You’ve got a big vision for your commercial space and now the search is on to find the right contractors to refurbish it in line with your expectations. Choosing the right partner is the single most important decision you will make when planning your commercial refurbishment project, so how can you be sure that you have picked the correct one?

We have put together a list of questions that will help you to shortlist your preferred contractors and verify that their commitment to excellence aligns with your expectations for the project. Having the answers to these questions, including which accreditations they have and what processes are in place to minimise disruptions, will give you the clarity you need to sign off on their design, so keep them to hand when reviewing contractors this winter.

1. Which Services Do You Provide?

All the best commercial refurbishment contractors will offer a full project management package that handles all aspects of the project on your behalf, including:

• New flooring for the different areas of the building.
• Suspended ceilings and partitions.
• New lighting systems.
• Washroom and bathroom refurbishments.
• Painting and decorating.

The contractor that you pick will then be your single point of contact for all questions, changes, and updates right up until the final handover. So, ask your shortlisted contractors for a full list of everything that they provide as part of their project management services and go for the option that includes everything you need in one package.

2. What Accreditations Do You Have?

As well as having extensive experience across a variety of projects (and a selection of case studies to evidence this), your contractor of choice must also be compliant with all the relevant risk management, environmental protection, and building safety regulations.

We recommend only choosing contractors who are approved by the following regulatory bodies:

• CHAS: A CHAS membership demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to health and safety compliance across their supply chain and procurement operations.
• SafeContractor: A SafeContractor-approved accreditation certifies that a business has proven itself to be safe and responsible, and has an up-to-date awareness of all health and safety legislation.
• Constructionline: Constructionline conducts independent assessments of contractors to verify that they meet all PAS91 criteria and lists the accreditations of its approved suppliers on its online register.
• Environment Agency: An EA-registered waste carrier must identify and classify all waste to facilitate proper waste management by an authorised organisation and prevent harm to people and the environment.

Now your project is in the best hands, with the right accreditations to back this up.

3. How Do You Select and Oversee Contractors?

Whilst you might think that using different contractors for each stage of your project will save money and speed up the process, this approach often causes many more problems than it solves.

Now you are responsible for assigning work, keeping each and every contractor on track, and avoiding delays. Without the relevant experience you risk going way over your budget and completion date, so leave this to the professionals instead.

Most commercial refurbishment companies have a long-term working relationship with other contractors and suppliers and will be able to arrange all the services that your project needs in one package. Asking your preferred company how long they have been working with their network of contractors, how they will coordinate all these different parties, and how they will keep the project on schedule will give you the peace of mind that you need to hand over control of your project without any lingering doubts.

4. How Do You Minimise Disruption Throughout a Project?

Your team needs to be able to carry on as normal whilst the project is ongoing without any refurbishment works getting in the way. Since projects of this size often last for several weeks you’ll need to choose a contractor that won’t disrupt your daily operations or prevent your business from meeting all of its usual targets over the course of the refurbishment.

Whilst most commercial refurbishment contractors are sensitive to your operations, the standout choices will go above and beyond to accommodate your operations and respect your business. They may schedule noisy works around your busy operating times, including after business hours and during the weekends, or construct temporary areas for your team to work in whilst the sites’ interior is stripped out and refurbished.

Reviews from previous customers will provide the insight that you need into their respectful and non-disruptive way of working, so explore their online reviews and search for testimonials that directly relate to these strategies before making your final decision.

5. How Will I Be Kept Informed?

Even now that you know your project is being carried out by the best contractor in your local area, you will still want to be kept in the loop at all times.

Having a good relationship with you is just as important for any company as having a good relationship with their suppliers and contractors, and it is their responsibility to keep you informed about the progress of your project, as well as any predicted delays or additional expenses as soon as they become aware of them.

You will also need to be able to get in touch with your point of contact if any issues arise on your end, or you have any questions regarding the budget, timeline, or completed works. So, ask who your point of contact will be before the project starts and how your regular updates will be delivered: for example, will you be sent weekly emails with key information, or will they arrange in-person meetings after each stage of the project is completed?

Commercial Refurbishment Contractors In Southern England

If you have big plans for your premises, and are looking for the right contractor to bring them to life, then Universal Contracting Ltd is the partner for you.

Their decades-long expertise across both commercial and industrial property refurbishments guarantees the high standards you require, so contract their services with confidence by getting in touch today.