Business Renovation Dos and Don'ts

When renovating a business premises there’s a fine line between carrying out the works necessary and the total disruption of the day-to-day necessities for the company to function throughout.

The likelihood of being able to decamp to an alternative location while the renovation is carried out is, for most enterprises, unlikely. So this makes planning and preparation vital to ensure that you can carry on with business as normal during the renovation period.

The Don’ts

Safety should be the overriding consideration when any kind of building and/or restoration work is being completed. Be sure not to fall foul of the following don’ts:

• Don’t go overboard. While it makes sense to only have a single upheaval to regular working practice, consider the practicalities of carrying out both internal and external renovation at the same time. It might be preferable to get all the outside work done first and then consider the inside, rather than doing them concurrently. In addition, make sure that the renovations are truly needed, and therefore worth every dollar of the budget.

• Don’t plan works that will coincide with any upcoming important events. For example – visiting VIPs, open days, sales, or any time where the company would expect a significantly larger number of people to be on site than normal. If events are planned, then it’s preferable to postpone until a date after the work has been completed.

• Don’t take for granted that all your staff, contractors, customers, visitors, etc will be aware of the planned schedule of works. Make sure that all departments and individuals know the order of play to allow them to plan their workload accordingly.

The Do’s

Carrying out renovations will, no matter how well planned, cause a degree of disruption. But the following pre-planning tips will ensure this is kept to a minimum:

• Do plan your budget carefully and stick to it. Nothing is more likely to cause extended disturbance than having to halt halfway through a project while you source additional funds because costs have spiraled out of control.

• Do keep access to the site clear for the builders/contractors to easily access. For instance, you might need to arrange alternative access, egress, and car parking for staff, customers, and visitors while the work is being carried out.

• Do place clear safety signs around the workplace and exterior. You might also want to consider temporary lighting as an additional layer of health and safety.

• Do give the contractors and builders clear information about hours of trading, as well as any extracurricular events that they need to be aware of. Ensure this is communicated in a timely manner if it’s likely that any adjustments to the renovation schedule might need to be made.

• Do have a single point of contact between the business and the contractors. That way you can ensure clarity of communication with both parties being aware of who they need to talk to. There should, of course, be a backup in case of sickness, holidays, time off, etc.

• Do be open and upfront about your expectations of how and when contractors should be working. For instance, if daily briefings take place at a certain time and you need a degree of silence while they take place, let the contractors know in advance. On the flip side, certain works won’t be able to be halted once started, such as laying concrete. So it’s vital that good communication is ongoing throughout the project.

Of course, it goes without saying that you should ensure your chosen providers have a checkable track record with multiple testimonials from previous satisfied customers.

Concrete Hire is Perth’s leading provider of concreting and building tools for sale, hire, and servicing. Their expert team will be delighted to advise on any equipment needed for building work for both commercial and domestic projects.

To find out more call their friendly team on 1300 048 521 or visit www.concretehire.com.au

Renovating Tips For Rundown Properties

The renovation of a rundown property presents both opportunity and challenge. Perhaps you’re an owner of such a property and wish to sell it, or maybe you’re on the lookout for a ‘doer-upper’ yourself. Whatever your circumstances, the first steps are to make the property safe before carrying out the necessary essential works in a chronological order.

Safety

Before any works start on renovation, safety needs to be addressed. This includes:

• The demolishment of any structurally unsound structures

• Professional removal of any asbestos (a substance commonly used in construction up to and including the 1980s)

• Clearing outside areas to allow for unrestricted access

• Stabilising any buildings necessary

• Essential shoring up of brickwork and carrying out essential repairs / rebuilding work

• Once the initial safety aspects have been dealt with then it’s time to focus on further matters.

Initial Renovation Works

Even while structural tasks are being carried out, there are plenty of other jobs on the exterior of the property that can be worked on. For those looking to sell such a work in progress there’s plenty you do to tempt buyers to make an offer.

Windows: A common issue in such properties is that the windows need replacing (or renovating, depending on the age of the property and any restrictions on what can and can’t be changed). It’s also a relatively easy task to approach, and one that can be completed in a short amount of time. Good quality installations are imperative, and this holds true whether you’re doing it for yourself or to sell.

