Are you planning a large-scale commercial refurbishment project this summer?
Maybe you’ve just moved into new premises and have big plans to strip out the space and refurbish it. Or perhaps you’ve outgrown your current office and want to extend it before onboarding a team of new hires. Whatever your vision for the space, choosing to plan your own redesign is an exciting challenge that puts you in control of your entire project.
From choosing the new flooring materials and decorative fixtures, to designing a new layout, every choice will be yours to make and every inch of the new space will reflect your brand. Planning a project of this scale can feel daunting, and you might not know where to start, but if you take it step by step and follow this guide closely then your new commercial space will be open for business in no time.
Establish Your Budget
Before you run away with yourself and start designing the workplace of your dreams, it’s a good idea to decide on your budget for the project at the very beginning.
The costs of transforming a workplace can quickly pile up so take the time to calculate the total expenses and give yourself enough leeway to cover any hidden costs that might crop up. This should include the cost of sourcing all the materials and fixtures, hiring contractors to install them, and having the relevant safety and compliance checks done.
This list, along with a breakdown of the key costs, will then form your project timeline and help you to stay on track (and on budget) at each stage of the project.
Create A Schedule of Works
Next, you need to create a schedule of works. Any commercial refurbishment project will involve a lot of different construction services that all need to be coordinated and done in the right order, and having a clear schedule of works is the best way to keep your project on track.
So, consult with a commercial property contractor and present them with your project outline. They will then arrange a schedule of works on your behalf that details what needs to be done and in what order. This will then help you to finalise your budget and to decide which construction services are absolutely essential and which ones can be done at a later date.
Check Local Restrictions
What do you currently know about local planning permissions? If the answer is ‘not much’ then it’s time to consult your local authority and check any development restrictions that will impact your project.
If you are only planning internal alterations (e.g. refurbishing the washrooms, installing new flooring, constructing partitions etc.) then you may not need planning permission. However, it is absolutely essential that you obtain the right permissions before making any structural modifications or carrying out any large-scale renovations.
This is particularly important if you are planning an extension as this will class as a major structural change and you will need to get your plans approved before you can greenlight any extensions.
Consider The Space
It’s exciting to think about all the possibilities offered by an extension, but you might be surprised to hear that you may not need one.
Instead, have a think about what it is that you are trying to accomplish by having the space extended and ask yourself whether it can be achieved with the space that is already available to you. If it is a simple case of not having enough storage space for all your products then wall mounted storage units could solve the problem, whilst partition walls will allow you to divide your workplace into separate units as needed if you are struggling to find enough room for team activities.
Ask your team for their input when making these decisions and decide as a unit whether an extension is worth the investment for your business.
Prioritise Sustainability
Sustainability is the cornerstone of any successful redesign project and it should be a key priority when planning yours.
Not only will this reduce the environmental impact of the project itself if you opt for recycled materials and sustainable processes, but it will also minimise the carbon footprint of your entire workplace for years to come. Smart lighting, LED-bulbs, non-drip taps and infrared heaters are all excellent alternatives to traditional fixtures that use excessive amounts of energy and waste resources, and switching to sustainable alternatives whenever possible will save energy without compromising on the comfort and professionalism of your workplace.
Contract the Professionals
Managing an entire commercial refurbishment project by yourself is a lot to take on. Without the right support, you risk hiring the wrong contractors, failing compliance checks, and missing key elements of the project – all whilst going over-budget and missing your project completion date.
The good news is that, thanks to Universal Contracting, you will never have to manage a project on your own. They offer beginning-to-end project management services that transform your premises on time and on budget, so contact them to find out more.
