Bringing a 6-Story Custom Hotel Paint Project to Life at Caption by Hyatt

When a Miami design firm approaches you with a vision for a blocked pattern effect across a six-story horseshoe-shaped building, you don't just grab a brush and start painting. You pull out the plans, sharpen your pencils, and prepare to orchestrate one of the most meticulous paint jobs your team has ever tackled. 

That's exactly what we did at Caption by Hyatt in downtown Chattanooga.

The Challenge: Precision on a Massive Canvas

The Caption by Hyatt isn't your standard rectangular box. This thin brick veneer and EIFS system building curves around itself in a horseshoe shape, creating unique sightlines and angles that would expose any mistakes. Add in custom-colored louvers for the HVAC units that needed to coordinate perfectly with the painted blocks, and you've got a project where "close enough" simply doesn't exist. 

The design called for creating visual interest through color blocking: essentially turning a six-story building into a work of geometric art. But here's the thing: when you're working at that scale, being off by even a few inches at the top compounds into feet of misalignment by the time you reach the ground. 

We had to get it right.

Mapping the Masterpiece

Before a single brush touched the building, we spent days reading plans, mapping layouts, and marking everything out on paper. This wasn't a "figure it out as we go" situation. Every block had to be precisely positioned to work with the building's architecture, coordinate with those custom louvers, and create the visual rhythm the designers envisioned. 

Once we had the plan locked in, we moved to the building itself with boom lifts and scaffold systems. Our team snapped chalk lines across the entire exterior, framing out exactly where each color block would live. But here's where it gets interesting: we didn't just mark the lines. We numbered every single block. 

Paint by numbers? Absolutely. But on a six-story scale. 

This numbering system eliminated confusion, prevented mistakes, and allowed multiple crew members to work simultaneously without stepping on each other's toes. Everyone knew exactly which block they were painting, what color it needed to be, and how it fit into the larger pattern.

e finish coat for UV protection and durability. It's a system, not just a product.

The Foundation: Building a Bulletproof Base

You can't create crisp, lasting color blocks without starting with a solid foundation. We began by homogeneously spraying the entire exterior white using Sherwin-Williams Loxon XP: a siliconized elastomeric that creates a film over masonry to seal it in.

We used an 827 tip, which is massive by industry standards. Why? Because we needed to "hang the paint" as densely as possible. This isn't about just covering the surface: it's about building proper mil thickness and film on the building to truly seal the structure. 

After spraying, we back-rolled everything with a one-inch Marathon nap. This technique ensures maximum adhesion and film build, creating a waterproof barrier that will protect the building for years. 

Think of it as building a canvas. Before an artist can create a masterpiece, they need the right surface. We were creating that surface on a commercial scale.

Executing the Vision: Taping, Painting, and Perfecting

With the white base coat locked in, we moved to the color blocking phase. This is where Green Frog Tape became our best friend. We meticulously taped off each numbered block, following our chalk line roadmap with precision. 

The tape created crisp, clean lines between colors: no bleeding, no rough edges, just sharp delineation that makes the geometric pattern pop. Each block was painted carefully, with attention to coverage and consistency. When you're creating a pattern effect like this, every block has to match perfectly in color density and finish, or the whole design falls apart. 

But we didn't stop at the paint. The real finishing touch came with Loxon S1 solvent-borne caulking: a premium product we used to tighten up the lines between the louvers and brickwork. This stuff is expensive. It's also 100% solid, doesn't shrink, and is specifically engineered for masonry-to-metal and masonry-to-masonry applications. 

Is it overkill? Not when you're building something that needs to last. We don't cut corners on materials to save a few bucks. We use the best products for the job because that's what delivers long-term results.

Framing Space for Art: Coordinating with Muralists

One of the coolest aspects of this project was the exterior river mural designed by the architect for a specific section of the building. Our job wasn't to paint the mural: that's where the artists shine: but to measure, frame, and prepare the exact space where the mural would live. 

This coordination is where commercial painting expertise meets artistic vision. Artists are incredibly talented at what they do, but navigating commercial job sites, coordinating with general contractors, managing schedules, and dealing with the logistics of multi-story building access? That's not their world. It's ours. 

We handled the heavy lifting, literally and figuratively: ensuring the space was prepped, measured correctly, and ready for the artist to work their magic. We've partnered with muralists on multiple projects, and this approach works beautifully. They get to focus on creating art while we manage the commercial realities of the job site. 

And honestly? We love this kind of collaboration. It combines technical precision with creative expression, resulting in buildings that aren't just functional: they're visually striking. 

Our Philosophy: Quality Over Value

Let's be clear about something: Dream Team Finishes aren't the "value proposition." We're the quality proposition.

We focus exclusively on commercial painting: 120 to 300-key hotels, manufacturing and industrial facilities, and curated custom finishes for designer restaurants and offices. We don't do 50 different things. We do one thing: paint. And we do it at the highest level. 

Whether it's a modern color-blocked exterior like Caption by Hyatt or bespoke finishes like historic plaster, lime washes, Roman clays, lacquers, conversion varnishes, or high-gloss applications, we approach every project with the same obsessive attention to detail. 

Don't know how to finish something? We'll figure it out. Because we have a genuine passion for this work. Paint isn't just what we do: it's what we live for. 

The Result: A Downtown Landmark

The Caption by Hyatt now stands as a geometric masterpiece on Main Street in Chattanooga, drawing eyes and turning heads. The color blocks create visual rhythm and movement across the horse shoe façade. The custom louvers integrate seamlessly into the design. The river mural adds artistic flair. And beneath it all, a bulletproof coating system protects the building from the elements. 

This project showcased what's possible when meticulous planning meets skilled execution, premium materials, and a refusal to compromise on quality. It's the kind of work that makes us proud: not just because it looks incredible, but because we know it's built to last. 

If you're planning a commercial project that demands precision, creativity, and uncompromising quality, let's talk. We bring the technical expertise, the commercial coordination, and the passion that turns architectural visions into lasting reality.

Let's Talk About Your Next Project

Visit us at Dream Team Finishes to learn more about how we can bring your next project to life.