When architects, designers and builders specify coatings, durability has traditionally been the benchmark. A finish that looks good and performs for years has long been considered a successful outcome.

Today, however, project success is being measured through a much broader lens. 

As refurbishment activity increases, construction programmes tighten and more buildings remain operational during works, architects and designers are being asked to consider not just how a coating performs in 10 years, but how it supports project delivery from day one. The conversation is shifting from product performance alone to whole-of-project outcomes.

Greg McGrannachan, Specification and Commercial Manager at Dulux New Zealand, answers your questions on what architects should be considering when specifying coatings for today's more complex projects.

When specifying a coating today, what factors matter beyond long-term durability?

For many years, coating selection was largely driven by appearance and durability. Those things still matter, but we're increasingly seeing architects and designers consider a wider range of project outcomes. From a DuluxGroup perspective, that means looking beyond an individual product to understand how the complete coating solution can support project delivery, reduce future maintenance demands and contribute to the overall performance of a building.

Good specification is no longer simply about selecting a product that lasts. It's about selecting solutions that support the needs of owners, occupiers and facilities managers throughout the life of the building.

How have refurbishment projects and occupied buildings changed what good coating performance looks like?

The reality is that a growing proportion of projects are occurring in buildings that remain operational throughout the works. Schools still need to educate students, healthcare facilities still need to treat patients and offices still need to function.

That has shifted the conversation around performance. Architects and designers are increasingly looking at how coatings can minimise disruption, support efficient project delivery and help buildings return to normal operation as quickly as possible.

What makes a coating genuinely project-friendly from an architect's or asset owner's perspective?

A project-friendly coating supports more than the completed aesthetic outcome. It helps reduce risk during delivery, provides confidence that the design intent can be consistently achieved and minimises the burden of maintenance over time. DuluxGroup's role is to help connect specification advice, coating technology and practical project considerations so the selected solution is appropriate from design through to application and ongoing asset care.

From an asset owner's perspective, the best coatings are often the ones that quietly perform in the background, reducing intervention and helping keep buildings functional and presentable for longer.

Why should architects and designers care about what happens in the first 24 hours after application?

We often focus on how coatings perform after five or ten years, but some of the most important performance characteristics emerge much earlier.

The period immediately after application can influence programme timelines, asset usability and the risk of surface damage. As project schedules become more constrained, understanding how coatings perform during those critical early stages is becoming increasingly relevant to specification decisions.

How can coating performance influence how quickly spaces, doors, windows or joinery return to service?

Every project has a point where completed work needs to transition back into everyday use. Whether it's a classroom, hospital ward, apartment building or commercial office, the ability to return assets to service efficiently can have a significant impact on project outcomes.

Coating technologies that support earlier hardness development and improved resistance to damage can help reduce downtime and support building operations without compromising finish quality.

What coating characteristics help reduce disruption during building operation and maintenance?

The coatings that typically deliver the greatest long-term value are often those that reduce future intervention. Characteristics such as cleanability, resistance to wear, appearance retention and durability can all contribute to extending maintenance cycles and reducing the need for frequent refurbishment.

For building owners, reducing disruption is often just as valuable as reducing cost.

How important are cleanability, appearance retention and maintenance intervals in today's specifications?

Increasingly important. Building owners are placing greater emphasis on whole-of-life thinking and are looking beyond the initial project handover.

Maintaining the appearance of high-use environments can have a direct impact on occupant perception, asset value and operational budgets. As a result, there's growing interest in coatings that can withstand regular cleaning and continue to perform in demanding environments over time.

Where do modern decorative coatings deliver value beyond aesthetics and protection?

Modern decorative coatings play a much broader role than many people realise. They can contribute to maintenance efficiency, improve operational continuity and help building owners preserve the quality of their assets over longer periods. Within DuluxGroup, decorative coatings can also be considered as part of a broader project conversation, helping designers evaluate the needs of different substrates, environments and stages of the building lifecycle.

The value of a coating is increasingly measured not only by how it looks, but by how it supports the broader performance of the building.

How does Aquanamel reflect some of these broader industry trends?

Aquanamel is one example of how DuluxGroup coating innovation is increasingly being directed toward project outcomes rather than simply technical performance metrics.

Features such as earlier hardness development, improved block resistance and enhanced application characteristics ultimately support broader goals around durability, usability and return-to-service. Those are considerations that are becoming increasingly relevant in both new-build and refurbishment environments.

What coating performance criteria do you think designers will place greater emphasis on over the next five years?

I think we'll see continued movement towards lifecycle thinking. Architects and designers will increasingly consider how coatings contribute to operational performance, maintenance efficiency and long-term asset management outcomes. This creates an important opportunity for DuluxGroup to support customers with a more connected, solution-led approach that considers coating selection, project delivery and ongoing asset performance together.

As refurbishment activity grows and buildings remain occupied for longer periods, the industry is likely to place greater emphasis on coatings that support continuity, minimise disruption and help deliver value across the entire building lifecycle.

DuluxGroup can do more than assist architects and designers with products from industrial, decorative, textured and sealants; we can help deliver integrated specification solutions that improve project outcomes, reduce risk and support asset performance across the entire building lifecycle.