How to Remodel a Commercial Building

how to remodel a commercial building

how to remodel a commercial buildingCommercial building renovations vary, depending on how big of renovation it is. You could have a minor interior redesign or a major exterior and interior redesign of the structure. In this article, we give you an idea of what a commercial building renovation project will look like. If you need a professional construction company, contact Headwaters Construction, Inc. today.

Business Renovation Needs and Logistics

The very first step in a commercial property renovation is noting why the renovation needs to happen in the first place. Are you wanting to modernize the space? Do you want to improve the functionality of the property? Would you like to increase energy efficiency? Usually, the building owner and sometimes the tenant is involved in this step of the renovation.

Before going onto the next step, you’ll need to look at the certificate occupancy, any property violations, zoning laws, and much more. It’s important to look into these because they can completely prohibit certain renovations, which can increase costs in the long run.

Find Contractors and Designers

Once you’ve completed your commercial property renovation wish-list, you’ll have a better idea of what needs to be done and who you’ll need to help you. You may need an electrician, an architect, and a contractor. Make sure you do your research and look for a trusted construction company. It’s important to find someone who is easy to work with, charges an average amount, and can get the job done in a timely manner. 

If you have multiple commercial property renovations going on at once, we suggest that you hire a general contractor or a project manager to oversee everything. Both a project manager or general contractor will make sure the projects are done right and on schedule. Realistically, project managers and general contractors save you money in the long run because they make sure your renovation runs smoothly. 

Make a Budget

Since it’s hard to have an exact estimate of your commercial renovation, it’ll be good to figure out your budget at this stage. You’ll have a general idea of what you want to spend at first, but once you’ve talked to the professionals, you’ll have a better understanding of how much everything you need will cost. It’s best to allow up to 30% for a contingency budget as well as what you were quoted for. This will allow you to have some wiggle room in case you need it.

Design Your Renovation

You’ll likely need an architect, interior designer or another design professional to figure out what you want your commercial renovation to look like when it’s done. We recommend involving a general contractor in the design process for professional input. If you hire a general contractor, they will give you more realistic and affordable input. It’s important to finalize your budget only after getting a final, official estimate from the contractor. During this time, it’s necessary to develop a realistic renovation schedule with the team. 

Obtain Your Permits

Before you start construction, you’ll need to obtain permits. If you have a contractor or architect, they will likely take care of the permits. Every city is different when it comes to permits. You’ll likely need them from the Department of Building Inspection, the Planning Department, or Development Services. There are many factors that that influence which type of permits you need for your renovation. If you’re not sure, contact Headwaters Construction, Inc. today.

Doing the Remodeling

Once you’ve taken care of planning the design, solidifying budget, and obtaining permits, you’re ready to start your commercial property renovation! In general, you won’t be too involved in this stage of the renovation project. 

Performing Necessary Inspections

As the owner of the property, you’ll want to check on the property as it’s being remodeled to make sure your expectations are being met. A government building inspector may also stop by during or after the construction process. Being up to code during construction is usually the responsibility of the contractor, but you will be held responsible if you are not up to code after the completion of the renovation. Once the renovations and inspections are completed, you’re welcome to start using the space! 

Headwaters Construction Inc.

At Headwaters Construction Inc., we value your time and money. If you want to start your commercial property renovation, we can help you. We offer a number of construction services in California, Oregon, and Arizona. Everything from construction consulting and building, to general contracting, retail renovation, and tilt-up construction. Additionally, we’ve been in the business for a long time. Our experience can attest to the quality of work we complete. Know that you can trust Headwaters Construction Inc., with any of your construction needs. Contact Headwaters today to see what we can do for you.

What Is Tilt-Up Construction?

What is tilt-up construction - Headwaters Construction Inc.

What is tilt-up construction - Headwaters Construction Inc.Don’t imagine that the world of construction has gone crazy if you observe buildings “going up in weeks.” Chances are those swiftly constructed buildings are benefiting from a style of construction called “tilt-up” construction. But what exactly is tilt-up, how recent is it, and how does it compare with other construction methods? Headwaters Construction Inc., a leading Sacramento construction company, gives you the answers to all those questions, and more.

What Exactly is Tilt-Up Construction?

Tilt-up construction refers to a construction method in which the walls of a building are precast horizontally. Tilt construction consists of lifting equipment using a crane, which hoists the panels into their position at the building site.

Headwaters development experts explain that a slab that will form the floor of the building is first completed before the precast walls are lifted into position around that slab. After that, the Sacramento construction company connects the adjacent wall panels and seals the joints between them so that the structure is weathertight.

The sides of the tilt-up panels facing outward are a “blank canvas.” The interior and exterior walls can be used in any desired way.

How Are the Tilt-Up Panels Made?

As is the case with other concreting projects, forms are made horizontally. Rebar is cut to the size of the tilt-up panels that the Headwaters building and contracting firm has been contracted to make. Premix concrete is then poured either directly from the truck’s chute or by use of a concrete pump before the panels are troweled and cured. These panels can be piled on top of each other to optimize space.

A Brief History of Tilt-Up Construction

Tilt-up construction has been around for nearly a century. For example, the barns of decades ago were lifted using the tilt-up method.

The construction boom after World War II made the popularity of this method to skyrocket since there was a shortage of labor. The recent advances in computer-aided design, as well as strides inaccurate project estimation, have made tilt-up construction almost a no-brainer for the projects where it can be used.

Is Tilt-Up Construction Catered for in Existing Building Codes?

Sacramento tilt-up construction is covered in the reinforced concrete section of the International Building Code (IBC). The Tilt-Up Construction Association (TCA) also has design guides which licensed structural engineers can refer to when designing buildings of different dimensions. You should, therefore, have no worries that your building will not be built to any existing building code.

Can Tilt-Up Construction Be Used to Build a Single-Family Home?

The advances in computer-aided design referred to earlier also mean that the greater design flexibility now allows structural engineers to design structures as small as single-family homes without making them look like a big box. Curved panels and other design features for your small home are possible with tilt-up construction.

Gilmore Heating, Air, and Plumbing, who offers residential ac services in Placerville, adds that the availability of smaller cranes has eased the task of using tilt-up construction to build single-family homes. Previously, it was too expensive and sometimes impossible to get a large crane onto a small lot in order to lift the panels into position.

How Are Doors and Other Building Openings Catered For?

You don’t have to cut openings for windows, doors or other uses after the tilt-up walls have been lifted into position. These features are built into the panels right from the design stage of your home or commercial building. In fact, provisions are made in the tilt-up panels for all electrical, plumbing and other building systems.

What Are the Alternatives to Tilt-Up Construction?

The Sacramento construction company that you hire can choose from a number of construction methods aside from tilt-up construction. These include;

  • Steel frame construction. This construction method is ideal for high-rise buildings. However, it involves a time-consuming, multi-step process.
  • Precast concrete construction. In this method, concrete walls are precast at an offsite location (a concrete manufacturing facility), and the completed panels are transported to the construction site. Standardization of the panels is possible, just as is the case with tilt-up panels. The only downside is the added complexity and cost of transporting the large and heavy panels to the construction site.
  • Wood frame construction. This is an alternative to steel frame construction, but this option makes a building vulnerable to fire and insect attacks.

As you can see, many options are available if you are considering putting up a new structure. Let our experts at Headwaters Construction, Inc. discuss all the available options, and if tilt-up construction is ideal for your project, then the details of the project will be presented to you by our competent team.