When climate requirements, documentation and overall economy characterise the construction industry, the role of the painter becomes more important than ever. A building can only fulfil both green ambitions and maintenance budgets if it actually lasts in the long term.

When we want to build with lower climate impact and longer durability, it is not enough to look at materials and energy. We must also involve those who know how to protect the exterior surfaces of buildings. Both from weather and the passage of time. The painters.

It is remarkable how rarely the painting profession is involved in the early stages of a construction project. When preparing bid documents, LCA calculations or operational strategies, painting is often considered a final and purely cosmetic discipline. But in reality, painting plays a central role in the durability, overall economy and climate impact of a building.

Improper treatment can double maintenance costs

Proper surface treatment can significantly extend the life of facades, windows and woodwork. In contrast, improper treatment can shorten the life span and result in moisture damage, deterioration and replacements. Thereby placing a strain on both maintenance budgets and CO2 emissions. This is precisely where economics and sustainability become two sides of the same coin.

For a medium-sized daycare centre, the total contract price for painting will typically be around 500,000–600,000 DKK, depending on wear and tear and the selected system. If the treatment needs to be repeated after five years instead of ten, both the cost during the period and the climate footprint in terms of material consumption, transport and work processes will double.

Climate changes increase the need

More periods of heavy rain, high humidity and temperature fluctuations cause greater wear and tear on facades. In reality, correct surfaces are part of climate adaptation itself. This requires early involvement of painting expertise, so that knowledge of moisture transportation, diffusion-openness and maintenance cycles becomes part of the project from the start.

Builders and advisors are increasingly talking about total economy, but when painting work is pushed to the bottom in the final round of bidding, the logic is undermined. What is saved now will be paid for later – often with interest.

At the same time, documentation requirements are becoming stricter. The EU taxonomy, CSRD and upcoming requirements in the Buildings Directive mean that robustness, maintenance and durability must increasingly be documented. Here, the painting profession is not just decoration, but a concrete way to reduce CO₂ and operating costs.

The painter’s professionalism is key

The painting profession is not just about colours, but also about chemistry, understanding materials and technical functionality. The right treatment can extend the life of a window by decades and reduce the need for new resources. It can also ensure that the builder does not face expensive replacements much earlier than planned.

Therefore, it is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also of responsibility. If we are to build for the long term in a time of increasingly stringent climate requirements, we must begin to view painters as part of the solution rather than the last item on the list.