Description
Cosmetic or major office renovation?
Major office renovation is carried out to update the interior and the engineering systems or the building structures. It improves the characteristics of the premises and makes them more comfortable. And use of the available space more rationally.
On the one hand, everyone wants a renovated office with a fresh interior. But on the other hand, it takes a lot of time and effort to renovate. The main problem with office renovation is that, at the same time as the repair work, the company’s activities must continue. Hold work meetings, place orders, make calls, etc.
Office renovation can be major or cosmetic. The major renovation includes the replacement of facing surfaces, electrical wiring, lighting fixtures, plumbing, heating, water supply, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. As well as windows, doors, low-current, and other engineering systems. But cosmetic office renovation includes only work with finishing materials – updating walls, ceilings, flooring, updating the interior.
In what cases is it necessary to renovate an office space?
Office renovation is needed in the following situations:
- fair wear and tear of current premises and employee offices – communications and interior finishing require replacement with new ones;
- moving to a new office, which needs to be arranged to suit your lifestyle, update the interior, and create a comfortable layout for workspaces;
- expansion of office space: sometimes a new organization of workplaces is required when an adjacent room is vacated, a partition is demolished, and there is a need for repairs;
- accidents and emergencies: for example, the office was flooded and urgent repairs are needed, old pipes need to be replaced with new ones, ceilings need to be painted, etc.
Features and nuances of office remodeling and maintenance
An office space is different from a residential one. It has completely different layouts, and there is no kitchen. But often there are high ceilings, and a different lighting system and decoration. To carry out repairs in an office, you need more effort and skills. Because the office space represents your company, everything must be done perfectly here. And any defect or mistake will be very noticeable. Not to waste time, you need to know some tips on carrying out repairs in the office in advance. You need to understand where to start, and where you can store all the equipment and furniture.
Major repairs are needed if:
- The office premises are in a new building and have not yet been finished.
- The office is outdated, worn out, or does not suit the tenants.
- There is severe wear and tear in engineering systems, building structures, or finishing materials.
The exact list of works will depend on the condition of the premises. And what the result of the major repairs should be.
Office Renovation Instructions
If you don’t know where to start the renovation, here is an approximate list of stages of office renovation.
1. Always start with a plan
It is necessary to assess the condition of the premises, engineering systems, finishing materials, and building structures to understand what needs to be repaired. During the inspection, the dimensions of the premises are also taken and a plan is drawn up. Take measurements, and prepare cost estimates.
What you need to consider:
- communications layout diagram and partition plan;
- final office plan after redevelopment;
- forced ventilation scheme;
- layout of plumbing fixtures;
- heating system diagram;
- diagram of electrical communications and the location of sockets, switches, and lamps;
- a detailed plan of the floor, ceiling, and walls indicating the quantity, name, and approximate cost of materials required for finishing;
- list of furniture items, their quantity, approximate price, and specific name.
2. We purchase materials
All materials used in office renovation must meet three basic requirements. That is, be wear-resistant, durable, and safe. Buy only in large construction supermarkets, where all materials have the necessary quality certificates. When buying, remember that it is better to take paint of one color with a reserve, since if you buy more, you can already get another batch, where the shade will be different.
3. Prepare the surfaces
It is necessary to remove external wiring if there is any, and prepare the walls and all surfaces for cleaning, priming, and painting.
Types of finishing can differ greatly from each other: pasting, facing, painting, and finishing with decorative compositions – the technology of applying materials will be different. However, the base for each of these types of finishing has common characteristics. Here are the main rules that must be followed for all finishing: the surface for finishing work must be uniform, durable, and have good adhesion, not have any unnecessary mechanical elements (for example, anchors, nails, dowels, etc.) and, of course, the surface must be clean.
4. We carry out intermediate work
Not every renovation has an intermediate stage. It is necessary when minor remodeling of the room or installation of additional lighting is required. That is, at this stage, partitions are installed, pipes are laid out, and electrical wiring is installed. After this is done, you can begin finishing work.
5. Main works
We usually start the renovation from top to bottom: from the ceiling, we move to the walls, then we work on the floor. We carry out finishing works – this is painting and plastering works, priming, painting, tiling works, etc. If instead of painting the walls you have chosen wallpaper, then pasting the walls with wallpaper is the final stage of finishing the premises, except painting or varnishing the floors.
6. Final renovation works
At the final stage, baseboards and sockets are installed, built-in furniture is mounted, if any, tables, equipment, workplaces, and decor are arranged, blinds are hung, and chandeliers are installed. If you have handed over things to a storage service in advance, then you will understand how convenient it is that all the boxes are marked and thanks to this you can very quickly arrange furniture and things in their places.
One of the main stages at the very end is general cleaning. You can do it yourself, or you can contact cleaners who will not miss a single corner. And all employees will come not only to a renovated but also to a perfectly clean office.
How to deal with furniture and office equipmentÂ
During renovations, you need to take care of things in advance, and decide how best to pack them, where to move them inside the office, or if you take them to storage, then where exactly?
