4 Important Areas for Review Before
Embarking on Commercial Construction

The process of renovating or constructing commercial building can be exhausting. You have to figure out a renovation plan that helps your business to achieve its goals. Either way, it’s a good sign. It means that your business is expanding hence you need to make adjustments to space in order to cater for your growing needs. To keep up the excitement and ensure the commercial construction project goes as smooth as possible, we’ll share with you some 4 practical tips.

Check the Certificate of Occupancy

Never sign a lease before reviewing the Certificate of Occupancy. You may realize that there are restrictions on how the property can be used. As soon as you understand what kind of commercial renovations can be conducted on the property, it gets easier for you to apply for the necessary permits and licenses. You’ll get all the info on the CO regarding how you can use certain areas of the property such as the backyard. Sometimes the CO may need updating which can be a costly process. Therefore, consider looking for a property that you can work with from the very beginning instead of trying to change its legal use along the way.

Does the property have any building violations?

When you just leased a commercial space that has been vacant for some time, it’s good to check if there are any building violations. For instance, the previous tenant may have performed some commercial renovations in Toronto without a permit or there could be critical systems such as the AC unit that’s not functioning properly. Your construction project could come to a stop if these violations are discovered the moment you go to get a permit. To avoid this, make sure that you work with an architect or general contractor when looking for a potential commercial space. Have them help you decide if the property is right for your business.

Assess the property’s structural, electrical and plumbing situation

Commercial spaces can be tricky to repurpose so you need to be extra careful before signing a lease for a building that was used for clothing retail which you would like to turn into a restaurant. You may find that you’ll have to move certain walls in order to create the kind of floorplan your business needs. Such projects can be extremely costly and a deal breaker for most business owners. Other important areas to consider are the plumbing, mechanical and electrical components in the building. You need to ensure that the renovations required won’t require too much time and money.

The building’s façade/envelope

You may need to make some accommodations to ensure the property’s windows, doors and roofing system is up to code. For instance, some properties need to make reasonable adjustments to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. In other areas, you may need to replace items such as asbestos with safer and modern glazing options. When making major renovations on a commercial building, expect to be required to make adjustments that line up with certain building codes.