Our Blog - DCJ Development LLC

January 4, 2023

Commercial Remodeling Benefits

Whether you are a business owner or property manager, you might have wondered if it’s time to remodel or renovate the property, but the cost and inconvenience that comes with it may put you off. However, we will show you how remodeling and renovation are worth the effort and cost and can help your bottom line.

Commercial Remodel, Giving Your Place A Facelift
It is easy for a workplace, whether it’s a restaurant, office, or retail business, it becomes tired looking and well-worn after many years. Remodeling is an excellent opportunity to give the business a fresh look and take care of much-needed maintenance. Updating the look of the place can reinvigorate employees, attract new customers, and excite current customers which help in revenue growth.

Remodeling Demonstrates Your Commitment Level
We have all seen that one old business that’s been around for years and has never been updated. Whether it has outdated lighting, malfunctioning equipment, fading paint, or what have you, it suggests to employees as well as its customers that the owner doesn’t care, regardless of whatever the situation.

When you take the time and put in some money to renovate, you send a message that you are committed to your business and customer satisfaction. People understand how much time, money, and effort is required to conduct a complete makeover and one must appreciate it. Furthermore, renovation can make businesses more efficient by incorporating newer technology that benefits customers as well as employees.

Energy Savings
With the rising energy cost, it is wise for companies to invest in new energy-saving options. Initially, it may cost more to install new energy-efficient equipment, like heating and cooling systems, low-power lighting, insulated windows, and such, but you will get that money back over the time period in lower power bills.

A Picture Of Success
A business that looks worn and outdated, imagine the perception people have that meaning it’s not doing well. When you renovate, it gives you the impression that your business is thriving and you want to make it look better among your competitors. It’s psychological, but people love to be associated with winners, and if you give the impression that the company is doing well, you can attract more customers, which will increase your profits.

It Creates Buzz
When you see a new construction happening in town, it is something that everyone talks about, and the same is true for companies/businesses that are remodeling. Sure, the process can be messy and inconvenient for some time, but it gets people talking, which is the best advertising a business can get.

Commercial Remodel Planning, Giving Your Business A Fresh Start
Maybe the business is in a slump, or people are complacent about what you do. Remodeling is the perfect way to reset the business and start fresh with a new look, attitude, and commitment to customers.

Help Is Available
Renovating a business is a daunting task, and as mentioned, the expenses put off many business owners. However, financial help can be made available through federal and state grants and low-interest loans. For more details on Commercial Remodeling call us today and book an appointment.

December 29, 2022

Tips Before Hiring A Commercial Construction Contractor

The contractors you choose can either make or break your commercial construction project. Selecting a contractor is a major step, and it can sometimes be a difficult job to narrow down the options. Here are some tips to keep in mind when selecting a commercial construction contractor and how to make the process easier.

Hiring Professional Commercial Construction Expert

Opt for word-of-mouth recommendations and check for references.
Word-of-mouth recommendation is typically the most effective way to find a commercial contractor that could meet your needs. Since there are different types of commercial contractors in the market, a Google search might not ways narrow down things far enough for your project. If you know other business owners in your area that has worked on similar kind of projects, ask them which contractors they used and what is their experience.

If you don’t have any type of contacts that have worked on similar projects, reach out to the rest of the network for recommendations. Local real estate professionals, interior designers, and architects may be able to provide you with recommendations.

Look for portfolios of similar projects and visit there in person
It is important to find a contractor that has good experience working on projects that is like yours. Building in different industries has its own requirements – for example, a medical building must meet very different standards than building a restaurant. Past experiences will be very relevant when choosing a contractor.

Once you have made a list of potential candidates, go through their portfolio of past projects to get an idea of their experience. If possible, go visit the sites they are currently working on in person to get a more detailed look at each project.

Conduct in-depth interviews
Effective communication is key to successful construction and talking to the contractor in person will give you an effective idea of their communication style and their experience in their field.
A face-to-face interview gives you an opportunity to talk through the specifics of the project in-depth and that gives us clarity on how exactly the contractor would approach it.

