Why Painting Safety is Important to Us

As commercial painters, we spend our days working in your office or building. Therefore, painting safety is not only important to our painters, but to everyone in the environment where we are working. This is why we take every possible step to create a culture of painting safety between us, our painters, and our clients. To do this, we have a special ally in our corner that ensures the highest level of safety in every job we do: Safety Check, Inc.

For more than five years, we have voluntarily partnered with Safety Check, Inc. to employ a comprehensive system to proactively keep our work environment injury and incident-free. Safety Check ensures our staff and worksites are continually compliant with necessary OSHA requirements. Safety Check assists us in developing and implementing health and safety programs, site-specific protocols, onsite inspections, and keeping abreast with OSHA and safety protocol, all for the benefit of our customers and employees.

As a customer of Celtic Commercial Painting, what does this mean to you?
Painting safety is a priority for us. In essence, we have a safety department through Safety Check, Inc., which has worked out well for everyone!

We are proactive about painting safety. Frank Marino from Safety Check will tell you that most companies typically call Safety Check for one of three reasons: 1) The company is in trouble with OSHA; 2) there was an incident resulting in severe worker’s compensation losses; or 3) the company needs to be brought back up to compliance in regards to safety. However, Celtic contacted Safety Check proactively, before any of these events could take place. He said it is unique and smart for a commercial painter to work proactively with a company like theirs on painting safety to ensure a continued, enviable safety record.

We are doing more for safety than other companies, so we can do more for you. We don’t take extra measures to achieve high painting safety because we have to; it’s one of our points of difference and part of our core value of working with our employees and in relationship with you. We would never want to put our employees in an unsafe work environment, or in a situation where an innocent bystander near the job could be the victim of an accident. We are therefore prepared to help with commercial painting jobs that have a high level of safety risk.

Our safety record is excellent. Besides ensuring our painters are highly trained professionals with painting safety knowledge, we also are leaders in the industry with low OSHA RIR (Recordable Incident Rate) and EMR (Experience Modulation Rate) ratings.

We are proud of our longstanding relationship with Safety Check, Inc., as well as our consistent health and safety record. We are always making improvements, however. If you have an upcoming or ongoing project and a high level of painting safety is important to you, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Choosing Paint Colors or Wallcoverings for Your Office?

Whether you are choosing paint colors for your office on your own or with the help of a designer, there is a near endless amount of choices and combinations available. There are also a myriad of factors to consider when covering your interior walls. This is why we have compiled this list of five tips for you to consider when choosing paint colors or wallcoverings for your interior space:

1. Wallcoverings are easier to clean than paint, but paint is easier to replace. For example, a high-traffic corridor to an office may be a better candidate for a wallcovering than paint, as it will need more frequent cleaning than the office itself. However, you may be choosing paint colors for the office because it won’t require as much cleaning as the corridor.

2. Wallcoverings last longer than paint and can be cleaned more often. This can save you money in the long run, as the cost of repainting the same surface multiple times can quickly add up. However, if you prefer to frequently change your room’s appearance, then paint may better suit your needs.

3. There are multiple types of paint for different surfaces and different needs. Different finishes of paint are easier to clean than others. For example, gloss and semi-gloss are more tolerant to cleaning than flat paints. Flat paints, however, don’t reflect as much light and are better at hiding minor imperfections on your wall.

4. Wallcoverings offer a wide variety of options. Are you stuck on choosing paint colors or caught up on deciding what’s just right for your wall? You may want to consider one of the many wallcovering types, such as vinyl, paper, or fabric. Wallcoverings offer a wider variety of appearances than paints.

5. Still stuck? You can combine paint and wallcoverings! Depending on your environment, you may have the option to paint one area of a surface, while using a wallcovering on the other. For example, a communal room can utilize wallcoverings on the top/bottom half, while the other half is painted. The two halves can be separated by a chair rail or other type of border. The two surfaces can also utilize contrasting or complimentary colors to create a more visually appealing space. The possibilities are endless!

