commercial contractors south texas

Commercial construction projects are complex endeavors that require careful planning and execution. Despite the best efforts of project managers and contractors, unforeseen obstacles can arise that can cause delays and cost overruns. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most common commercial construction obstacles and offer tips on how to overcome them.

Unforeseen Site Conditions
One of the most common obstacles in commercial construction is unforeseen site conditions. It is not uncommon for a construction crew to encounter unexpected geological conditions that can impact the project’s schedule and budget. These can include anything from soil instability to underground water or rock formations. To overcome this obstacle, it is essential to conduct a thorough site analysis before construction begins. This can include conducting a geotechnical investigation to identify potential site challenges and developing a contingency plan in case unexpected conditions arise.

Regulatory Compliance
Compliance with regulatory requirements is another common obstacle in commercial construction projects. Building codes, zoning laws, and other regulations can vary widely between jurisdictions, and failure to comply can result in costly fines and delays. To overcome this obstacle, it is essential to work with local regulatory agencies to ensure compliance from the outset. This can involve submitting plans and permit applications well in advance of construction to allow time for any necessary modifications.

Supply Chain Disruptions
Supply chain disruptions have become increasingly common in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortages of building materials and delays in shipping can impact the timeline and budget of commercial construction projects. To overcome this obstacle, it is important to develop a contingency plan that includes alternative suppliers and materials.

Labor Shortages
Labor shortages have long been a challenge in the construction industry, and this trend is expected to continue. Skilled tradespeople, including electricians, plumbers, and carpenters, are in high demand, and many are nearing retirement age. To overcome this obstacle, it is essential to develop a recruitment and retention strategy that includes apprenticeship programs, competitive wages and benefits, and opportunities for career growth.

Weather Delays
Weather delays are another common obstacle in commercial construction projects. Extreme temperatures, heavy rain, and other adverse weather conditions can impact construction schedules and increase project costs. To overcome this obstacle, it is important to develop a contingency plan that accounts for potential weather delays.

Budget Constraints
Budget constraints are a common challenge in commercial construction projects. Unexpected expenses can quickly add up, and even minor cost overruns can impact the project’s bottom line. To overcome this obstacle, it is essential to develop a realistic budget that accounts for all expected expenses, including contingency funds for unforeseen expenses.

Commercial construction projects can be complex, and obstacles are inevitable. However, by identifying potential challenges early in the planning process and developing a proactive strategy to address them, project managers can minimize the impact of these obstacles and ensure a successful outcome. By conducting a thorough site analysis, working with regulatory agencies, developing a contingency plan for supply chain disruptions and weather delays, developing a recruitment and retention strategy for skilled labor, and maintaining a realistic budget with contingency funds, commercial construction projects can overcome the most common obstacles and achieve success.

If you own a commercial building and planning for a new roof, there is a lot to consider. Some of these considerations can be simplified by working with a qualified contractor with commercial roofing experience. An experienced contractor would give you an overview of some popular types of roofing materials for commercial buildings. They can help you choose the one that’s right for the project and advise you throughout the entire re-roofing process.

Flat PVC roofing
PVC commercial roofing material has two layers of polyester reinforcement between them. It is resistant to UV rays and fire, flexible, quite durable, lightweight, and doesn’t tend to curl. The PVC roofing material can be pricey and may sometimes affect your budget. Also, the material shrinks over time, which can result in leaks.

Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)
EPDM, also known as “rubber roofing,” is an economical choice for commercial roofing projects. With an overall lifespan of about 20 years, EPDM is light and easy to install without reinforcing the roof deck. EPDM is resistant to damage by ultraviolet rays.

One must keep in mind that the material is black, and the roofs are not always attractive to look at once the material is rolled out. Lighter colors that don’t absorb as much heat are also available but that will come at an additional cost.

Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO)
TPO is a white commercial roofing material that reflects the sun and causes less heat to enter the building. It is considered an inexpensive roofing product. TPO is popular for many reasons, including its strong heat-welded seams, resistance to corrosion, and mildew growth.

The problem with TPO roofing is the quality, as it is inconsistent from one manufacturer to another. If you are considering TPO roofing, could you make sure your contractor gets a quality product?

Spray polyurethane foam (SPF)
SPF roofing is sprayed on and becomes solid within seconds. It is a great choice for energy savings and has excellent strength as well as durability. These roofs typically have a lifespan of 40 years or even longer and provide a watertight and airtight top for the building. The only concern with these commercial roofs is that they must be installed only by experienced contractors.

Asphalt rolled roofing
It is made of the same material as asphalt shingles, the rolled roofing is an ideal choice for low-slope roofs. Not only it is in a lower price range, but it is an easy-to-install commercial roofing. The disadvantage of asphalt rolled roofing is its short life of about 10 years. Leaks are common as the roof ages. Hence, it’s not a good choice.

Other common roofing types we see on Florida commercial properties include:

• Single-ply membrane roofing
• Shingle roofing
• Built-up roofing
• Metal roofing

Most commercial roofing styles work well in the right application, as long as you select an experienced contractor who is able to explain the pros and cons as well as the costs and installation processes. For more detail on roofing, call us today and book an appointment.

Designing a great office space is not a small task. You will have to make sure that all employees there will have a safe and comfortable workplace space, and that the office is a welcoming space for all the clients and partners. Whether you are building a company office for the first time or you are renovating an existing office, there is a variety of factors to take into consideration while proceeding. Here’s what to keep in mind when conducting the office buildout.

Commercial Office Building Layout Planning And Must-Haves Design
Before you decide on a site or even start on the construction, you will need to consider the overall design of the office and what you would like to include. Do you want a concept of an open office plan or would you like more defined workspaces for the team? Does your work require a secure space for heavy machinery or more advanced technology? What kind of common spaces does the team/’s need? The answers to these questions will help you build a vision of what your office will look like when it will be completed.

Once you have identified your design and the must-haves, you can then use them to identify potential properties and building for your new office which fit your requirements. Ideally, the building you choose should offer some flexibility in terms of layout and functionality so that you can make necessary adjustments as you go along.

Conduct Test Fits
Once you have identified the building for your new office, it’s time to conduct some test fits. The test fit can be defined as an in-depth vetting process that will give a more realistic idea of what an office buyout will look like. During the test fit process, the building’s landlords will send out proposals, and you will create a more detailed design and construction plan for each space.

During this process, you will be able to identify any potential construction hurdles and any other challenges to navigate. An experienced project manager can guide you through the test fit process.

The Permitting Process
After the test fits, you will need to get the appropriate building permits from your city before you can start the construction of your office. Each city has its own rules and regulations for permits, so you will need to familiarize yourself with them and determine what makes the most sense per your needs.

Remodeling an Office Budget Planning Within The Budget
Office renovations or build-outs can sometimes run over budget. Before starting the construction, finalize a detailed budget for your entire project, and add some flexibility for construction delays and other addition of unexpected expenses. Finalizing the budget will help you determine what will be included in the office space and what you can afford. As you finalize the budget, you will have to make a production schedule to create accurate labor cost estimates.

No matter what sort of office you are looking to renovate or build, it is important to have a trusted and experienced contractor standing on your side. We have deep experience with a wide variety of building projects, including different types of offices, and we always work closely with our clients to bring their visions to life.

The average life expectancy for commercial roofing is about 20 years, which means every year 5% of the industrial, commercial, and institutional roofs in the US need to be replaced. Some roofs may get patched and repaired which is relatively less costly instead of the complete replacement of the roof. This can only be done for so long, as the cost of repairs will eventually become restrictive for the owners of existing buildings, thus the decision to retrofit a roofing system ultimately becomes inevitable.