Opt for value over low price
Budget is important to consider for any construction project, avoid opting for the lowest-priced contractor without considering its overall value. A lower-bid contractor may seem appealing, but they may not be able to offer you the best quality work. A low-quality commercial build could have a serious negative effect on the business.

Always opt for Certified Commercial Builders. Verify their licensing and insurance requirements.
Before getting started with the contract, verify that your contractor is a licensed one and meets the state insurance requirement. As this protects you as well as your contractor legally if an accident happens on-site. If a contractor is unable to provide a license or proof of insurance, it’s best for you to avoid them.

Don’t rush when making an important decision, take your time to find the right fit for the business. For more detail call us today and book an appointment.

December 16, 2022

What is Trending in the Construction Industry

After several years of uncertainty and fluctuations caused by COVID-19, the construction industry looks to grow and beyond, despite many challenges posed by labor shortages and rising prices. Construction is still the largest industry in the world, but still, that isn’t growing as rapidly as other industries. We look at what’s trending in the construction industry and how it boosts the construction industry’s growth, efficiency, and profitability.

Virtual Construction Tools
Upcoming new technologies such as virtual design and visualization software have helped the construction industry to grow over the next five years. The ability to use specialized software to plan, engineer, and design projects before groundbreaking will be a driving force in speeding up job completion, minimizing mistakes, and reducing overall costs.

Modular Construction
Many construction companies as well as their customers are turning towards modular and pre-fab construction because it reduces the overall costs and building time as compared to traditional construction. Modular projects reduce costs by up to 20%, and with the use of high-quality materials gives customers sturdy, durable structures that go up more quickly than building from scratch.

Robots
The construction industry will be benefitted from robots and machines that help to make job sites more efficient and safer. For example, it’s better to have a robot transport heavy or hazardous materials instead of risking the valuable life of employees. And rather than replacing those employees, the robots allow construction companies to use those people in less dangerous roles, which increases productivity and ensures everyone’s safety.

3D Printing
3D printing is a game changer for many industries, especially for construction. Using 3D printing technology on the job site allows construction companies to quickly create replacement parts or even make changes on the fly as designs change due to circumstances.

Drones
Another technology that is proving to be a game changer in many industries is drone usage. Drones are becoming a must-have resource for construction companies, and currently, the industry has seen a drastic growth in their use over the past years. Drones save construction companies time and money by providing topographic mapping and land surveys, equipment tracking, security surveillance, safety, progress monitoring, and inspection. Drones are so cost-effective they are a must-have in any construction company’s list.

Material Costs
Asking any owner of a construction company what challenges they face, everyone will say the rising cost of materials is probably on the top of the list. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the increasing costs of materials like concrete, crushed and broken stone, gravel, sand, etc., and this trend looks to continue. Many construction companies combat this by using the above-mentioned technologies like drones and virtual design, but also through implementing materials like self-healing concrete, which are more expensive at the outset but will save money over time.

Labor
Even if robots and machines are efficient, you still need a labor force for construction projects, but as we have seen, that quality labor is in short supply. As robots and machines have become more prevalent on construction sites, construction companies must look to hire educated workers to manage data and use the technology.

December 10, 2022

Tips for Maintaining Quality on the Construction Site

Quality is the most common word in this industry than any other. In an industry where schedules are decreasing and budgets are now becoming leaner the quality requirements seem to go up.

Bringing on all of the consultants such as Architectural, mechanical, electrical, LEED, structural, building envelope, etc at the start of the project allows everyone to start working and coordinating together.

Preventing The Quality Issues

We can be mindful of the types of issues and what efforts can be made to improve or reduce the occurrence of quality issues. Understanding what causes an issue is the first step in prevention, here are a few causes of potential issues on construction sites:

Time Schedules are too aggressive or owners on a single trade
Poor contract documentation and design
Overly complicated detail and designs
Site conditions
Inexperienced selection of contractors, subcontractors, and consultants
Poor quality building materials

What and Where Investments Made To Improve The Quality?
The question is a relevant one because there are lots of areas where time and money can be spent to improve on quality to prevent issues. This starts from the very early phase of the project and that doesn’t necessarily mean spending a ton of money on expensive materials.

