Written by Sam on March 14, 2026. Posted in Helpful Tips

Warehouse & Distribution Centre Refurbishment: What to Expect

Warehouses and distribution centres are among the most demanding environments to refurbish. They are often large, operationally critical and difficult to take out of service — yet they can deteriorate quickly when maintenance is deferred, and a poorly maintained facility creates real risks around safety, staff morale and customer perception.

Whether you are planning a full warehouse refurbishment, a rolling maintenance programme, or simply bringing a tired facility back up to standard before a lease renewal or property sale, this guide covers what to expect and how to approach it.

Why Warehouse Refurbishment Is Often Deferred — and Why That’s Costly

Warehouse and distribution facilities are working environments where operational continuity tends to take priority. Refurbishment work gets pushed back, deferred to quieter periods that never quite arrive, or addressed only when a specific problem becomes impossible to ignore. Over time, the accumulated cost of this deferral tends to be significantly higher than a structured, proactive approach would have been.

Faded and damaged paintwork, worn flooring, failing lighting, damaged dock levellers and deteriorating welfare areas are not just aesthetic problems — they affect staff safety, workforce morale and, increasingly, client and customer expectations. Many large retailers and logistics clients now include facility condition as part of their supply chain audit criteria.

What Does a Warehouse Refurbishment Typically Include?

The scope of a warehouse refurbishment varies considerably depending on the size and condition of the facility, but typically includes some or all of the following:

Internal & External Painting

Structural steelwork, racking areas, walls, loading bay surrounds, external cladding and roof structures all require periodic painting. Industrial environments are harsh — UV exposure, condensation, forklift impact and chemical contamination accelerate deterioration. We use industrial-grade coatings suited to each substrate and environment, applied by trained operatives working to H&S compliant procedures including working at height.

Flooring

Warehouse floors take significant punishment. We install and repair a range of commercial and industrial flooring including safety vinyl, anti-slip coatings and carpet tiles for office areas within warehouse facilities. Line marking for traffic management and pedestrian zones is also available.

Welfare & Office Areas

Staff welfare facilities — canteens, locker rooms, toilets and office areas — are often the most visible indicator of how well a facility is maintained. We refurbish welfare areas including full decoration, flooring replacement, kitchen installation, toilet upgrades and partition installation.

Suspended Ceilings & Lighting

We install and replace suspended ceiling systems in office and welfare areas within warehouse facilities, including integrated lighting. We coordinate closely with electrical contractors to ensure all installations are compliant and certified.

Minor Works & Repairs

Doors and shutters, dock boards, fencing, paving, drainage and general external fabric can all be addressed as part of a warehouse refurbishment programme. Our minor works and planned maintenance teams handle the broad range of tasks required to maintain a large facility to a consistent standard.

How to Minimise Operational Disruption

The most common concern with warehouse refurbishment is how to carry out the works without bringing operations to a halt. The answer lies in careful programming. A few principles that make a significant difference:

• Phase the works. Rather than closing down sections of the facility entirely, works can be phased across zones — completing one area before moving to the next, keeping the overall operation running throughout.
• Work in off-peak periods. Evenings, nights and weekends offer the opportunity to carry out more disruptive works when the facility is at lower capacity. Wallace Contracts can work flexible hours to accommodate operational requirements.
• Agree clear exclusion zones. A detailed programme with clearly marked exclusion zones — agreed in advance with the operations team — prevents conflict between trades and live operations.
• Appoint a single project manager. Having one point of contact who is accountable for all trades and all communications eliminates the confusion that arises when multiple contractors are on site without coordination.

Planning for Asbestos

Many warehouse and distribution buildings constructed before 2000 contain asbestos-containing materials — most commonly in roof sheets, insulation boards, floor tiles or pipe lagging. Before any refurbishment works begin, an asbestos survey is a legal requirement. Wallace Contracts coordinate asbestos surveys with our ARCA-approved partner as a standard part of every refurbishment project.

How Wallace Contracts Can Help

Wallace Contracts Ltd have been refurbishing commercial and industrial properties across the Midlands and North West for over 45 years. We work in warehouse and distribution environments for clients in logistics, manufacturing, retail supply chain and third-party logistics — managing all trades in-house under a single project manager and delivering to agreed programmes with minimal disruption to operations.

