In The Field: Fascinating Facts About Construction And Contractors

Regardless of what industry you work in, the appearance of your premises is important; it will play a large role in how your business is perceived not only by its employees, but also by clients and associates. The condition of a commercial space tends to reflect the condition of the business operating in it; it's rare to see a thriving enterprise being run from a dilapidated office with threadbare carpets and peeling wall paint. As such, if you want to project an image of success, renovating your premises is certainly a worthwhile undertaking.

Plan and consult

To begin, consider what changes will need to be made, how much these will cost and how long they will take to complete. It's important to take into account what professionals you will need to hire too, and whether you'll need permission from the local authority for any of the construction work that will be carried out.

If the adjustments you intend to make are largely superficial—replacing the carpets and re-painting the walls, for instance—then you may only need a team of painters and decorators. However, if you plan to make major structural changes, such as building internal walls, rewiring the electrical lines or installing new bathrooms, you will most likely need to consult with an architecture firm, commercial electrical contractors and a plumber.

Think about the needs of your employees

Improving employee working conditions is crucial to the success of your enterprise; if your staff are unsatisfied with the facilities in the workplace, their performance is likely to suffer. As such, when planning your renovation project, it's sensible to give some thought to whether you can include some changes which will benefit your employees, as well as your business.

For example, if you reside in a region with a very hot climate, it might be worth updating your air conditioning system, as this will make a big difference to your employees' general wellbeing and levels of productivity (working in a stuffy office space tends to make people groggy and less energetic). Similarly, if your staff canteen is small, cramped and consists of little more than a kettle and a mini-fridge, you may want to consider extending this area and adding in some cooking facilities and a larger refrigerator.

Be environmentally-conscious

Commercial renovation projects tend to involve the use of large quantities of building materials and usually produce a considerable amount of waste. As such, before beginning this project, it's worth finding out if it's possible to swap some of the standard construction supplies with ones which are recycled, and to look at ways in which to reduce or reuse the waste that will be generated by the renovation work.