Another good idea in preconstruction and during construction is to invest in mockups. Mockups provide everyone the ability to build a physical sample of what the drawings are calling for. This lets everyone see it and look for tricky details that may come to light before the project goes into total production.

Spending a small amount on mockup up front can save a significant amount of time and money rather than correcting issues down the road.

Selecting a quality vendor is also important for delivering a good product. If a glass guy only does window walls then there is a good very chance that the contractor might not be able to deliver the custom glass ceiling specified. Understanding which vendor is good at and awarding to them accordingly is important. If something is a specialty item find the specialty company that delivers it and give work to them, then don’t give it a generic trade and hope things will work out.

The same comment can be said for general contractors and consultants. As not all consultants and contractors are good at offices, residential, and retail. Always choose a vendor who is specific to what you are doing, they will have experience and know how to get the project done.

In days past there were numerous ways of performing the task and no matter who you talked to it is always the most feared and dreaded part. In recent years technology has made the process much more smoother and easier to manage.

Meeting the targets can sometimes be a challenge, and you will inevitably meet new people throughout your career just through exposure to various projects, however, if you are looking for other opportunities such as networking events. Trade shows, talks, and other events bring together a large group of individuals that have similar interests in a great way.

December 3, 2022

Project Planning And How To Do It

Before starting the project whether it is an addition to an existing structure or a new and individual building, there are many aspects that need to be kept in mind. From basics like the budget to construction timelines, the building process doesn’t need to be a staggering endeavor.

Before planning for a new or existing building, it is important to get the basics in order. Whether you are replacing or adding to an existing facility or creating a new building from the scratch allow for more or less flexibility if issues arise, but by having the necessary timeline in mind, you can give the clients a more exact estimated cost and idea final completion date.

Planning to begin and complete without interruption
The most common problems are related to permits and city codes, funding the project, and weather or any kind of natural disaster. Planning possible weather delays into the timeline can help in determining whether it can be built on the deadline.

Start Date for construction to meet the deadline
Looking at the deadline you can often approximate the total time needed. Being conservative with the estimated time to build can help in mitigating unwanted costs or problems so that we can have an open and honest conversation with the client.

Financing
There are normally two types of financing that are used in the construction process. One is construction financing and the other is long-term financing. Interim or construction financing is like a short-term loan that is obtained to cover the cost of building so that the project can start before the long-term financing is finalized.

Choosing Land
Many builds don’t require the purchase or lease of land, but if the project requires a new plot, then there are a few boxes that should be checked in order to keep the project from stalling.

Is the zoning approved?
Zoning is defined as the practice of segregating the uses of land deemed incompatible, either neighboring land or the same plot used for different purposes over time. Zoning is put in place by the city, county, or municipality to keep new developments from harming the existing homes or businesses, and to keep the user of the new facility from having the well-being which might have been harmed by previous land use.

Surveys
The sole purpose of a land survey is to prevent any disputes over property lines. You can research whether a survey has already been performed by visiting the building inspector or checking in the land records office. The file may also be available at the county assessor’s office in the form of tax maps.

Watershed and Drainage Requirements
Drainage is the amount of water that runs off from the property, including the amount that occurs during rains. If more water sheds occur than expected, there can issue such as flooding of the sewer system, so it is important that the requirements must be calculated before the building begins.

Building code restrictions At that site
Building codes are the set of rules that every structure must adhere to, and zoning ordinances are determined by counties, cities, municipalities, or states. The local building inspector or county assessor’s office has the most recent building requirements.

For more details on Project Planning, call us today.