Between all varieties of paint and wallcoverings, you have a plethora of options for your interior space. Choosing paint colors or wallcovering types doesn’t have to be a daunting task; let your sense of style shine! If you are still undecided, or if you’re ready to paint your interior space, contact us at 630. 783.1400. 

5 Reasons to Use Union Painting Professionals

If you want to be sure to receive top-notch work on your next painting project, ask if your painter is part of a painter’s union. If so, then you can rest assured that your paint job will be done by a true professional. Why? Because the professionals in painters unions are held to a higher standard than any ordinary person tasked with the same job, and for good reasons. 
Here at Celtic Commercial Painting, we hire only union painters to deliver the best, most consistent results, time after time. To us, there are five big reasons we do this: 

1. Union painters have gone through a long and demanding process to obtain their status. To become a union painter, one must undergo a 3-year program with the local painter’s union consisting of both classes and hands-on learning. During that time, they are merely apprentices and cannot yet call themselves true union painters. The advanced training they receive consists of painting methods, finishing techniques, and rigorous safety protocols.

2. Safety is important to union painters. Once an apprentice graduates to journeyman status, he/she is equipped with all the techniques and procedures to protect themselves and others. On the job, our painters strictly follow all the rules laid out by OSHA to ensure a safe work environment for everyone on the jobsite. In addition, local unions ensure their painters are trained in CPR and first aid so that they know how to handle any possible scenario.

3. Union painters care about the environment. When you hire a non-union painter, how do you know they are working in a responsible manner? Or, are they properly disposing of their waste for example? Besides OSHA training, union painters are also educated in the EPA’s strict standards for taking care of the ground, air, and water around them. 
4. Hiring union painters guarantees consistent, high-quality results. When hiring a painter who has undergone the local union’s rigorous process of training and apprenticeship, you are investing in a painter who has been brought up-to-date on the latest methods and procedures in the industry. Without this level of experience, your painter may lack crucial knowledge for a job, or worse, have a habit of doing poor, inconsistent work.

5. Union painters take pride in their work! Being part of a painter’s union means being part of a larger organization of professionals and experts in the field. Union painters took time to arrive where they are and don’t take their jobs lightly, meaning they have well-earned, lifelong careers which are their livelihoods. In addition to maintaining the high quality of their work, union painters also strive to meet customers’ needs, adhere to timeframes, as well as any other duties they may meet during their careers.

At Celtic Commercial Painting, we take pride in every aspect of our work, and we ensure this mindset is shared by all our painters. We strive to maintain a friendly, healthy relationship with our local painters unions and we hire only the best members from them.   If we can help you with your painting needs to the utmost high quality and satisfaction, please contact us for an estimate. 

Six Questions Professional Painters Ask Before Repainting

In the Midwest, even the greatest professional painters can’t stave off the ravages of the elements forever—from ruthlessly cold winters to blistering summers and everything in between, our climate seems to punish our existing paint job. Even inside, humidity, temperature fluctuations and sun exposure can all play a role in shortening your paint’s lifespan. Fortunately, there are six simple questions to ask—the very same questions all professional painters should ask themselves to determine if a surface needs to be repainted.

1. Is the paint fading or abnormally light in spots? 

Faded paint can be spotted by its prematurely dulled colors or excessively light spots. Are the colors or the lightness of your paint becoming inconsistent? All paints fade over time, but  excessive fading can be caused by extreme or prolonged sun exposure.

2. Are there crusty deposits on the surface of the paint?  

Excessive exposure to rain or moisture can cause water to pass through the underlying surface of the paint. This is an indication of mottling or efflorescence, which is one of the ways moisture under the surface of the paint can compromise the integrity of the coating.

3. Is there a layer of fine or powdery residue on the paint’s surface? 

This can be a sign the paint job has become excessively weathered by sun and rain. Professional painters refer to this as chalking. The chalky residue itself is the result of years of erosion, and is a sign that the paint is chemically separating.

4. Is the surface of the exterior paint no longer smooth, but rather rough, crackly, or scaly? 

This can be a warning sign that your paint is in the early stages of cracking and peeling. In the field, this process is called alligatoring. If not remedied, the surface will progress to even worse stages of degredation.

