OFFICE DECORATING
How to repaint an office while it stays open
A practical plan for office repainting in Cardiff and the Vale, from agreeing which rooms can close to reopening them for staff.
Start with the rooms you can release
Make a simple schedule for reception, meeting rooms, open plan desks and corridors. For each area, record the hours it can be empty, what needs moving and who can hand it over. If staff use a meeting room every morning, consider releasing it after lunch and moving bookings elsewhere until it’s ready to reopen. Mark the routes staff and visitors need to keep using, including any agreed arrangements for deliveries.
Separate fixed dates from flexible ones. A reception repaint ahead of a client event has a different deadline from a touch-up in a back office. Give the decorator those dates early so they can allow for drying, inspections and any follow-up work.
Agree what happens before the first coat
Ask who will clear desks, move furniture, handle IT equipment and take down pictures or signage. Keep cables and specialist equipment with the people who know how to disconnect and reinstate them. In the quote, separate wall and ceiling preparation from woodwork, doors and frames so everyone understands which surfaces are included.
Ask the decorator to flag sanding and other noisy or dusty tasks on the schedule. Where possible, book those tasks into windows when nearby teams can work elsewhere. Agree with the building manager how routes will stay clear and which areas need temporary signage while work is in progress.
Choose finishes to suit each area
Bring your cleaning team into the conversation for high-contact walls and corridors. Ask the decorator to recommend a finish that suits the surface and the normal cleaning routine. If colours are changing, try samples in daylight and under the lights people use during working hours. Record the product, colour reference and sheen so future repairs can be matched.
Check the product information with the decorator before promising a reopening time. When a surface is ready for another coat can differ from when it is suitable for use or cleaning. Agree ventilation and handover arrangements for each area before work starts.
Give each area a clear handover
Nominate someone to check the work, collect any snags and confirm when furniture can go back. Keep a short record by room with the finish references and any outstanding work. If the office needs to stay open throughout, agree which rooms can reopen independently so a snag in one area doesn’t hold up the rest.