There are ample options with respect to materials and systems, depending on the current roof weight and the building codes, the new single-ply roofing system can be installed directly over the existing roof without any need to tear off the existing one.

Retrofit has several advantages these are:

• Re-covering without anything to tear means that the building operations can continue their business without any disruption. Also, the installation will be faster than on a project requiring tear-off time.
• If the old underlying roof system and insulation have good integrity, the new retrofit roof will ensure to remain the same qualities. The R-value can further be added with a layer of new insulation between the old deck and the new single-ply membrane.
• The old roofing system 20 years ago was black due to EPDM (extremely durable synthetic rubber roofing membrane). From that time till now, the market has shifted significantly toward lighter-colored, reflective thermoplastic single-ply systems made up of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membranes.
• The Single-ply systems also deliver other environmental benefits, as they are lightweight, due to which less fuel is consumed to deliver material to the site. And as per the analysis, almost five to ten percent of landfill waste is accountable for roofing materials, no tear-off means less old roofing material will end up in the dump.

Many manufacturers have followed the quality rating system also known as Master or Elite Contractor programs to ensure that contractors installing their roofing systems are proficient in their work. These rating systems are intended to give the building owners and their managers the confidence that the roof will be installed with high-quality standards.

Experience and competence are major qualities for any roofing project, whether it’s new construction or a retrofit application. But if a new roofing membrane needs to be installed over an existing roof, then the owner/manager should expect the contractor to evaluate the current roof deeply in order to ensure a trouble-free installation by following:

• Perform core cuts and infrared scans to look for any moisture in the deck or insulation. Repair the roof area that is damaged or saturated.
• Review rooftop drainage and add appropriate water-directing accessories and materials for installation.
• Make sure that the new membrane is compatible with the old, if is not then an appropriate separator must be installed.
• Do Check for local codes to ensure that roof overlays are acceptable.
   

Regardless of the type of retrofit system getting installed, the owners and managers must check for the roofing manufacturers, specifications, and warranties available for the specific installation that is being considered. For more details call us today.

Looking to construct a building? You may have an idea of what the building may look like. Before you can get design the perfect building/home, you have to find the ideal location to build. The location you select may decide certain aspects of the structure, such as its size and what type of building materials to choose.

Here are some factors that one must pay attention to when choosing a location to build.

Study the Physical Attribute of Site

For building on a specific location, it is always recommended that a survey of the commercial site is done. There are many types of surveys that must be completed depending on the type of the project. When you are looking for a building site, the location is everything.

Local Building Code

Another important point to look into when you are choosing a location to build is the local building code. The Building codes can vary from area to area. Before picking land, make sure you have looked into the local building code. If the code is strict, then it becomes harder to get to make the building. And do not forget the inspection and permit wait time of that city as it is different for different cities. Some may be contemporary, while others might have long backlogs. Always hire a firm that is well established in the county and location you are trying to build and it will be helpful. We understand the codes and are well experienced in obtaining the permits that will enable us to complete projects within the time range.

Estimating the Build Cost

The last factor and the main factor that everyone needs to consider when choosing a location to build is what will be the total cost to build.  Sometimes the location you select may exceed the expected budget once the project is getting completed. Some land needs to be cleared/flattened before the construction can even begin.

Some sites may have water and sewer lines running underground. And lastly, the cost of building materials and skilled labor varies from one city to another. All of these above factors can impact the final pricing of your project. Getting the exact estimates as to what it is going to cost to complete your project will help you to determine if you can complete the building project as per your budget in that particular location or not.

If you are looking to construct a commercial building, call us today and we can guide you through the entire process. We offer a wide range of construction projects from design, and administrative, to project management. From finalizing the location to designing, and constructing the building we can take care of every step.

Choosing a design-build contractor DCJ Development LLC has deep knowledge in this area and has delivered projects from large to small projects and this can help you determine the scope of the project. Contact us today for a free quotation and further discussion of your construction needs and how we can help you further.