5. Are there large bubbles or blisters on the paint’s surface? 

This may be a sign that the paint is losing its adhesion to the underlying surface. Once blistering occurs, the damage—typically from moisture—cannot only harm your paint, but also the surface underneath. 

6. Are there large pieces of paint breaking off the underlying surface or flaking away? 

This is typically what continues to happen after alligatoring or blistering paint goes untreated, and is a severe result of the elements pummeling your paint surface. Flaking paint leaves large portions of the surface underneath exposed to the elements, which should be immediately repainted and protected.

While advancements are constantly being made in paints that can better resist sun, rain, and the other elements, a weathered or damaged paint job will inevitably need to be replaced. If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, it’s time to contact professional painters like Celtic Commercial Painting to discuss solutions at 630.783.1400. 

5 Surprising Functions of Primer and Sealer Paint

If you are planning to revitalize your home or business with a new coat of paint, you may be wondering if it’s at all possible to skip the primer. The answer is an unequivocal no! Not only are primers and sealers essential for a durable, professional-looking topcoat, they can protect your investment in ways you may not have even considered.

Primer is a coat of paint that is applied before the actual paint color. It works to prepare the timber, steel, drywall, or any surface that you might be painting, for a high-quality, long-lasting paint job. Here are five important ways that your primer can help you protect your investment.

1. No primer, no stick! Without primer, your paint would peel off with easily with the first force applied to it. Primer acts as an anchor to the paint system, and keeps the paint on the surface.

2. Primer keeps it dry. Primer acts as a barrier that stops moisture from damaging the drywall, wood, or whatever surface lies beneath it. This is important because should a painted surface be unknowingly compromised, the only thing protecting your surface from the elements would be the primer itself.

3. Primers make paint prettier. Without a primer, the topcoat can sink into the surface underneath, which results in a duller, less glossy appearance. Paint with a quality primer underneath appears more glossy and vibrant.

4. Primers prevent rust and corrosion. Many types of primers contain anti-corrosive pigments that will protect important steel surfaces, such as nails heads on your wood or drywall surfaces. This means your primer is actually protecting not just your exterior surfaces, but the infrastructure of your building.

5. Primers halt mold growth. Mold can do tremendous damage to a structure and should be prevented at all costs. Luckily, specialized primers for wood surfaces contain fungicides that will stop mold from growing in your walls.

Now let’s talk about sealers, which can perform just as impressively. Sealers are specialized primers that are used on surfaces that need extra preparation before they are painted. Sealers can be used in place of primer, or before primer. Here are three things that sealers do that go above and beyond what you get from a primer.

1. A sealer can actually recondition poor surfaces, such as crumbly old concrete. It is important to make the surface smooth and even before painting and a sealer can transform a rugged surface into a receptive one.

2. Sealers seal off porous surfaces, so that coats of paint will not sink in. If you are painting a porous surface, a sealer can provide the base you need get the uniform, glossy finish that you want.

3. Sealers block off stains, so they do not bleed through your new coat. A good sealer can also enhance the waxes in the surface being painted.

It is important to note that although primers and sealers have different functions, the lines between them blur. Many products labeled as primers are actually more like sealers. Although both products will provide adherence to substrate, and add a layer of protection to the surface you are painting, primers and sealers can have a variety of functions. Before you buy a primer or sealer, think about the needs of the surface you are painting, and make sure you are getting the right product for those needs. For more information about primers and sealers, contact Celtic Commercial Painting.

Five Reasons to use Ecoblast Abrasive Blasting

Ecoblasting is the process of using water vapor and air to clean a surface or prepare it for treatment like painting. Although typical blasting equipment can be harmful to the environment, Graco EcoQuip blasting equipment was designed specifically to do the job while being kind to the environment. Celtic uses EcoQuip because it strikes an effective balance between air and water, to create an ultra-fine spray of water vapor that suppresses dust in the cleanest possible way. There are many reasons that ecoblast is best for the environment, but here are the top five:  

1. There is no such thing as dustless blasting, but Ecoblast gets pretty close. 

The truth is, no blasting technique can be completely dust-free. But because the water vapor captures dust without leaving behind a wet, slurry mess, 92 percent dust that would normally be airborne during blasting is suppressed. Customers see the difference when we are onsite. The process makes our cleanup as easy as possible.

