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Not Just Another Building Blog

This is not just another building blog. No, we want it to be one of the best building blogs you ever read. We post articles all about the construction industry, and about the work that contractors do. Now, you may wonder why you'd want to read about construction and contractors if you don't work in this industry yourself. But here's the thing: you live in a house. You drive on roads. So, you make use of the structures that contractors build as a part of your daily life. We think that makes construction worth knowing about and reading about, don't you?

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4 Issues To Tackle Before Starting Commercial Construction Or Remodeling Work

12 January 2022
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog

Commercial construction and renovation efforts tend to be very involved. Whenever possible, you will want to solve as many issues as you can before a single contractor starts swinging a hammer. Use this checklist to improve the odds of a successful project.

Zoning and Permits

One of the worst possible outcomes is to pour money into a job only to end up with a perfectly fine building you can't use. Make sure the location is zoned for your intended use. If it isn't, you will need to seek a variance. This usually involves explaining your situation to a zoning board and then seeing what the vote is.

Likewise, you will want to square away all the necessary permits before bringing in commercial remodelers and builders. Especially in commercial zones, this can get complex if your planned work might interfere with traffic or nearby businesses. To obtain a permit, you may have to commit to mitigating some of the problems your project might impose on others.

Easements

Sometimes the government isn't the main barrier. Especially on commercial construction projects, the new building could upset neighbors' rights. For example, the owner of a neighboring structure may have air rights entitling them to part of the view. If you plan to build beyond your existing air rights, you may need to obtain an easement from every neighbor that will have at least a partly occluded view. Commercial easements may also extend to on-site noise, the use of nearby roadways, and other potential nuisances arising from business activity.

Also, never assume an easement comes with an existing structure. Even if a previous property owner had an easement you need, it might not follow the title to you. Only bring in commercial remodeling contractors when you're sure you have these issues squared away.

Utilities

Virtually all businesses need some sort of access to at least electricity and water. Commercial construction and remodeling plans often include specifications for utility usage. Make sure you can connect utilities.

Likewise, make sure the connections can provide sufficient throughput. Plan for growth, too. You don't want to have to redo the connections 10 years from now.

Clearance and Civil Engineering

Most sites for commercial construction projects aren't perfectly ready for work. Try to have the land cleared as soon as possible. Also, make sure there aren't any civil engineering issues. For example, the soil may not be compactable enough to support the proposed structure. Solve these issues early in the planning stage because they are vastly more expensive to fix once a building is present.

For more information on commercial construction projects, contact a company like RCG Rowland Construction Group.