Renovating a commercial space provides immediate benefits not only for your customers but also your employees who work in the establishment on a daily basis. Renovating provides the opportunity to add appeal, make repairs and optimise space.
If you are considering this important upgrade to your premises, there are so many issues that you need to take into account. This quick guide will help ensure that you cover all the important aspects and make the most of your budget while ensuring environmental sustainability.
Seek Expert Opinion Early
It is important to seek expert advice early in the process. A skilled professional that you trust is essential to help in clear decision making. Frequent discussion of your ideas with an experienced adviser is vital.
In the first stages of your research you might get in touch with a commercial renovations contractor who has been recommended by friends or associates. Quite often initial consultations are free but be aware that these types of arrangements can provide rather limited advice.
A paid consultation, at an agreed hourly rate will usually generate much more detailed advice. Many providers will also deduct the consultation cost from their fees if you should engage their services. An initial consultation also gives the opportunity to gauge your compatibility with the contractor and allow you to judge how you can work together.
Think about your desired overall goals and how you might achieve your targets, including sustainability outcomes. These can be a starting point for communicating your brief to the contractor.
Give a high priority to features on your list that may be expensive or difficult to add at a later stage, for example high cost items such as windows and their placement.
Reduce Energy Expenditure
Unsurprisingly, most business owners are aiming to reduce their energy expenditure. Monthly outgoings are continually on the rise. Therefore, energy efficiency should be an important focus in renovation choices. Note these tips that favour environmentally preferred results.
Choose a contractor that is fully conversant with building sustainability, who will take every opportunity to use sound practices. For example they should:
- make designs and space arrangements that achieve high levels of thermal and air-flow performance.
- employ strategies that will maximise the retention of existing structures
- re-use or recycle materials
- choose new materials that are environmentally sound
Availability and delivery times often force builders and contractors to make on-the-spot decisions. Your contractor needs the ability to make quick, well-informed decisions.
Getting a Price
Your contractor needs to make allowances for many unforeseen contingencies when creating the budget for your renovation. Even with extensive experience, renovation contractors usually need to quote on the worst case scenario.
Usually the best option is to nominate lump sums for completed stages of work based on invoices for materials and agreed hourly rates. Agree to a budget cap for each stage of the work and pay each invoice as you go to avoid a significant bill at the conclusion.
Make sure that any variations are negotiated and fully agreed upon and not deferred before progressing to the next stage.
Your contract documents are vital and should cover:
- specific materials and definite time frame for construction
- site access and handling and storage of waste
- working hours, noise, dust and access to facilities
- who is liable for any damage to existing property
- any safety issues and proposed solutions
- insurance cover and warranty
- a list of all environmental performance outcomes
Seek Compliance certification
Before you sign off on each stage, you can check that any environmental objectives have been met. A certified building inspector from your local council, or a registered inspector can ensure that environmental standards are sustained.
Reach out to a place like Randstar Building Services to get more information on starting your reno project today.