2. Ecoblasting is effective for most surfaces. 

Because of its power, as well as its ability to clean or strip, we can ecoblast in many situations where surface prep is important. Here are just some of the ways our customers have requested ecoblast to help prepare surfaces for coating:

• Cleaning off mold and dirt
• Removing graffiti and paint  
• Maintaining marine structures by removing barnacles, biofilm, and other coatings
• Restoring structures by eliminating corrosion, grime, and surface dirt
• Cleaning steel surfaces of dust, rust and paint.
• Preparing surfaces for new paints and coatings to help them stick better

Ecoblasting also has adjustable pressure settings that can adapt to any job, from the most delicate surfaces to the concrete wall. Ecoblasting will clean thoroughly without damaging your surfaces, while creating the perfect, durable and long-lasting foundation for a new coating.

3. Ecoblasting is best for the environment.  

Because ecoblasting uses less water while still working more efficiently than other equipment, the process does not produce any toxic waste runoff or excess media. Air pollution in the work area is kept to a minimum. With ecoblasting, you can rest assured that the job is being done with minimal mess for you and for the environment.

4. Ecoblasting is reliable. 

Ecoblasting can be used inside or out, and is not affected by high levels of humidity. It performs steadily wherever it is employed. That means we will be able to expertly prepare your surfaces without delay. 

5. We offer the fastest, most effective ecoblasting available. 

As a process, ecoblast is the way to go for fast, efficient and environmentally friendly surface preparation. However, the type of equipment used will make a marked difference in the speed of the actual prep time. We use Graco EcoQuip for our ecoblasting, because it is the fastest on the market and we want to complete the work for our customers as quickly as possible. Wondering what a difference speed can make in the ecoblast process? You may enjoy watching the EcoQuip speed comparison videos, where they go head to head with competitor’s equipment and outperform them every time!


Ecoblast may be the answer to your surface preparation needs. If you want to learn more about our premium ecoblast services, please give us a call at 630-783-1400.

Introducing Celtic’s 5 Points of Difference

Since we opened the doors at Celtic, we have enjoyed finding the ideal, most workable and cost effective plans to get every project done right. Our dedication to every job from the simplest repaint to challenging, highly technical projects, sets us apart from our competition. We’d like to share with you the five points of difference that make Celtic great – and make us the go-to painting company for the entire Chicagoland area.

1. Access

Project completion relies on the ability to get tools and equipment to the job site. Access to the site is critical, as is choosing the right tools for the job. Knowing how to assess specific needs is important. For instance, building a sturdy scaffold when all you safely need is a ladder is overkill and more expensive for the customer. Determining access takes knowledge and experience. 

2. Safety

Safety – for both our crew and our customers – is our main priority. We work with Safety Check to ensure that we exceed the safety measures the law requires. Sure, this takes time and effort on our part. In the end, it’s well worth the investment of resources. We want everyone to make it home happy and healthy.

3. Preparation

If you want a fantastic looking finish, you have to begin with a perfectly prepared surface. We have the tools and technology to prepare surfaces for a multitude of finishes. This is important for a number of reasons, from rust remediation to matching the texture of existing surfaces. 

4. Logistics

Logistics is the cost-effective process of planning, implementing and controlling the efficient movement of goods and services to the customer. For us, it means getting the job completed with minimal disruption to the customer. Nobody wants to hear about a project delay because the equipment or manpower was not well coordinated. They want to hear about how we seamlessly integrated every step of the project and finished on time, if not before.

5. Project Management

Careful supervision at every step sets the stage for success. Solving issues as they crop up keeps them from becoming large problems down the road. Which, incidentally, keeps the timeline intact. For us, it also means always being available for our clients whenever they need us.

There you have it in a nutshell – the five points that make Celtic the preferred painting company. In the next few months, we’ll take a closer look at each point and show you how all your painting problems are solved with us.