Crown Trade has carried out extensive research within the facilities management sector to identify the specific needs of this rapidly expanding market, and to develop a greater understanding of the industry’s decision-making processes.
Following recent growth in the facilities management sector, Crown Trade took a fresh look at trends and influences in paint choice, examining aspects such as coverage, durability, cost and sources of supply.
Discussing the recent research, Vernon Kinrade, sector support manager at Crown Trade, commented: “While cost remains an important factor to facilities managers, the research confirmed that quality and durability now have a greater influence when it comes to specifying paint.”
He added: “To achieve best value objectives within refurbishment projects, aspects such as performance and longevity, as well as price, need to be considered. Our research showed that many facilities managers have recognised the false economy of using low performing coatings, which often fail to deliver long term value or meet the specific needs of their project.”
“By furthering our understanding of the current facilities management market, we can use the information to tailor our Smart Maintenance Asset Management Programme to perfectly suit this sector. The Smart Maintenance Programme delivers tailored, cost-effective maintenance solutions for individual clients and projects, which can be carefully refined to suit the dictates of increased maintenance cycles through use of the most appropriate coatings and preparation.”
While revealing the importance of quality and durability when specifying paint choice, the survey also highlighted the relatively high rates of usage of speciality paints by in-house facilities managers and specialised consultancies. Reportedly, 89% of respondents had specified a speciality paint in the last 12 months, with metal and flame retardant paints the most commonly specified.
Crown Trade’s Smart Maintenance Asset Management Programme has been designed to increase quality, efficiency and cost savings over the whole life of a building. To meet these objectives, the programme provides access to a wide range of market leading products, including the comprehensive Sandtex Trade range, which is ideal for challenging outdoor projects. The Smart Maintenance Asset Management Programme also incorporates the Crown Trade portfolio, which has a number of specialist products that, in addition to adding aesthetic value, can help a surface to reach required levels of flame retardancy and protection against wear and tear, and can also contribute to practical aspects, such as wayfinding.
These high performance coatings are individually tailored to meet the specific needs of each client, measurably adding value to existing maintenance and refurbishment programmes. The Smart Maintenance programme also incorporates aspects such as colour scheming, design and fire risk analysis, as well as health and safety assessments.