November 26, 2022

Tips For Developing Project Charter

The project charter can be defined as a true reflection of what leadership believes about the project’s characteristics. It contains the usual suspects, such as schedule milestones, project description, budget, and requirements, the charter also provides the objectives of the project, it is performance metrics which are also known as expected outcomes, decision-making roles, and deliverables expected.

The purpose is not just project requirements and deliverables, but a wider array of dimensions necessary for the complete organization to become better, safer, and more mature. The ultimate owner of the deliverables of the project can frame the project for the short-term outcome and upon completion of project activity but has the responsibility for considerable organization shifts, such as increasing sales metrics, human capability improvements, process enhancements, and long-term investment in assets and human capital. The leadership role is to assure the charter that contains more than just the basics of the project, but also awareness about the context of the long-term sustainability of the company.

How Does Process Work
The development of a complete project charter is the first step of a project and this may be completed even before formal approval of the project. It is important for the charter to get revised when the project has a significant direct or there is a scope for changes as if that it is current. Always keep the project charter up-to-date. It is important ss charter reflects the human side of leadership, not just the technical activities. The development of the charter should be done before the project plan is fully developed, and the format of the charter should be in such a way that it can easily be updated.

Everyone who has been involved with a project has not been successful in one or multiple areas. If there is a change in one area of schedule, scope, or even budget, then the other areas are also affected, and this is true for other areas that must be identified in the charter. One can imagine the risk of late selection of a piece of equipment that in turn can hold up finalizing design, which then cascades to late installation and rise the project cost, and the stakeholders involved will begin raising concerns and downstreaming the contractor’s submitted claims. The original charter created had a time range for the delivery of the equipment. These timeframes were met, but the contractor’s schedule has differed from the original plan. As the charter was not kept up to date, a huge misalignment among the various project occurred as well as their requirements and measurement processes. Hence the charter must always be kept on updating or must be followed regularly.

Management reserve is held in the project budget, but outside the cost baseline and is used for unknowns that may arise in scope as the project progress. There is an expectation that all or some of the reserve will be returned to the company when the project is marked as complete. This is a controlled distribution with beyond project leadership involved with decision-making in use.

November 12, 2022

Importance of Elevator Pit Waterproofing Using Crystalline Technology

The elevator pits are like the concrete boxes that sit at the bottom of the shaft below the elevator cars and are a simple structural system but they can be highly susceptible to water intrusion, which can directly affect the structural and mechanical integrity of the elevator system. Below are the following elevator pit waterproofing methods that are used based on their reliability, accessibility, and long-term durability. Particular emphasis is put on crystalline waterproofing and it is applied as a long-term solution in new construction.

Water Ingress in Elevator Pit
In the following, we will examine the advantages of crystalline technology and compare it with other methods for the waterproofing of elevator pits for both new constructions and for the repair and maintenance of the existing structures.

Inside the Elevator
Whether you are constructing a low-rise or high-rise building, vertical mobility is a critical component in the modern-day structure. This was first invented by Archimedes. In the year 1832, Burton and Horton introduced the ascending room and Elisha Otis and they first installed a commercial safety elevator in New York in the year 1874.

Waterproofing Techniques
Typically, the elevator pits are waterproofed by applying a membrane, then coating or bentonite-based blankets under the slab and then on the exterior of the pit walls. These act as barriers on the surface of the concrete in order to prevent the penetration of water.

Crystalline Advantage
Unlike the traditional barrier systems, the crystalline waterproofing technology, which has been used successfully been used for many years, can be installed as an admixture in concrete at the batch plant or can be applied as a surface treatment to either the interior or exterior of the structure.

Integral crystalline technology is manufactured in the form of a dry powder compound consisting of mainly Portland cement, very fine-treated silica sand, and a unique blend of proprietary chemicals. The proprietary chemicals react with the by-products of cement hydration and then combine within the concrete matrix to produce the non-soluble crystalline formation that will fill and plugs up the capillary tracts and fine shrinkage cracks in the concrete. This specific formulation is produced for application either as a coating material, concrete admixture, or dry shake product.

