From Faded to Fresh: $40K Cheney Apartment Refresh Across from EWU

Two 3.5-story apartment buildings near Eastern Washington University (EWU) in Cheney, WA were due for a professional exterior refresh. The property, owned by a husband-and-wife team who manage several multi-family buildings in the region, had begun to show wear from seasonal exposure and daily tenant traffic.

Heinemann Painting was hired to carry out a full wash, prep, and repaint of both buildings. The total project covered several thousand square feet of painted surface and required coordinated logistics due to the buildings’ height and the presence of active tenants.

The project timeline spanned 10 days, including weather delays and tenant coordination. Services included pressure washing, scraping, caulking, priming, full trim repainting, and a refinish of metal stair structures using a rust-inhibiting coating system. The project cost fell between $30,000 and $40,000, reflecting the scale, prep complexity, and quality coatings used.

The property owners—long-time clients of Heinemann Painting—contacted us again when they noticed the paint on their Cheney apartment buildings beginning to fade and peel, especially along the sun-exposed elevations and stair structures. With an apartment turnover coming up, they wanted the buildings looking clean and updated to help with tenant retention and maintain curb appeal in a competitive rental market.

The owners emphasized they didn’t want to make a dramatic color change. They wanted to refresh the existing gray tone but with higher-quality coatings and clean new lines. They also wanted a crisp contrast on trim and accents, which had yellowed over time.

Most urgently, the exterior metal staircases were beginning to rust—a clear liability and an aesthetic issue. They needed a proper coating system, not just a quick cosmetic cover-up.

Because we had already worked with these owners on past properties, the expectations were clear. They trusted our recommendations and knew we’d deliver the results without needing constant oversight. Once colors and timing were confirmed, our team got to work right away.

• Pressure Washed All Exterior Surfaces: Used commercial-grade washers to remove dirt, mildew, and loose paint from siding, trim, and stairs.

• Scraped and Prepped Failing Areas: Hand-scraped peeling spots and sanded edges to smooth transitions before priming.

• Caulked and Sealed Joints: Applied high-performance exterior caulk around windows, door frames, and expansion joints to prevent moisture intrusion.

• Primed with Rust Inhibitor (Stairs): Treated all metal staircases with a rust-blocking primer to prevent further corrosion.

• Sprayed Full Exterior Body Color: Applied one full coat of custom blue-gray paint using a spray-and-backroll method for even coverage.

• Hand-Painted Trim and Accents: Finished all trim and architectural accents in off-white for clean definition and contrast.

• Applied High-Performance Stair Coating: Completed two coats of walkable black semi-gloss on stair treads and rails using a single-component high-adhesion system.

• Final Inspection and Clean-Up: Conducted a detailed walkthrough, touched up edges, and ensured all overspray and debris were removed before sign-off.

After 10 days of focused work, both buildings were transformed without disrupting the tenants or daily operations. The updated blue-gray body color, paired with crisp white trim, gives the property a fresh, clean profile from the street—exactly what the owners wanted.

The most notable improvement came from the restoration of the stair structures. The combination of rust inhibitor primer and walkable enamel not only made the stairs safer but also improved their visual impact. No more rust bleed-through, no flaking paint—just smooth black steps that look sharp and function even better.

The owners were pleased with both the aesthetic finish and our adherence to schedule and communication. With tenants remaining onsite throughout the work, we coordinated daily updates and safety protocols to ensure minimal disruption.

“Heinemann Painting makes it easy. They understand property timelines, they deliver exactly what they promise, and the buildings look fantastic—again.”

For Heinemann Painting, this was another successful step in our ongoing partnership with conscientious property owners who understand the value of quality coatings, skilled prep, and professional communication.