If you’re planning on remodeling your commercial property, what you don’t know can quickly cause trouble for your project and your business. That’s why it’s essential to team up with a commercial construction company that can help navigate through the process. Here are some common dangers that business owners are sometimes are unaware of that can cause issues during a commercial remodeling project.
Commercial Remodeling Concerns
Certificate of Occupancy Restrictions
The Certificate of Occupancy dictates how to use the building. Changing it isn’t easy and it can be very costly to do so. If your building’s CO doesn’t match your plans, you may be heading for trouble. Therefore, checking your CO will help you decide on your next step.
Existing Violation Questions
When you remodel, inspectors sometimes discover existing violations on a property. Even if you weren’t responsible for the original work, you might be responsible for fixing it. The good news is that if you’re leasing a building, the corrections may be the landlord’s financial responsibility. Unfortunately, dealing with the work can cause delays that throw off the schedule of your own commercial renovation.
MEPS Under Pressure
Different types of businesses place various levels of demand on mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. If you’re taking over a space, you’ll need to ensure that the existing systems are appropriate for your needs. It’s a smart idea to review your current MEPS before any commercial remodeling takes place. You want to make sure any new renovations are compatible with your current systems.
Underestimating Your Budget
Running out of funds in the middle of a project is a nightmare for everyone involved. Working with an experienced commercial general contractor is one way to protect yourself. An experienced general contractor can plan for contingencies during the renovation process. Being sure that your budget includes a 10% contingency for any surprises is also wise.
Underestimating Your Schedule
Time is money, and misjudging the timing of your project can hit your bottom line hard. The problem can result from a failure to have materials or workers where they are needed, overly ambitious scheduling of tasks or other issues. Whatever the cause, projects that run beyond their expected timeline cause major headaches for both your budget and your company’s operations.
Unexpected Building Issues
Whether it’s a factory, industrial complex, or commercial office renovation, a remodeling project involves reworking an existing structure. Since you aren’t starting with a blank slate, you may encounter surprises along the way, and those surprises can cause problems for your plans. Concerns like mold, pests, or illegal wiring are never welcome. However, they have to be dealt with before you can continue with your original plans.
If you’re renovating, that may include making sure that it complies with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. The law allows for older spaces to be grandfathered in. However, renovations sometimes trigger requirements for updates to improve accessibility.
Hiring an Inexperienced Commercial Contractor
Hiring novice office remodeling contractors may seem like a way to give a new firm a chance and snag a bargain. However, it comes with real risks. As we’ve outlined above, what you don’t know about commercial remodeling can affect your bottom line. Sadly, an inexperienced commercial contractor may not be prepared to understand these pitfalls before, during or after the project. An experienced commercial contractor is. They are confident about guiding clients through potential risks. The most experienced contractors also have systems in place to communicate clearly with both their teams and their clients. An open line of communication ensures less risk of important information getting lost in the shuffle.
CBF Contracting Inc. has been in business since 1978 serving the greater Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. We’ve expanded our coverages area to all of PA, Ohio, Western NY & Virginia. We are proud of the solid reputation that we’ve built. If you’re planning a commercial remodeling project, contact us to discuss your project.
