Painting & Specialist Coatings; from compliance to asset protection

When budgets are tight, painting can often slip down the list of priorities. It is easy to see it as the finishing touch on a project, but in reality, coatings play a much bigger role than many people realise. Applied at the right time and to the right specification, they help protect buildings from the effects of weather, moisture and day-to-day wear, extending the life of housing assets and reducing the need for more disruptive repairs further down the line.

This topic formed the basis of a Housing 2026 Braindate discussion led by Darren Bowkett, Senior Operations Manager at Novus, alongside Contracts Manager Neil Simpson. Bringing together housing providers, contractors, manufacturers and industry specialists, the conversation explored how a more planned approach to painting and specialist coatings can help landlords protect their assets, make better investment decisions and avoid the costs associated with reactive maintenance.

Looking beyond the finish

A lot of the conversation looked at the way painting is still perceived across the sector. While it often marks the final stage of a project, its purpose extends far beyond appearance. A well-specified coating system helps protect the building itself, and getting that decision right can make a significant difference to how long an asset continues to perform.

When budgets are under pressure, it can be tempting to reduce specifications or choose products based on their upfront cost. However, if coatings begin to fail sooner than expected, the result is often repeat visits, additional maintenance and more disruption for residents. What appears to be a saving in the short term can quickly become a greater expense over the lifetime of the building.

That is why understanding the condition of the building before deciding on a specification is so important. Too often, specifications are carried forward from previous projects without fully considering changes in the building, its exposure to the elements or the condition of the existing coating system. Taking the time to understand these factors helps ensure products are selected based on performance rather than simply what has been used before.

Planning ahead pays off

The discussion also explored the difference between planned maintenance and reactive repairs.

Once a coating system has deteriorated, the work involved often goes well beyond applying another coat of paint. There may be damage to the substrate, more contractor visits to coordinate and greater disruption for residents while repairs are completed.

Planning maintenance before coatings begin to fail gives housing providers the opportunity to assess buildings properly, choose products that are suited to the conditions they will face and manage investment over the longer term. Several attendees also spoke about the benefits of involving manufacturers and technical specialists much earlier in the procurement process, creating time to review specifications, compare expected maintenance cycles and make decisions based on long-term performance rather than initial cost alone.

Good information supports better decisions

Keeping accurate records also has an important role to play in protecting housing assets.

Knowing which coating systems have previously been applied, understanding maintenance history and recording inspection findings all help housing providers make informed decisions when future works are planned. Without that information, contractors and manufacturers can spend valuable time establishing existing conditions before recommendations can even be made.

The conversation also highlighted the importance of sharing technical knowledge across the sector. Housing providers understand their homes and residents, but specialist coatings require specific expertise, and helping clients understand why different systems are recommended can lead to better decisions and stronger long-term outcomes.

Compliance requirements are also continuing to raise the bar, particularly around building safety. Project-specific specifications, clear documentation and robust record keeping are becoming increasingly important, giving housing providers greater confidence that maintenance programmes will continue to perform as intended.

Working together for better outcomes

If there was one point everyone agreed on, it was the value of bringing the right people together earlier in the process.

Housing providers, contractors, consultants and manufacturers each bring a different perspective, and combining that expertise at the planning stage makes it easier to develop specifications that balance cost, compliance and long-term performance.

Getting these decisions right also delivers wider benefits. Higher-performing coating systems can reduce repeat visits, minimise disruption for residents, limit unnecessary material waste and help maintenance budgets go further over the lifetime of a building.

Protecting housing assets starts well before the first coat of paint is applied. Through careful planning, informed specification and closer collaboration across the supply chain, housing providers can move away from reactive maintenance and towards an approach that helps buildings last longer, supports better value for money and creates better outcomes for the communities they serve.