construction company south texas

Not every commercial or retail space is constructed exactly the same. The layout of the building, the spaces found within the building, the size of the building, and the materials that are used to construct the building should all vary based on the type of business that is going to take place. We know how important it is to tailor the building plans to specific businesses’ needs. Here are a few ways that can be tailored in the building plans per the business needs.

The Amount of Space Needed For The Business Currently and How it will expand in the Future

One of the things that we will do when putting together plans for the business is ensure that you have enough space for now and well into the future. The odds are, everyone wants the company to grow and expand over the years. Buying a building that meets the needs now is ideal, but it will now give you the space you need in a few years if the business grows. As such, you want to ensure that there is either land nearby that you can expand onto or space within the building for the company to expand and grow into in the coming years.

Putting Together A Layout That Includes All of the Features To Fulfil The Business Needs

Another way that can tailor the building plan as per the business needs is to ensure that the layout has all the various spaces and elements your business needs. For example, if you are planning on running a vet hospital in the space, you need small examination rooms to be constructed throughout the space, as well as larger spaces for a waiting area, the surgery area, and the kennel area. Or if you are building a clothing store, you need a large open space for keeping the inventory, as well as storage space and fitting rooms. The layout of a building is going to vary from one type of business to another. We can help you choose what a good layout and flow are based on the type of business you run and ensures the space is designed so that the type of business can be successful in the space provided.

Selection of Building Materials That Make Sense for the Type of Business Someone Do

Lastly, we can help you select the building materials that make sense for the type of building you will be constructing. We can help you select the building materials that make the most sense for the type of business you plan as well as select materials that fit within your specified budget.

Looking to construct a building from scratch or renovate the existing commercial space for business? We are here to help you construct the building from the ground up, renovate a building or remodel, all while tailoring the building plans to the type of business you have. When you are ready to get started, give us a call to discuss requirements and plans with our team of construction professionals.

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. 

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.

Facility expansion is the sort of thing that many companies look forward to and are also afraid of doing at the same time. Obviously, everyone wants their business to do well enough to expand. But, one must know well that every expansion comes up with big changes.

How you should prepare your company for the change of facility expansion. Well, it must start at the very beginning. If you have already thought about what the company will look like 20 years down the line and in your first construction plans you may already have made a good step forward. But if this thought has not come up in your mind before, then it’s never too late. You can still make plans. These are some key rules that will help to guide your company through the process.

Updating Your Staff Early
It is easy to get caught up in the expansion process of your building but never forgets about your company’s most important asset, your people. Whether the expansion involves a more extensive facility or moving to a new location, make sure it should be well staffed in time and from Day One. Human resource experts recommend getting a staffing plan in place for at least four or five months.

Check the Current Condition
Always have a blueprint and financial game plan before starting the expansion. Look for what kind of land you have to work with. Conduct a facility audit to assess the building and its current condition. Does it all meet the building code requirements? If not, then you may need to invest in remodeling the existing structure first. After all the possible areas of renovation are explored, look for the areas that can be improved upon. Which part of the facility needs to handle new growth the most? Can the current electrical, plumbing, and seismic infrastructures handle this kind of workload after the expansion? These are good points to sort out before they even start the facility expansion.

Building From Scratch?
Most of the time it doesn’t happen, but in some cases, it is necessary to take some parts of the building down in order to expand the facility, as think about how this will impact the workers and production outflow in this type of situation. No one wants to hinder the progress of sectional removals and reconstruction even if they are temporary events. Always plan ahead of time, prepare your company for this new change, and bring in a positive attitude that reflects the excitement for this opportunity of growth in the company and the people working.

You must keep in mind that facility expansion will succeed with a little bit of risk and a lot of hard work. With much long-term planning goes into the process that is well worth the effort with the end result. For more details on Facility expansion and to resolve your queries call us today and book an appointment.   

When you are looking to construct a commercial building, you need to look for a construction company with the resources, background, and skill set to get the project completed on time and within the said budget. With so many different construction companies to select from, finding the one that is the right fit for the project seems overwhelming. Here are some tips for choosing a construction company you can trust.

Company’s Reputation

Once you verified about the company is insured and licensed, you need to spend some time researching the company’s reputation. This includes Internet searches and reading reviews from the Better Business Bureau Website. Try to look for reviews with similar complaints, such as being unable to complete a project on time or going beyond budget, there is some truth to that. Researching about the client’s reputation can clue you about the potential problems you may experience with a company.

Company’s Portfolio

Each construction company has its own unique style that makes buildings unique. Similarly, you need to view the company’s portfolio before you choose them for your project. Take a look at the style and design of the buildings they have delivered in the past. If it attracts you, it may work well with the company. If it does not appeal to your style, you will need to continue with the search for the right construction company.

Company’s Past Clients Reviews

Talking with the company’s past clients is one of the best things you can do when looking for a construction company for your construction project. The past clients can tell you their honest opinion about the project, including what went wrong, what went right, and where improvement is required. They can even tell you if there have been any kind of problems with the building, and if there were, then in what way the construction company handled it. A reputed construction company has no issue in providing you with references that you can speak to.

Trust

The last tip for choosing a construction company is to trust your gut instinct. If something seems not right with the company or you just don’t get a positive feeling about them, just walk away before you sign the papers or invest any money with them. It is much easier to walk away in the starting rather than your project is underway. Your mind should always be optimistic and happy with contractors when hiring. If you are feeling different, then your gut is trying to tell you something. Fortunately, there are many good companies to select from, and you should be able to find a reputable and trustworthy company that you can trust.

Choosing a company that you trust is one of the biggest decisions you have to make when having a commercial building constructed. Call us today and we would love to help you. We are a respected construction company with years of experience. Our team consists of construction managers, general contractors, and engineers, all there to help you with a variety of construction-related tasks.