In any case, all equipment and things need to be very securely packed and labeled. For this, you will need different types of packaging materials: stretch film, bubble wrap, cardboard boxes with a reinforced bottom so that you can put a large number of documents in them, and foam plastic for packing fragile office equipment. Label each item: write on the box or packaging what is inside, as well as which employee, table, or office the item belongs to – such markings will make it easier for you to arrange furniture and equipment after the renovation.
Furniture should be disassembled and all fittings should be put in a separate bag. Valuables should be put separately and put in a safe, if there is one, or entrusted to a responsible person.
Useful tips on storage of furniture and office equipment
In extreme cases, some of the office equipment and furniture can be taken to the garage. Moreover, the things of a small office, if properly packed, can completely fit in the garage. But remember that if the garage is not heated in the cold and damp season, there may be excess humidity inside it. And the cold can spoil things.
The second option is to take it to a country house. To do this, you will need to organize delivery outside the city and find a carrier company that provides such services in advance. With a country house, remember the same weather conditions. In winter, the house without heating will be damp and cold – do not allow things to get spoiled.
Another option is to rent a sea container. You will have personal access to the container at any time. But you will have to deliver and pack everything yourself. In addition, there is no ventilation or heating inside the containers. Therefore, it is dangerous to store things there for a long time because they can get damp.
Prepare a maximum budget and cut slowly
When you and your team are planning the renovation project, you should think about the setbacks that will arise and that will affect the budget and schedule.
Plan a realistic timeline for the office renovation
Office renovations should generally be carried out during a period of business calm so that the company’s business will be affected as little as possible.Â
The schedule should take into account issues such as:
- Seasonal fluctuations in business.
- Availability of contractors.
- Critical moments in project development.
Think of a future strategy
- Will the planned renovations make the office space more or less usable soon?
- Could it become too small in space in two years?
- How much of the renovation costs are amortizable?
- Are you making changes that will be attractive for the future?
Consider investing in ecology
- What part of the renovation can you give a “green” touch to?
- Energy efficient windows?
- LED lighting instead of fluorescent?
- Recycled materials?
- More energy-efficient air conditioning systems?
Research the current building and spaces before designing offices
Take your time to examine the existing space in person and firsthand.
- Are there any strengths in construction that you should focus on?
- Are there any furniture and structures worth keeping?
Use the building plans as a guide, but have your design team walk through the spaces. This will allow you to assess, measure, and verify the dimensions and structures of the spaces shown on the plans.
- Does your office renovation require interior and exterior work?
- Is there an office or service in the building that exists because it is a bit old?
Workplace design has a significant effect on employee attraction and retention. The design, structure, layout, and space decoration are a clear indicator of whether an office is a good or bad place to work.
So do your research and ask your office designers to find out what your office requires to attract current and future employees.
Develop an office renovation strategy
If you don’t create a well-thought-out strategy, you won’t get the best return on your investment from your upgraded and improved office space.
The first phase takes the strategy of preparing the budget for office renovations, fit-out, and estimated office furniture. Add up the construction costs, required materials, labor, new furniture, etc. Make sure to leave some wiggle room as surprise expenses almost always arise.
Do you have empty spaces or spaces for playgrounds, swings, ping pong tables, foosball tables, video game areas, nap areas, etc. where you can put them? If not, you’ll need to find some.
In terms of office design and office remodeling, remember: the number of employees you have; future growth, both in space and employees; the functionality of each of the office spaces; the technology needed; how your employees like to work; and office design trends.
Have the design team and contractor work together (although they typically come together, remodeling companies have associate designers and office design studios collaborate with trusted contractors) to decide on the best plan and timeline to implement for a smooth remodeling project.
Maintain fluid and constant communication with those involved in the office renovation
People who should be involved in an office remodeling project include the design team, contractor, owner, stakeholders, and office staff.
Once the renovation is underway, offer staff tours and regular updates, so they stay informed and feel involved and appreciated. Feeling appreciated by companies and their managers, especially among millennials, contributes to greater loyalty to the company. Therefore, it encourages them to continue using their talent to improve the functioning of the company.
Maintain adequate levels of productivity during the office renovation
Prepare and inform your employees about new work structures and spaces
The most critical factor in whether or not an office renovation is a success is whether employees feel comfortable and happy working in their new facilities.
Office renovations should aim to build spaces that are better suited to employees’ work. However, you can’t just create the space, throw your employees into your new office spaces, and expect productivity, inspiration, and revenue to skyrocket.
Hire the right office design and renovation company
With Wallpaper Kenya you will have adequate planning and organization, which will be key if you want your office design and office renovation project to be a success.
If you need more advice for the renovation of your offices or need to decorate some of the spaces, do not hesitate to call Wallpaper Kenya.
We have specialists and partners in manufacturing, construction, and maintenance who can provide exceptional support services for the renovation of your company’s office spaces.