When cement particle hydrates, the reaction between water and the cement causes it to become a hard, solid rocklike mass. The reaction also generates chemical by-products that lie dormant on the concrete. The Crystalline technology adds another set of chemicals to the mixture.

Field Verification
More important than laboratory testing, Crystalline technology has proven its effectiveness in its field, and for the last 45 years up to now, it is the best waterproofing and protection of concrete structures.

Crystalline waterproofing technology is a proven and effective method of waterproofing concrete structures ranging from water treatment plants to deep foundations and this applies equally to elevator lift pits. When used as a coating it is a cheaper method than other systems, not subject to physical deterioration, and can resist extreme hydrostatic pressures. Unlike a membrane, it does not require the surface to be smoothed and leveled prior to coating the application. There are no laps or seams, no special detail is needed at corners and edges and it does even not require protection during backfilling.

For more details on waterproofing call us today and book an appointment.

November 4, 2022

Tips For Building The Hurricane Safe Structures

If you are planning of building a commercial building in a Hurricane prone area, then one must be aware that there are laws in place that require certain building codes to be followed to make sure that the building can withstand certain hurricane elements. However, when Hurricane came through, many people learned that the buildings are still not safe and there could have been some additional considerations. If you are preparing to build a new building, ensure that you are building hurricane-safe structures. Here is some information you must know.

HURRICANE SAFE STRUCTURES
A hurricane-safe structure is not designed to make the building take out from hurricanes unscathed. There will be damage to the building due to the hurricane. But a hurricane-safe structure is designed to withstand certain elements, and that can still be structurally sound. This means that while a few elements might get damaged, the building structure will still be standing and will need some cosmetic repairs, rather than major repairs.

If you are looking to build a hurricane-safe structure, one of the key factors to consider is what category level of the hurricane you want the building to withstand. There is a big structural difference between a building that can withstand category three hurricanes and category five hurricanes. Considering how close to the coast the building will be.

ELEMENTS THAT HURRICANE-SAFE STRUCTURES WITHSTAND
Hurricane-safe structures are designed to withstand different types of elements that hurricanes bring along with them. These typically include flooding, rain, and strong winds. This can include withstanding tornados as well that have touched down as the result of the hurricane. The elements needed may vary based on the specific location you are building and the elements that carry along the hurricane. But most of the structures are able to withstand flood levels, wind levels, and even heavy periods of rain.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER
There are many factors that one should consider when you are looking to hire a company to construct these types of structures. The first question is the level of experience they have in building hurricane-safe structures and how their structures have withstood past hurricanes. If the company is new, then they may not have any idea of their buildings can survive a hurricane yet, and the information you need they won’t be able to give you.

Next, you must ask what differentiates their company is doing from other construction companies in constructing hurricane-safe structures. They should maintain the list of vendors they are certified by and present their skills in this field.

Another factor to consider when it comes to building a hurricane-proof structure is, that there are different products that you can pick from. The construction company must provide you with that offer to pick the durability you need and also the design option that appeals to you.

The last factor to consider is the reputation of the builder. Read the builder’s online profile and check their rating with the Better Business Bureau. All this will help you to determine if you are hiring a reputed company to help you construct a solid building that can withstand all of the elements a hurricane brings with it.

For more details call us today and book the appointment.

October 29, 2022

Commercial Remodelling And How To Make it Worth

Remodeling a commercial space can sometimes be expensive and even time-consuming. In some cases, the money spent on remodeling feels well worth it. In other cases, it may not be. If you are thinking about remodeling the building, here are some of the factors you have to keep in mind when determining whether the building is remodeled-ready or not.

Unable To Meet The Needs
One of the key signs that your building is ready for a remodel is that it is no longer able to meet your needs. The current layout might not work for the type of business you have, or you need more space or you might have new equipment that needs to be placed differently. In some other cases, the building may simply be outdated. If you are looking to adjust the layout and make it more functional, or you want to make the space more appealing, in all the scenarios remodeling may be ideal for you.

