Ultimate Guide To Commercial Remodeling and Renovation

Change is a symbol of transformation, hope, and freshness. And commercial spaces aren’t bereft of this obvious process. Whether you’re planning to upgrade the outdated design of your office space, harmonize multiple rooms into a single expanse, or entirely alter the structure or layout of retail space, commercial remodeling and renovation will come to your rescue.

If precisely defined, remodeling implies changing the interior and exterior of an existing structure, whereas renovation executes the job of refurbishing an old construction into new, both the terms are used interchangeably. A commercial remodeling project aims to fulfill predominantly two objectives – to churn out maximum functionality and appealing aesthetics and to raise the resale value of the property. It’s a go-to solution for building owners which is not only cost-effective but less labor-intensive.

The cost of remodeling per square foot depends upon the size, length, location, materials used, and weather conditions during the project, so if you have a tight budget, cut short the project timeline. As exciting as the renovation process seems, it’s an equally overwhelming affair demanding every step to be carefully taken. If done right, it bears the power to drastically put a positive impact on your business.

While every commercial remodel is unique, a typical commercial construction project is structured like this :

• Planning
• Hiring a professional
• Designing
• Pre-construction compliances
• Collecting materials & resources
• Construction
• Post-construction

Advantages of Remodeling & Renovation

• Boosts Productivity

Who doesn’t like working in a comfortable office? When the work environment is tailor-made for employees, it enhances their mood and inspires them to be more dedicated to their job. A win-win situation for both the company and workers.

• Uplifts Your Business Image & Profits

Imagine you lend your restaurant a makeover conceptualized with a chic theme and adorned with instagrammable elements. Result? Eager customers to check out your new space and consequently, word-of-mouth marketing that will uplift your business image in no time.

• Cost-Effective

Without costing truckloads of money, remodeling and renovation ensure you get a restructured and redesigned commercial construction. As a comprehensive deal, several commercial construction companies offer services like design, construction, carpentry, flooring, painting, repairing, etc. for your project.

• Reduces Business Expenditure

Another noteworthy benefit of commercial remodeling is that it boosts employees’ productivity and efficiency, and helps to lessen the overall cost of running businesses. On the other hand, swapping old-style electrical models with energy-saving alternatives is a smart way to limit your expenditure.

• Scope For Safety Checks

While performing construction, commercial contractors examine the building’s damaged areas and vulnerability possibilities. Hence, repairing these areas eliminates the risk of mishaps. Keeping your building in a physically safe condition is the most crucial part of commercial construction services.

What Does It Take To Do Commercial Remodeling?

For a successful project remodeling, you must have a clear vision of the whole procedure, set achievable benchmarks, and stay well organized for your dream property to turn into reality.

Here is the ultimate guide to commercial remodeling that throws light on each step right from planning to post-construction.

Planning

A goal without a plan is a daydream. Commercial remodeling and renovation come with their own set of challenges and to overcome them, intricate planning proves to be an antidote to expensive errors.

Here are the fundamental factors worth considering before starting your renovation project :

Vision – The foremost step of planning is setting the aim of the project. Do you want to design a fresh exterior? Do you wish to revitalize your interiors by installing advanced equipment or systems? Whatever your requirements may be, arrange a series of meetings with key stakeholders in your company to synchronize the project goals and make sure everyone is on the same page in terms of work and budget.

Budget – Setting clear objectives and requirements considerably results in better budget planning. Since the end goal of remodeling is escalating profits, a balance between renovation cost and estimated profit revenue should be kept. An ideal budget includes the costs of materials, employee wages, concession fees, essential services, project timeline, and a margin for overhead costs.

Time – Timing is everything and a realistic schedule is a secret to maintaining meticulous facility operations and a smooth transition. It’s always a wise decision to book a commercial remodeling company a few months prior to the designated start date. Unexpected delays are inevitable, and for this reason, spare an extra room between the project completion date and the expected move-in date.

Assessment of current conditions – Before commencing the actual process, construction professionals assess the current conditions and infrastructure of your commercial workspace and recommend appropriate improvements. Various aspects such as foundation, electrical and mechanical systems, windows, stairways, flooring, roofs, exterior walls, columns, materials used, and others are the major parameters during a site survey.

Survey of the surrounding neighborhood – The Building Codes and Zoning Ordinances are applicable to new as well as remodeled structures. If the building is switching its original usage, changed parts may need to be brought into adherence to present codes. Another possibility is that existing features of the building will require alterations – ramps that are too steep and systems that are too energy-consuming.

Inconvenience to Employees or Customers – Are you planning to vacate the building during construction? Will you have enough accommodation options for the employees? Figuring out these questions early avoids any inconvenience to company employees and customers. Keep the employees well-informed about project timelines.

To minimize the disruption of the remodel, decide on acceptable noise levels during work hours, debris management, construction staging areas, temporary shift spaces, and other factors. If needed, grant permission to your employees to work from home.

Hiring A Professional

The one defining element that has the power to make or break the whole project is a commercial construction company. Hire a commercial remodeling contractor instead of a commercial construction general contractor as the former specializes in commercial construction.

Throughout the process of planning, designing, budgeting, handling supply purchases, and undergoing legal compliances, your remodeling contractor will be your helping hand. A highly-professional contractor informs you of industry standards, aids you to enforce smarter decision-making, and works in line with your desired vision.