Our warehouse refurbishment services cover Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Stafford and surrounding areas, with nationwide coverage available for larger projects.

To discuss a warehouse or distribution centre refurbishment, contact us for a free site survey and quotation. You can also explore our transport, warehouse and distribution sector page to find out more about the work we do in this sector.

Written by Sam on August 31, 2022. Posted in Helpful Tips

How Painting Your Home Can Increase Its Value

Selling your property at a price that is more than when you bought it is one of the most satisfying feelings a property owner can ever experience. This does not only give you a sense of accomplishment with the fact that you have the ability to improve your home and make the right investments with the updates/upgrades you made, but it will also give you enough resources and confidence that you can also do the same for your new home.

Many owners think that adding a new kitchen, bathroom, garage, and other huge investments is the only key to increasing their home’s value. While the property market is very unpredictable and uncontrollable, there are so many things you can do to add value to your home and sell it for a great price. Even a few renovations such as sprucing up an unused loft space or changing the wall paints can make a successful home sale.

Let Painting Do Its Magic

A dull and colourless home exterior can easily put off the interest of potential buyers, whether they saw your listing online or in flesh. But a fresh exterior is guaranteed to put a smile on their faces.

Painting can add around 2% additional value to your home and a pretty or spruced-up exterior adds another 2% to its price.

One of the sure ways to increase your home exterior’s value is to paint the walls with pastel colours. These colours can blend with the street and at the same time make your property look unique and interesting in the eyes of potential buyers.

But while it has been proven that a painting can make a difference in your home’s value, you can add more value to your home with the right kind and colour of paint.

How the Right Painting Selection Can Boost Your Home’s Value

One of the biggest factors when buying homes over the recent years is the energy efficiency of the building that it overtook other factors such as space, light, and character features.

Staying in a house that does not retain heat during the winter season or paying a huge amount on energy bills doesn’t sound interesting at all. To make your home sellable, you need to point out its energy-saving features – and the paint could be one of them.

Investing in a wall coating is a little more effective and attractive to buyers. This type of specialist painting is not only aesthetically pleasing but also protects and boosts the energy-saving performance of a building.

As soon as the wall coating is applied to your walls, you will notice a huge difference almost in an instant. The moisture that usually seeps through the masonry surface will drain off and the heat on the walls will start to stay longer. The dirt that usually sticks to the walls very easily will now just wash away.

If you are looking to put your home on the market, investing in a wall coating will surely make a difference.

Written by Sam on November 19, 2025. Posted in Helpful Tips

How Do I Prepare a Wall Before Painting?

Painting a wall might seem straightforward, but the secret to a professional, long-lasting finish lies in proper preparation. At Wallace Contracts Ltd, we believe that taking the time to prepare your walls correctly ensures not only a smooth and even finish but also a paint job that stands the test of time.

The first step in wall preparation is clearing the area and protecting your surroundings. Remove furniture, decorations, and fixtures, and cover floors and any remaining items to prevent paint splatters. It’s also important to mask off edges such as skirting boards, window frames, and door frames to achieve neat, clean lines.

Once the space is ready, the wall itself must be cleaned. Dust, grease, and grime can prevent paint from adhering properly. Washing the surface with a mild detergent and then rinsing with clean water removes these contaminants. Allow the wall to dry completely, as painting on damp surfaces can cause peeling and uneven coverage.

Inspecting the wall for imperfections is the next crucial step. Cracks, holes, and uneven areas should be repaired with a suitable filler. Once the filler is applied and has dried, sanding ensures a smooth surface that blends seamlessly with the rest of the wall. This sanding process also lightly roughens glossy or previously painted surfaces, helping new paint adhere better.

For newly plastered walls or surfaces that have been heavily repaired, applying a primer or mist coat is essential. This seals the surface, prevents stains from bleeding through, and provides a consistent base for the paint. Allow sufficient drying time before applying your chosen paint to ensure optimal adhesion and a flawless finish.