Issues That Keep On Coming
Another sign that your building is ready for a remodel is if you have encountered issues again and again that you must be correct. Such as, you have encountered structural issues that you need to correct or electrical or plumbing problems. If you have been thinking about remodeling the building and suddenly you ran into issues that need to be corrected immediately, then this is a sign that you must go for remodeling.

Calculating The Cost Of Remodeling Vs Moving
Before you plan to implement any remodel project, it is always important to get the estimates to determine how much the remodeling project will cost. Once you got the estimates, always compare the cost of remodeling versus moving to a new building. In most cases, remodeling is cheaper than purchasing a new building. In a few cases, it may actually be cheaper to construct a completely new building or buy a new building that best meets your needs.

Finance Or Cash Is Available
Another important factor to think about when deciding if the building is ready for remodeling is whether you have the cash in hand to complete the remodeling project or whether you get the financing that you need to remodel. Many building owners love to go for remodeling their space, but they do not have enough capital to do so or an up-to-mark business credit score to get the financing they require. If you are thinking about a remodeling project, start setting money aside for the project that has a few years in hand and ahead of time, or gets the financing you need to complete the work.

Getting The Necessary Permits
The last thing that you need to consider is, whether or not you have the permits you need to do the remodeling work. If you want to expand the commercial building or want to add a new floor to your existing building, but find that the zoning requirements where the building is located do not allow for the remodeling or renovations that you want. An experienced construction company like DCJ Development can help you to look into zoning and permitting issues and will assist you to determine if the building can have the work done as you would like.

For More details call us today and book an appointment.

October 22, 2022

Emergency Response Plan In Construction Safety

We work in an industry where things sometimes don’t go as planned. Even the best projects have things that can go wrong and in most occurrences, it is how you handle that situation or if the problem persists, or if it impacts the overall project cost and timelines.

There are many components that are in an emergency response plan and as per IHSA (Infrastructure Health and Safety Association) following steps must be considered:

Hazard identification/assessment
Emergency Resources
Communication systems
Administration of the plan
Emergency response procedure
Debriefing and post-traumatic stress procedure

All the above are very important parts of an emergency response plan but there is also a list of items that IHSA feels are far more important:

Stay calm.
Assess the situation.
Take command.
Provide protection.
Aid and manage.
Maintain contact.
Guide emergency services.

construction safety

-> Hazard Identification and Assessment
The key to any plan is understanding what gets wrong. One of the mistakes is that everyone is starting to panic. Staying calm is so important as well as difficult, it’s only natural to start thinking. In construction work there are dangerous situations all the time, so identifying what’s wrong and what is the severity of the situation is the first step.

-> Communication System
Effective communication in a time of crisis is just as important as being able to identify the issue. When preparing a communication plan it is important to have the following:

Emergency Response Procedure
After looking at the situation, implementing a proper procedure is important. People are in a stressful situation at these times, having something they have reviewed and written down in the past to help them through the difficult time. There are various steps within the emergency procedure that should be implemented.

Make sure that there is a responsible person for making the decision to contact EMS. If your project site is large and confusing it would be wise to assign someone to meet the response team on the road or at the entrance to the project. Precious moments can be lost trying to find the issue. Make sure all of the above, including information about the closest hospital and the fire department, are outlined in the emergency response plan.

Construction Safety Incident
Post-incident procedures and safety know, there are things that must be settled down and worked on before recovery has begun. One should keep in mind the following items:
What was the level of damage? What is going to be replaced?
Is it going to be covered under insurance?
Are there any agencies that we need to notify?
How will it impact the overall project?

Each of the above items is important but the most important is to document and file everything. Photos, details, logs, reports, training records, etc. In the event, a lawsuit is taken out against the firm these pieces of information can be very invaluable.

Information that is reported can be beneficial in performing lessons learned on the incident site. In the end, We learn from our mistakes and more importantly how we improve as a company and society.

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