Spring Renovations for Commercial Projects
Planning on tackling a spring renovation project for your commercial building? re:fab has you covered with some tips for popular spring commercial renovations.
After the powerful winds, freezing temperatures and damaging ice storms, many business owners take advantage of the warming spring temperatures to start a renovation project. Whether your commercial property is in need of new flooring, plumbing finishes, exterior painting or appliance replacement, the following tips will be helpful for planning your renovation project.
Tip 1: Know your permits
Have you paid a visit to your state’s department of public works? An important step in planning any spring contracting project for a commercial business is to know your regulations.
In New England especially, spring signals a major change in outdoor working conditions. Winter parking bans or closed off sidewalks, which were once closed off to the public, are now major channels for public transportation. Before setting up your contracting project with heavy ladders and high-power machinery, it’s important to know the types of required permits.
According to Boston.gov, applying for a permit can be a lengthy and costly process. Sidewalk ramps, for example, can cost upwards of $4,000 depending on the location.
Know the safety measures required before launching any project.
Tip 2: Know Your Budget
Thinking about adding a central air conditioning system to your commercial property this spring? Air conditioning is a major luxury in New England. According to Magic Touch Mechanical, a commercial air conditioning company, a central air conditioning system can cost upwards of $7,000.
Before booking with any major service provider, be sure to meet with a professional contracting company for recommendations on possible commercial renovations.
The right contractors will help you determine any unforeseen costs which will, in the long run, help your business save money.
Tip 3: Trust Your Contractors
Once you have chosen the right contractor for your big, commercial project, it’s important to trust your contractor’s recommendations.
Window replacements, for example, are a common commercial recommendation in New England. After a harrowing winter, neglected windows begin to dry up and crack. Cracking window frames allow warm air to seep inside your commercial property, bothering both your customers and employees. Before you spend a good chunk of change on an expensive, central air conditioning system, listen to your contractor’s advice about possible window recommendations for this spring. Why spend money on an expensive commercial air conditioning system if you’re only going to be cooling off the outdoors?
Tip 4: Spring Plumbing Finishes
Another popular commercial spring renovation is plumbing. You don’t need a farmer’s almanac to know this past decade has been filled with dramatic temperature changes, from California’s roaring forest fires to frigid New England winters. Below freezing temperatures often take a toll on your indoor or outdoor plumbing fixtures.
Seasonal outdoor businesses, like Golf courses, should check to see if there are any signs of water leakage. Warm springs provide opportunities for you to better examine any possible winter damages. Be sure to check faucets and hose bibs. Often pipes will freeze, especially if they are not used for significant amounts of time. If an outdoor faucet drips, or if there is any leakage inside your commercial property after the first time you turn on your hose, you most likely have a cracked, frozen pipe.
Sewage inspections are another key action item for commercial property owners in the spring. If your commercial property is in an area where there is known sewage back up, you should consider getting ahead of your “stinky” problem. Installing a backflow valve in the floor drain will prevent any nearby sewage backup. Scenic resorts and golf courses especially should consider booking now before the peak of summer vacation tourists.
Tip 5: Floor Replacement
A very wise contractor once asked his apprentices, what follows ice? The answer was of course rhetorical.
After an icy, long winter comes a very big “salty” problem. The amount of salt and sand left over from the winter determines whether commercial properties are in need of a possible floor replacement.
Own an automotive or storage facility? Garages are typically hit the worst by excessive salt and sand damage. Dirty tires and heavy foot traffic take a toll on wooden, concrete or metal surfaces. In order to stay ahead of a costly floor replacement, be sure to power wash your commercial flooring.
Renting a power washer is as easy as heading into your local Home Depot. Commercial businesses, however, are a different story. Retail giants especially serve up to 5,000 people in and out of their company doors daily. This traffic brings bigger, tougher stains which require professional contracting floor repairs.
Tip 6: Gutter Cleaning
Our last spring commercial renovation tip is to check any and all gutters throughout your commercial facility. Cleaning out your gutters is an easy task, which will also save your commercial property money. Depending on where your properties are located, ice dams can take longer than a few weeks of warm temperatures to melt.
If your commercial property is located in the shade of trees, gutter cleaning becomes even more pertinent. Leaves, which may seem harmless, will eventually cause a blockage of water and ice. Ice dams and leaves will enable heavy water leakage inside your commercial property. Water damage brings wall and floor decaying. Decaying walls and floors attract carpenter ants and mosquitos. Once carpenter ants have festered into your commercial property’s roof the damage is irreversible.
Cleaning out your commercial property’s gutters should be a routine task throughout this spring. Although the warmer weather is starting, the freezing temperatures are only one cold nightfall away. Don’t get caught with icy mounds of leaves in your commercial gutters. Keeping up on this easy task could be the difference between a new foundation or roofing replacement project.
We hope these tips for popular spring commercial renovations help you this spring. If you need more help, contact re:fab today for any of you commercial painting or renovation needs!
Sources:
Boston City Hall
https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works