Remember construction projects are complex and lengthy. In case you and your commercial contractor don’t share a cooperative business relationship, then the project may disintegrate. And therefore, choosing the right partner is extremely important.

The topmost factors you should keep an eye on before signing a professional are as follows :

• Owns a license and certification.
• Offers realistic cost projections.
• Carries years of experience relevant to your type of project.
• Has earned impressive client testimonials and a work portfolio.
• References of past projects similar to yours.
• Positive feedback from previous clients.
• A large enough team at disposal to accomplish the project.

A good professional possesses a team player attitude, and is flexible, creative, and welcoming to the ideas of owners. He/she pays close attention to project details and provides quality work at each step. Overall safety and cleanliness must be a contractor’s topmost priority.

Designing

Chalking out a detailed design saves you from any miscommunications in the further stage of construction. This is also necessary while acquiring permissions from the authorities as well as complying with predetermined building codes for the redesigned portions.

Most importantly, what type of materials will be used, their quantity, color, texture, everything depends on a structure’s design layout.

An optimal design should meet two requirements – increased functionality and visual appeal.

First, come up with a conceptual design. For that, offer your commercial renovation contractors creative freedom to devise the most efficient and attractive design possible. You’ll be revealed to their potential and building’s maximum limit.

When the final design will get ready, chances are ideas about specific amenities and costs will undergo adjustments to match your budget. At such times, a proficient architect will present a budget-friendly design without compromising on original ideas.

Pre-Construction Compliances

The construction officially begins after you hand out a notice to contractors signaling them to proceed with the renovation. At this stage, all the insurance, permits, and documents should be obtained.

An unmissable aspect of the renovation is inspection. Inspection occurs before, during, and after the remodeling process. The foundation of the building, accessibility facilities, plumbing, and electrical systems will go through individual inspections in order to stay aligned with safety regulations. When building a public space, these are the factors of paramount importance.

Site evaluations are also vital for the sake of avoiding hazardous complications. With an upsurge in urban constructions, it becomes a responsibility to check whether your project could have any negative impacts on the environment.

Collecting Materials & Resources

Do you know who plays a critical role in a project’s quality and sustainability? Topnotch materials.

The products you will select must correspond to your set specifications and previously agreed-upon prices.

Many times, business owners fall into the trap of cheaper quality materials in an attempt to save money. This strategy backfires, resulting in frequent repairs and high maintenance costs.

With the assistance of commercial construction management, who procure materials in bulk from reputed dealers, you can reduce the cost per square foot without jeopardizing the quality.

As the saying goes, “Cheap is expensive”.

Construction

It’s a satisfying feeling to witness your project finally taking its shape. However, this stage involves much more than joining pieces together, and a lot of significant things happen behind the scenes.

Communicate with tenants like employees and customers about the discomforts they face due to the ongoing construction. Displaying 3D renderings of the end product to them is a great method of project visualization.

Interact with contractors, sub-contractors, and architects, and stay updated on the project’s progress. Keep a track of the building’s performance through site walkthroughs. Examine whether the commercial construction services are properly performed or not.

Post-Construction

Post-construction, contractors and business stakeholders conduct a walk-through, listing noticeable issues that need to be addressed before the project completes contractually. In order to identify such areas that require fine-tuning, a ‘Project Punch List’ comes handy.

It’s the duty of your commercial renovation contractor to tick everything mentioned off the list. Accordingly, attention will be directed to minor issues that haven’t matched contract specifications, and improvisations will be made.

Once those pending tasks are done, a round of completion inspections should be conducted where all the plumbing, electricity operations, and foundation will pass the final approval.

In the end, the company building has to secure a ‘Substantial Completion Certificate’ which officially verifies that the space is open for tenants for occupation and its intended use. It also permits the contractor to receive the final payments.

Bonus Tips

These useful tips will help to commercial renovation game up :

• Allocate Funds Wisely – When it comes to the distribution of resources, prioritize essential items and then move on to the additional expenses. A good judgment and understanding of where to invest more and where to invest fewer leads to sensible fund allocation.

• Reserve A Contingency Fund – The majority of business owners end up squandering more expenditure than they planned for remodeling. To cover up these unexpected costs, experts suggest reserving a contingency fund of 10-20% extra of the budgeted cost. This is a great preventive measure to tackle emergencies in the long run.

• Search For Economic Incentives – Another financial tip is to garner economic incentives to cut down the renovation costs. Economic incentives are mostly provided for commercial renovations. Generally, local financing or tax incentives are attributed to second-generation structures, however, if the remodeling allows hiring extra workers, then chances are heightened of obtaining additional incentive packages.

• Utilize Building’s Strengths – Does the building already provide enough sunlight inside? Does it have strong columns? As you start renovating the building, you should be aware of what it does well already. Knowing the building’s plus points offers a chance to focus more on its weaknesses.

• Promote Sustainability – No matter what type of business you own, planet conservation is every citizen’s responsibility. Commercial property owners can install solar panels for electricity and central heating. Suggestions could be taken from contractors to remodel in a way that allows the maximum amount of natural light to enter the building as well as keeps it naturally cooler. These steps will minimize the building’s carbon footprint.

Pulling off a commercial renovation project can feel stressful, even for a senior business owner having years of industry experience. A systematic preparation and a detailed guide like the above can tremendously ease the whole process.

Stay focused, plan, and seek expert help whenever stuck, and your new salon or corporate space will be ready to get relaunched in no time.