Maintaining pulp and paper facilities with protective coatings requires special considerations due to conditions specific to the mill site and the coating application area. A systematic year by year plan will increase service life for structural components, equipment, concrete, and buildings. It will minimize those "crisis" repair/replacement projects that put a strain on your budget and can compromise structural integrity and safety. Proper planning, which includes condition assessment, surface preparation, and paint system development, is the first step to a successful project. This paper presents several case histories on mill coating problems and offers practical solutions to them.