Business Renovation Dos and Don'ts

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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