Salinas has offices, shops, restaurants, farm-related buildings and a large number of rental units. Owners and managers tend to ask about the same things: cost, timing and who is responsible for what.
Every dollar figure on this page is a national figure published by HomeGuide for 2026. None of them is a quote from us. Monterey County wages, the paint you pick and the state of your walls will push a real price above or below these ranges. Last checked October 2026.
How much does it cost to paint an office or commercial space?
The published national cost for commercial painting is $2 to $6 per square foot. A space with 2,000 paintable square feet is listed at $4,000 to $12,000. HomeGuide does not publish separate figures for offices, shops or warehouses.
The real price depends on wall height, how much has to be masked or moved, the hours available for the work and the state of the surfaces. Exterior work that requires scaffolding is listed at $5 to $10 or more per square foot.
Can painters work nights or weekends so the business stays open?
Some commercial painters do work nights or weekends, and for many shops and offices that is the only practical way to paint without closing. Whether it can be arranged depends on the job.
Ask us when you call. Give us your opening hours and quiet periods, and we will tell you what schedule we can offer. Work can also be phased so that part of the space stays open.
How much to repaint a rental apartment between tenants?
There is no published national figure for a repaint between tenants. The nearest figures are for apartment painting generally: $2 to $6 per square foot, with a studio at $800 to $3,600 and a three-bedroom unit at $2,400 to $9,000.
A turnover is normally the simplest kind of repaint. The unit is empty, the color stays the same and often only the walls are done. We give a price after seeing one unit of each type.
How often should a rental be repainted?
There is no fixed rule for how often a rental should be repainted. Most are painted at turnover when the walls need it. A unit with the same careful tenant for years may need nothing. A unit that changes hands every year needs touching up each time.
Using one color and one washable sheen in every unit means marks can be cleaned or touched up, which delays a full repaint.
Can an apartment be painted while tenants live there?
Yes. An apartment can be painted with tenants living there if it is planned well. Tenants need proper notice. Furniture is moved away from the walls and covered, and one or two rooms are painted at a time.
Expect it to take longer than an empty unit. In buildings from before 1978 the federal lead-safe renovation rule applies in occupied units too, and occupants must receive the lead pamphlet before work starts.
How long to paint a 10-unit apartment building or an office?
We cannot state one time for a 10-unit building, because the scope decides it. The outside of a small apartment building is like a large house. A typical house exterior takes us 3 to 5 days, and extra wall area, height and trim add to that.
Inside, units are painted one after another. An empty one-bedroom apartment in fair condition can often be done in a day or two. A small office is often a matter of a few days. We put the schedule in the written quote.
Who pays for painting when a tenant moves out?
When a tenant moves out, the landlord pays for repainting made necessary by ordinary wear and tear. The tenant can be charged only for damage beyond that. California Civil Code section 1950.5 allows deductions from the deposit for damage caused by the tenant, not for normal wear.
Fading, light scuffs and small picture holes after a long stay are normally wear and tear. Big holes, unapproved colors, drawing on walls and heavy smoke stains are normally damage. The landlord must return the deposit or send an itemized statement within 21 days of move-out. This is general information and not legal advice.
Do commercial painters price large jobs differently?
Yes. Large jobs are priced from measured areas and the rate at which the work can be done, not room by room. The price per square foot usually drops as the area grows, since setup costs are shared across more work.
Big jobs also bring costs a house does not have. Lifts and scaffolding are listed at $500 to $1,500 or more per day, and working around tenants or business hours takes more planning. For repeated work such as turnovers, ask for a fixed price per unit type.
To arrange a walk-through of a commercial or rental property, call or text (831) 257-0052.