Sonic Drive-In Exterior Repaint

Project Timeline and Scope

The Sonic Drive-In project began with one location in Jacksonville, Arkansas, after receiving a lead from a regional manager. Once the first store was completed, word spread quickly among other regional managers across the state. Soon, CertaPro was hired to paint a total of 17 Sonic locations in various cities, including Berryville, Bentonville, Rogers, Jacksonville, Benton, Bryant, Hot Springs, Lowell, Centerton, Bella Vista, White Hall, and Hensley.

Each location required about 3-5 days to complete, depending on the specific work needed. With the locations spread across Arkansas, the project was spread out over multiple weeks and took about 8 weeks to finish all 17 stores. Despite the complexity of managing multiple sites, CertaPro’s team worked efficiently to stay on schedule.

Condition of the Facilities

When work began, many of the Sonic locations still had their original paint schemes from when they were first built. Most of the main buildings had never been repainted, so they were long overdue for an update. The exterior surfaces had worn down over time, showing signs of age and weather damage. This made the transformation all the more noticeable, as the new paint jobs dramatically improved the appearance of each store.

Project Details

The project involved several key tasks to revitalize the Sonic locations. Many of the buildings had EFIS or stucco walls, which required patching where old signs had been removed. The work also included exterior painting, rust preparation on metal surfaces, and cleaning the silver caps at car hop stations using a simple green solution or Krud Kutter. Other tasks included parking lot striping and painting fire curbs, ensuring a clean and professional look.

One of the most notable aspects of the project was the use of boom lifts to access the “Dog House,” the rounded dome at the top of each Sonic building. This structure is made from anodized aluminum, which requires a specific painting process. The team power-washed the surface, applied a wash primer, then primed with Pro-Cryl Primer before finishing with a topcoat of Shercryl. The use of high-quality Sherwin Williams products, such as Emerald, LOXON primer, Kem Kromic Primer, and Industrial Enamel, ensured a durable and long-lasting finish.

Challenges Faced

The Sonic Drive-In project came with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was the design specifications provided by Sonic. The buildings were designed with multiple colors and diagonal lines, which had to be carefully laid out before painting could begin. This required precision and skill from the painting crews to ensure the design was executed perfectly.

Another challenge was the fact that the stores remained open for business during the entire painting process. CertaPro’s crews had to work around the daily operations of each Sonic location, including the drive-thru, car hops, and customer traffic. This meant coordinating work around peak hours and ensuring that the painting didn’t disrupt normal business operations. Despite these challenges, the crews were able to complete each location within the 3-5 day window.

Special Equipment and Techniques

The project required special equipment and techniques to handle the different materials found at each Sonic location. Many of the buildings featured Nichiha Panels, which are high-end fiber cement panels designed to mimic the look of wood, concrete, or brick. These panels required washing, priming with LOXON primer, and a topcoat of Emerald Exterior to achieve a clean and durable finish. The team’s experience and expertise with these materials ensured a high-quality result that will stand up to the elements.