What You Need to Know Before Remodeling a Commercial Building

Remodeling a commercial space is more complicated than it sounds. You have to acquire permits, inspect the building and review the certificate of occupancy before construction workers are allowed to break ground. Here’s what you need to know before remodeling a commercial building in Fort Worth, TX.

Read the certificate of occupancy

A certificate of occupancy (CO) states how building owners can use the property. For example, the property you’re working with might function nicely as an office space or retail store, but not a restaurant. Before starting commercial renovations, make sure your project complies with the acceptable uses outlined in the certificate of occupancy.

Prospective tenants should review the CO before signing a lease. If the CO and their vision for the space don’t align, it’s best to look elsewhere for a property. It can take more than a year to change a CO so it fits your renovation designs. Save yourself the hassle and lease a commercial space you can remodel right away.

Fix violations from previous tenants

Once you become a property owner, you inherit all the building violations from previous tenants. Too often, these violations don’t make themselves known until construction is underway. Ask your local general contractor in Fort Worth, TX to inspect the property for violations before the construction team breaks ground.

Hidden violations are one of the most important factors you need to know about before remodeling a commercial building, because they will delay the construction process. Everything must come to a halt if workers detect faulty electrical wiring, questionable plumbing systems or any number of problems. Catching these violations early on will save you money and keep the project on schedule.

Understand the building’s structural limits

Just because the CO says you can turn the space into an office doesn’t mean your renovation designs are feasible. A general contractor from Fort Worth, TX has to assess which walls are load bearing and how much weight the floors can support. What you need to know before remodeling a commercial building is that a construction team can’t simply knock down and rebuild walls if this will undermine the building’s structural integrity.

Hire the right general contractor

Commercial renovations aren’t a one-man job. Property owners need a general contractor by their side to develop a reasonable budget and obtain the necessary building permits. Without a quote from your local contractor, the renovations will likely eat up more of your finances than expected. General contractors know better than anyone else which permits are necessary for each type of renovation, so you won’t have to worry about acquiring the wrong ones.

Most Fort Worth, TX business owners have an idea of how the finished product should look, but no clue where to start. The general contractors at The RockAway Company are here to kick start your next construction project and provide guidance along the way. Check out our commercial remodeling services to learn what we can do for you, then get in touch with us to set up a consultation.

Categorised in: Commercial Remodeling