In the never-ending battle against disease, the pathogens might seem to be winning.
Don’t wave that white flag just yet. If you manage a medical facility, nursing home or assisted living center, there’s a powerful layer of protection that you might have overlooked. Antimicrobial paint can maximize those stringent measures, such as frequent sanitizing and hand-washing, that you already have in place.
The Rise of Antimicrobial Paint in Michigan Businesses
Not surprisingly, there is heightened focus on cleanliness across all industries these days. This is especially true of health care settings. Demand is higher than ever for coating products that protect surfaces from germs, parasites, viruses, bacteria and other threatening microorganisms.
The antimicrobial coatings industry thrived even through the recession of 2008 and 2009. Grand View Research reports that the U.S. market was valued at more than $7 billion in 2019 — and that was before COVID-19 had reared its ugly head in earnest.
Sherwin-Williams introduced antibacterial paint in 2015, and several other manufacturers have since followed suit. The Sherwin-Williams brand, Paint Shield, was rigorously tested before its debut. Not only does it prevent bacterial growth, but it targets and kills certain pathogens. It was found to kill 99.9 percent of the bacteria that come in contact with treated surfaces like walls, doors and countertops. It even creates an uninviting atmosphere for airborne threats.
Additives in Paint Shield and others like it are effective against many common health dangers:
- E. coli
- Staph
- Viruses
- Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, or VRE
- Fungi
- Mold and mildew
It’s worth noting that MRSA and VRE are resistant to many other antibiotics.
There’s an unexpected benefit as well. Paints have a limited shelf life. Once they’ve been exposed to the air, it’s just a matter of time before they start to degrade. Anybody who’s ever popped the lid off an old or improperly sealed can recalls the paint’s overpowering odor and lumpy texture.
The antibacterial properties that thwart mold and mildew in this special paint prolong its life. Microbicidal coatings are both attractive and durable even in high-traffic areas. As long as they’re applied correctly by experienced commercial painters, they remain potent for years.
If there’s any downside, it’s that you have only 550 shades to choose from.
Keeping workers, visitors and vendors safe has always been a burden on management, but the public is paying even greater attention now. When businesses proactively fight against the spread of disease during this drawn-out pandemic, word gets around.
From a health standpoint, there’s no denying the value of antibacterial paint. If investing in it elevates your standing in the community as well, that’s all the more reason to hire quality commercial painters.
Maintaining Safe Indoor Space for the Elderly
Where pathogens are concerned, you’re safer outdoors than indoors. Bacteria and viruses carried along on the breeze have less time to do harm if you’re exposed.
Indoors, it’s another story. In fact, there’s a growing problem called sick building syndrome.
Poor indoor air quality and lax sanitation practices can trigger uncomfortable symptoms or more serious health problems. These issues are directly linked to the time spent in a sick building. Visitors who briefly stop in are only briefly sick. Workers, on the other hand, feel crummy Monday through Friday but experience a miraculous recovery every weekend.
Even hospitals are susceptible to widespread infection. According to some experts, around 10 percent of patients get worse or develop another illness during their hospital stay.
Just imagine, then, the implications for residential facilities like nursing homes or assisted living centers. When pathogens breed on surfaces or in ventilation systems, they spread like wildfire.
No one is safe, but elderly people are particularly vulnerable. The aging process alone compromises the immune system, and many health issues that crop up later in life impact immunity as well. Seniors have a harder time fighting off even mild infections.
Senior care has come a long way in recent years. Many facilities more closely resemble country clubs or upscale apartment complexes than traditional nursing homes. Book clubs, cooking classes, movie nights and day trips vastly improve quality of life.
All the experts agree that social interaction in the golden years increases life expectancy. However, the improved lifestyle creates special challenges for caregivers and management.
Diligent managers are religious about sanitizing the premises, enforcing safety rules for employees, and reminding residents to practice social distancing.
Still, they can’t control forgetfulness or lapses in judgement. People make mistakes. They forget to wash their hands. They get hot and frustrated and ditch their masks for a while.
As conscientious as you are, you’re no match for coronavirus and other potentially deadly illnesses. You need all the help you can get, and LRM Painting can provide it.
Key Areas for Microbicidal Coatings
Protective paint is especially reassuring in common areas that get a lot of traffic. It’s also useful in rooms with plumbing as moisture makes them attractive to bacteria and viruses.
The possibilities are endless, but here are some ideas:
- Dining rooms and food prep areas
- Bathrooms
- Laundry facilities
- Common areas and activity centers
- Medicine dispensaries
- Employee break rooms
Again, this is an investment that pays off for years. When your commercial painter cleans up and drives away, this becomes a “passive” safety measure that packs quite a punch.
Shared Commitment
A commercial painting job is only as good as the contractor and the crew. Whether it’s microbicidal coating or any other paint, you can rest assured that our experienced painters know their stuff. Their experience with the latest technologies, methods and products will exceed your expectations.
Stopping the spread of diseases like COVID-19 is a group effort, and we’re proud to do our part. We’re glad you take the health and safety of your residents and employees seriously, and we hope to partner with you in your commitment to their well-being.
Call LRM Painting in Macomb County MI to learn more. We’re happy to answer your questions, give you an estimate, and talk you through the process of preparing your facility.
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