“Earlier coatings assessment helps project teams understand the likely preparation, product selection and maintenance considerations before work begins.”For Hudson, the conversation has moved well beyond choosing paint colours or products.“Commercial property owners increasingly want technical coatings input at the planning stage so they can make informed decisions about paint systems, specification requirements, application considerations and ongoing maintenance cycles.”Justin Percy, managing director of Gold Coast project management consultancy Tender Guide Consultants, says the change reflects a growing understanding of the hidden costs of deferred maintenance.“We’ve definitely seen a shift away from just reacting when something fails,” he says.“Owners are starting to treat painting and maintenance as proper asset protection rather than a cosmetic exercise. These buildings are worth many millions of dollars, and people are recognising that putting maintenance off generally costs more later.”Percy compares it to servicing a car.“If the brakes start wearing out, they don’t fix themselves. Leave them long enough and the repair becomes bigger and more expensive.“Buildings are exactly the same. Water behind a coating, movement around joints or cracking in a surface can indicate issues that may need to be considered by the relevant project professionals.“What might have been a straightforward repaint can become a broader remediation project involving concrete repairs, waterproofing or structural work if maintenance is left too long.”The shift reflects broader changes in commercial property management.Owners are balancing operational continuity with long-term maintenance planning and asset performance, particularly across multi-site portfolios where earlier planning can provide greater certainty around budgets, scheduling and disruption to occupants or customers.Hudson says Dulux Commercial Services supports owners with coatings-related guidance from the earliest stages of assessment and specification, combining technical coatings specialists, specification support, accredited painter networks and application guidance to help simplify complex repaint and remediation programs.“Early involvement allows coating-related conditions and substrate considerations to be factored into the specification process,” she says.“It means paint system recommendations can be tailored to the condition of the building and coated surfaces, exposure conditions and the intended coating performance requirements.“That helps asset owners and project teams make informed decisions before work begins.”Dulux Commercial Services is designed to complement the role of project consultants, engineers, architects, building managers and applicators by providing technical guidance on Dulux paint and coating systems.Hudson says the service assists with coatings selection, specification development and application considerations for repaint and remediation projects, based on the project information available.Percy says owners are also asking better questions.“People are looking beyond the cheapest quote. They’re asking about product performance, warranties, maintenance cycles and the long-term implications of different approaches.”Ideally, he says, refurbishment planning should begin well before contractors arrive on site.“Starting two or three years ahead gives owners time to inspect the building properly, develop detailed specifications and budget realistically instead of making last-minute decisions.“We’re seeing more organisations adopt that approach, and those projects generally achieve much better outcomes.”To find out more, please visit Dulux.