Behind The Brush at Sandrock Painting
How to Plan a Common Area Repaint in a Condo or Apartment Building
November 18, 2025
Repainting the common areas of a condo or apartment building — like hallways, stairwells, laundry rooms, and entryways — is one of the easiest ways to improve aesthetics, increase resident satisfaction, and enhance overall property value. But coordinating a repaint across shared spaces takes planning, communication, and the right painting team.
At Sandrock Painting, we frequently work with property managers and HOA boards in Shaker Heights, Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, and surrounding Cleveland neighborhoods to refresh high-traffic areas in multifamily buildings. Here’s a clear guide to help you plan a smooth, successful common area repaint.
Step 1 — Choose the Right Time for the Project
Interior repainting in multifamily buildings is flexible year-round, but many property managers prefer:
- Off-peak seasons (late fall through early spring)
- Times with lower resident traffic
- Non-holiday periods
Choosing the right window can minimize disruption and help the project move faster.
Step 2 — Establish a Clear Scope of Work
Before gathering bids, decide which areas need to be painted:
- Hallways
- Stairwells
- Lobby and entry areas
- Laundry rooms
- Basement corridors
- Elevator lobbies
- Mailroom areas
Defining the exact spaces upfront helps you get accurate bids and consistent pricing.
Step 3 — Notify Residents Early and Clearly
Communication is key in a shared building.
We recommend:
- Sending an email and printed notice 2–3 weeks in advance
- Posting signs in elevators and at entranceways
- Including the schedule, expected noise, and any temporary closures
- Explaining how long each area will be inaccessible
Clear communication leads to fewer complaints and smoother access for painters.
Step 4 — Select Durable, High-Traffic Paint Products
Common areas experience constant wear, so product choice matters.
For stairwells, hallways, and laundry rooms, we typically use:
- Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint or Duration for walls
- ProMar 200 for budget-sensitive projects
- Scuff-resistant finishes for heavy traffic
- Low-odor, low-VOC paints to keep residents comfortable
We help property managers choose colors and finishes that brighten the building and increase light reflectance in dim stairwells or hallways.
Step 5 — Plan for Access, Safety, and Workflow
Apartment and condo buildings require careful coordination:
- Painters may work one floor at a time
- Stairwells are typically painted in halves to maintain access
- Drop cloths, plastic, and containment protect flooring and fixtures
- Fire doors and exit routes remain accessible throughout the project
A professional crew knows how to work efficiently without disrupting the building’s daily flow.
Step 6 — Prepare for Minor Repairs
Older buildings—especially in Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, Lakewood, and Ohio City — often need small repairs before painting, such as:
- Nail pops
- Hairline cracks
- Scuffed or damaged drywall
- Peeling paint from decades of use
Surface prep ensures the new coating lasts and that walls look smooth, clean, and uniform.
Step 7 — Walk the Property Before and After the Project
We always recommend a joint walkthrough:
- Before painting, to finalize scope and color choices
- After, to ensure quality, touch-ups, and satisfaction
This gives property managers confidence that the project was completed thoroughly and professionally.
Ready to Start Your Common Area Repaint?
If your building is in Shaker Heights, Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, Ohio City, Tremont, Edgewater, Parma, or University Circle, and you’ve been searching for “commercial painters near me”, Sandrock Painting is here to help.
We specialize in repainting:
- Condo hallways
- Apartment stairwells
- Laundry rooms
- Entryways and lobby spaces
All with minimal disruption to residents and maximum improvement to your building’s appearance and value.
Contact Sandrock Painting Today
Schedule your free commercial painting estimate. Let us help you plan a clean, organized, professional repaint that transforms your building’s common areas without breaking the budget.
How to Remove Wallpaper the Right Way
August 21, 2025
Wallpaper can add charm and personality to a room — but when it’s outdated or peeling, it can make your home feel stuck in the past. If you’ve ever searched for “wallpaper removal near me,” you know that removing wallpaper can be frustrating without the right tools and experience.
At Sandrock Painting, we’ve helped countless homeowners in Northeast Ohio update their spaces by removing old wallpaper and preparing the walls for a smooth, modern paint finish. Here’s how we approach the process.
Step 1 — Soak and Loosen the Wallpaper
We begin by soaking the wallpaper with a specialized wallpaper remover concentrate. This breaks down the adhesive, making it easier to peel off. In most cases, this step alone loosens the paper enough to strip it away.
Step 2 — Steam for Stubborn Areas
Sometimes, wallpaper glue is extra tough. When that happens, we use a wallpaper steamer to help lift the adhesive from the wall. This allows us to remove even the most stubborn wallpaper without damaging the surface beneath.
Step 3 — When Wallpaper Won’t Come Off
In some cases, wallpaper simply refuses to budge. Instead of risking wall damage, we take a different approach:
- Apply a specialized primer over the wallpaper to seal it in place
- Caulk along ceilings and trim for a seamless transition
- Skim coat and sand the seams so that they disappear completely
When finished, you’ll never be able to tell the wall was wallpapered in the first place.