Taking the time to prepare your walls properly might seem like extra work, but it is the key to a professional-looking and durable paint job. At Wallace Contracts Ltd, our team brings expertise and attention to detail to every project, ensuring that walls are prepped to the highest standard. Proper preparation is the foundation for a beautiful, long-lasting finish that transforms any space.

Written by Sam on June 28, 2022. Posted in Helpful Tips

Mood-Boosting Paint Colour Tips to Spruce Up Your Home

Choosing the paint colour for your walls is one of the major decisions you have to make when building or refurbishing your home. While some already have certain colours in their mind, others are more thorough and careful when it comes to choosing the right colour.

Several scientific studies have proven that colours have a huge impact on our mood and overall health. This is the reason why choosing a wall paint colour should be carefully decided.

When choosing the right wall paint colour, a variety of factors have to be considered. This includes the existing furniture and decorations in your home and the kind of light that gets inside. And the most important factor – the combination of colours and decors should reflect your personality.

If you are having a hard time choosing the right paint colour for your walls, here are some tips to help you out.

Check your wardrobe

One of the tips we got from experts is to take out your favourite outfits – the ones that you love wearing the most. Choose one or two shades from your favourite outfits and use a colour chart to build a colour scheme by matching your outfit’s colours with the paint shades.

Choose inspirational paint colours

Another valuable tip is to choose colours that tell a story. Just like how colours are used to set the mood in a movie, different paint colours can also trigger different types of emotions. Always choose a colour that could make you feel inspired and relaxed.

Use a little experiential psychology

Some colours can remind you of things from the past and you can utilize them when choosing a paint colour for your walls. By choosing colours that could remind you of the happiest moments of your life, you can have those happy feelings recreated in your home.

Use colours to zone your room creatively

You can also utilize point colours to create zones or separate the areas in your room. You can use a certain colour to define the corner that you will be using as a study area and another colour for your relaxation spot. You can use colours creatively to make your room bigger, fresher, and more relaxing.

How colours look equates to how they feel

Nobody wants a rough surface under their toes or fingers. The same principle applies to paint colours. To create an ideal and relaxing space inside your room, you should choose paints with visual softness. These types of paints will make an ideal background and could go along with various types of decorations.

If you are still having a hard time choosing the paint colour for your next refurbishment project, contact us at Wallace Contracts for help. Our painting and decorating specialists offer expert advice and services to help you create your dream space.

Written by Sam on July 11, 2023. Posted in Helpful Tips

5 Tips to Help Extend the Life of Exterior Paint

1. Choose the right paint

The first step to extending the life of your exterior paint is to choose the right paint for your needs. There are many different types of exterior paint available, so it is important to choose one that is designed for the climate you live in and the type of surface you are painting. For example, if you live in an area with hot, dry summers, you will need a paint that is specifically designed for those conditions.

2. Prepare the surface properly

The next step is to prepare the surface properly. This means cleaning the surface thoroughly to remove dirt, dust, and loose paint. You may also need to sand the surface to create a smooth, even finish. If you are painting over old paint, it is important to use a paint stripper to remove all of the old paint.

3. Apply two coats of paint

It is important to apply two coats of paint for the best results. The first coat will seal the surface and the second coat will provide the final finish. Be sure to apply the paint evenly and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

4. Use a primer

A primer is a type of paint that is applied before the topcoat. It helps to seal the surface and to create a better bond between the topcoat and the surface. Using a primer can help to extend the life of your exterior paint by preventing peeling and fading.

5. Protect the paint from the elements

Once you have applied the paint, it is important to protect it from the elements. This means keeping the paint clean and free of dirt and debris. You may also want to consider applying a sealant to the paint to protect it from the sun, rain, and snow.

Additional tips

Here are some additional tips to help extend the life of your exterior paint:

Paint in the shade. Painting in direct sunlight can cause the paint to dry too quickly and to not adhere properly.

Avoid painting on windy days. Wind can blow dirt and debris onto the wet paint, which can damage the finish.

Repaint every 5-7 years. This will help to prevent peeling and fading and will keep your home looking its best.

By following these tips, you can extend the life of your exterior paint and keep your home looking its best for years to come.