Exterior doors: Another relatively easy upgrade that can have a dramatic effect is to upgrade the doors of the property. Once again, go for good quality products and installations, and don’t forget the garage door/s.

Driveway: Whether short or long, driveways are the first thing we see on the approach to a house.  A concrete driveway can easily be installed – or perhaps renovated if an existing area is a little worse for wear. Today’s concreting technology means there’s many different styles to choose from and can be selected to perfectly match the type of property being renovated.

Garden: Any outside area should be tidied up. You might also consider the addition of external features that will add value. This could mean a paved patio / BBQ area or other options that will begin to paint the attractive picture that hints at the end product.  Now is the time to plan out the garden layout even if you leave the finer details until later in the project.

While many of these aspects sound like huge tasks, when broken down they represent jobs that are relatively easy to carry out in terms of time and labour, but make a huge difference to the appearance of the property. If you’re looking to tempt buyers then such visual upgrades could be just what’s necessary to clinch a sale. If you’re renovating for yourself then it’s amazing the boost you’ll get when you see your property masterpiece taking shape in front of your eyes.

Renovation Requires Professional-Grade Tools

When it comes to carrying out such works then it’s vital to use equipment designed specifically for the job. This means hiring or purchasing a professional quality kit, both for its proficiency and to ensure user safety.

Perth-based Concrete Hire is the one-stop location for all the kit you need to carry out concreting and building tasks. Their highly experienced staff will be happy to give their professional advice, so give them a call on 1300 048 521 to discuss your needs, or visit www.concretehire.com.au to find out more.

Avoid Concrete Cracks by Cutting Control Joints

Seeing cracks appear in your freshly laid concrete isn’t something any craftsperson wants to suffer, and it happens to both pros and amateur concrete workers alike. However, there is a powerful tool in your armoury to fight against this – that of control joints.

What Are Control Joints?

These are the deliberate placement of cracks in the surface of the concrete in strategic locations to allow for any change in volume as the concrete dries. Not only will this prevent unsightly, random breaks in the continuity of the surface, but if such cracks are too severe they can also affect the load bearing capacity of the dried concrete.

Why Do Cracks Appear in the First Place?

As concrete dries it shrinks. This means that there’s always an element of risk that cracks will naturally form during the curing process. Fluctuations in temperature can make this more likely.

By intentionally disturbing the continuity of the surface in designated places it’s possible to determine exactly where these breakages will occur.

When, Where and How to Cut Them

The rationale behind cutting control joints is to direct where the cracks will occur. In addition, they will then be neat, straight breaks on the surface as opposed to random cracks.

The three important aspects of successful control joints are that of when, where and how?

When? Control joints need to be cut before the problem starts. This means carrying out the task when the concrete has dried to a state where you’re able to saw through without displacing any of the mixtures, but prior to the time, any cracks appear. Generally, this will be within 6 to 18 hours after the concrete has been poured. You’ll need to take into account the nature of the concrete mix and the ambient temperature to judge the right time to cut the control joints.

Where? Multiple control joints will be needed over the whole surface. These should be calculated as follows:

• Determine the depth of the concrete (for instance, a standard 4-inch deep slab). Control joints should be one quarter of the depth of the slab. In the case of a 4-inch deep slab, the control joint will, therefore, be 1-inch deep

• The distance between the control joints is determined in feet and should be two or three times the depth of the concrete slab in inches. So for a 4-inch deep slab control joints should be cut every 8 to 12 feet.

In addition, when planning where to cut the joints you should pay particular attention not to create entrant corners (defined as any inside corner that forms an angle of 180° or less) that create areas of weakness.

How? If possible, clearly mark out where the control joints are to be cut. When cutting control joints in freshly poured concrete you should use a grooving tool. In concrete that has sufficiently dried a concrete saw will be more effective.

The correct placement of control joints done in a timely manner is an effective method of preventing unsightly concrete cracks.

Using the correct tools is imperative for successful results, and no-one is better placed to provide them than family owned WA business, Concrete Hire. With over two decades of experience, they not only supply the equipment you need to perform a great job but can also advise on what you need and how to carry out tasks.

Visit www.concretehire.com.au to find out more or give their expert team a call on 1300 048 521 to discuss your needs.