Why Professional Wallpaper Removal Matters
DIY wallpaper removal can quickly turn into a frustrating, messy job. Our professional process ensures:
- Minimal wall damage
- Proper surface preparation for painting
- A clean, smooth finish that’s ready for fresh paint
By combining the right products, tools, and techniques, we make your walls look brand new again.
Ready to Refresh Your Walls?
If you’re searching for “wallpaper removal near me” in areas like Avon Lake, Westlake, Rocky River, or Solon, look no further. At Sandrock Painting, we specialize in transforming outdated walls into smooth, paint-ready surfaces.
Contact Sandrock Painting Today
Schedule your free commercial painting estimate. We’ll show you how a well-planned painting project can enhance your building’s value and appeal — without breaking the budget.
How Commercial Painting Adds Value to Your Multifamily Property in Shaker Heights
July 23, 2025
If you're part of an HOA, property management company, or investment group, you know that first impressions matter. Whether it’s a stairwell, shared hallway, or laundry room, the condition of a multifamily building’s common areas reflects directly on the overall property value — and on the satisfaction of residents.
At Sandrock Painting, we recently completed a large-scale commercial painting project in a condominium building, refreshing high-traffic areas like stairwells, hallways, and laundry spaces. The result? A brighter, cleaner atmosphere that improved the overall aesthetic for every unit owner — without the cost of major renovations.
Why Painting Is a Smart Investment for Condos and Apartment Complexes
Painting is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase the appeal and value of a multifamily property. Here's why:
- Boosts curb and interior appeal — freshly painted common areas make the building feel newer and better maintained.
- Improves tenant satisfaction — clean, bright hallways and stairwells create a more welcoming environment for residents and guests.
- Increases resale value — unit owners benefit when the building presents well, helping justify higher list prices and faster sales.
- Reduces long-term maintenance costs — high-quality paint protects surfaces and minimizes the frequency of touch-ups or repairs.
Serving Northeast Ohio’s Larger Multifamily Properties
We proudly serve property owners and managers throughout Shaker Heights, Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, and downtown Cleveland neighborhoods like Ohio City, Tremont, and Edgewater — as well as areas like Parma and University Circle where large apartment complexes and condo buildings are prevalent.
Our commercial painting services are tailored to minimize disruption and maximize results. We coordinate scheduling carefully, work quickly and cleanly, and use professional-grade products from Sherwin-Williams for long-lasting protection in high-traffic zones.
Contact Sandrock Painting today
If you're managing a multifamily property in Shaker Heights, Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, or University Circle, and you’ve been searching for “commercial painters near me” — we’re here to help. Whether you need to refresh a single hallway or revitalize an entire complex, our experienced team will make the process simple and successful.
Transform Your Kitchen Cabinets in Avon Lake with Our Professional Painting Process
July 8, 2025
Is your kitchen looking outdated, but a full remodel isn’t in the budget this year? At Sandrock Painting, we specialize in painting kitchen cabinets to give your home a fresh, modern look without the cost or hassle of replacement.
Whether you’re in Avon Lake, Westlake, Rocky River, or Solon, our proven cabinet painting process delivers stunning results that last for years.
Our Kitchen Cabinet Painting Process
Here's what seets us apart:
- Careful Removal
We start by removing all cabinet doors, drawer fronts, hinges and knobs; keeping the pieces labeled and organized throughout the process. - Dustless Sanding
Using our Festool dustless sanding system, we thoroughly sand all surfaces to promote optimal paint adhesion – without leaving dust throughout your home. - Cleaning & Prep
After sanding, we clean all surfaces with a liquid de-glosser to remove any residual grease, cooking oils, or sanding dust that could interfere with the primer bonding to the surface. - Professional Priming
We mask off surrounding areas and spray the cabinet boxes and both sides of the doors and drawer fronts with 1-2 coats of Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond Primer, ensuring exceptional adhesion. - Durable Finishing
Next, we spray 2-3 coats of Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane, a premium product that creates a factory-like finish with excellent durability, washability, and scratch resistance. - Reassembly
Finally, we reassemble your cabinets with hinges and knobs reinstalled, leaving your kitchen spotless and transformed.
Why Homeowners in Avon, Brecksville, and Bay Village Choose Us
Our customers throughout Avon, Brecksville, Bay Village, and North Ridgeville love that their kitchens are completely updated in under a week – often in just a few days. Painting cabinets is a cost-effective solution that dramatically changes the look of your home for a fraction of the price of replacement.
Schedule Your Free Kitchen Cabinet Painting Quote Today
If you’re searching for “kitchen cabinet painters near Avon Lake” or “cabinet painting in North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, or Aurora,” we’re here to help. Our team of professional painters is ready to give your kitchen the high-end finish it deserves.
Contact Sandrock Painting today
Schedule your free cabhinet painting estimate and see why homeowners in Avon Lake, Rocky River, Solon, and beyond trust us to bring their vision to life!