visibility areas
On these projects we might use a combination of:
SuperPaint® or Duration® for general exterior wall systems
Loxon® masonry coatings for stucco, block, and concrete
Pro Industrial™ finishes on metal railings, doors, and structural steel
Commercial clients need:
Coatings that stand up to traffic and weather
Easy-to-clean surfaces
Systems that match building codes and maintenance plans
2. Substrates & Systems: Wood Siding vs. Masonry & Metal
Residential: Wood, Siding & Decorative Elements
In neighborhoods across Topeka, Lawrence, and Eudora, homes often have:
Wood or fiber cement siding
Lap siding with lots of joints and trim
Decorative details around windows, porches, and gables
We focus on:
Scraping and sanding peeling areas
Replacing rotted trim and caulking joints
Priming bare wood and weathered spots
Using flexible, weather-resistant acrylic latex paints like Emerald or Duration for a smooth, protective finish
Commercial: Masonry, Block, Concrete & Metal
Commercial projects often involve:
Concrete block (CMU), tilt-up panels, or brick
Large expanses of stucco or EIFS
Exposed metal—railings, doors, columns, rooflines
Here we build coating systems, not just “a coat of paint”:
Masonry primers and Loxon® waterproofing or elastomeric coatings for block and stucco
Pro Industrial™ acrylics or urethanes on metal where corrosion and impact resistance matter
Higher-build products to bridge hairline cracks and control water intrusion
The right system makes a huge difference in how long the building stays protected and how often it needs maintenance.
3. Scheduling, Safety & Access
Homes: Minimizing Disruption
For residential exterior painting, we plan around:
Your daily routine and parking
Pets, kids, and outdoor furniture
Landscaping and gardens
We coordinate start times, walkways, and access so your home stays safe and usable while we work.
Commercial: Working Around Operations
On commercial buildings we often:
Work during off-hours or weekends
Coordinate with site managers or facility teams
Use lifts, scaffolding, and safety systems around parking lots and entrances
Plan phases to keep entries open and businesses running
Safety, signage, and clear communication become just as important as the paint itself.
4. Color & Finish Considerations
Residential Color Choices
Homeowners are usually looking for:
Curb appeal and personality
Colors that work with roofing, stone, and landscaping
Trim and accent colors that add character
We often recommend satin or low-sheen finishes on siding for good cleanability, with semi-gloss on doors and trim for added pop.
Commercial Color Strategies
Commercial projects tend to focus on:
Brand consistency (logo and signage colors)
Neutral body colors with bold accents at entrances
Coatings that look clean and professional from a distance
Sheens are chosen with maintenance in mind—enough sheen to clean, not so much that every flaw shows on large walls.
5. Maintenance Cycles & Expectations
Residential Homes
A well-prepped, professionally painted home using high-quality Sherwin-Williams products can often go 8–12 years between full repaints, depending on sun exposure, color, and substrate. Homeowners appreciate that investment lasting as long as possible.
Commercial Buildings
Commercial exteriors tend to have planned maintenance intervals:
Touch-ups to high-traffic areas
Periodic recoating of metal doors and railings
Repainting brand-colored accents more often than neutral body colors
We help commercial clients in Topeka, Lawrence, and Eudora build a maintenance plan that keeps the building looking sharp without constant full repaints.
6. Why Choosing the Right Products (and Painter) Matters
Sherwin-Williams offers a full range of exterior coatings—from residential favorites like Emerald® and Duration® to commercial and masonry systems like SuperPaint®, Loxon®, and Pro Industrial™.
But the product is only half the equation.
The other half is a team that understands:
Prep requirements for each surface
How Kansas weather affects exteriors
The different needs of homeowners vs. property managers
How to safely access and protect each site
That’s where Graystone Painting & Refinishing comes in.
Serving Both Homes and Businesses in Topeka, Lawrence & Eudora
Whether you’re:
A homeowner needing residential exterior painting
A business or church planning a commercial exterior repaint
A property manager looking for long-term coating solutions
we can help you choose the right Sherwin-Williams products and approach for your building.
📍 Proudly serving Topeka, Lawrence, and Eudora
🖌️ Graystone Painting & Refinishing – Exterior painting for homes and commercial properties, done the right way.
👉 Ready to talk about your exterior project?
Request your free estimate today and let’s build the right plan for your home or building.
