When it comes to the commercial building that your business calls home, it’s crucial that you do all you can to protect it. The last thing you want is for weather-related complications to disrupt your daily operations, or worse, cause costly and irrevocable damages. Extreme winter weather is very possible in Northern Nevada and being ill-prepared for how to deal with the effects of a heavy storm is anything but good for business. 

Here are some tips, along with a comprehensive checklist of how to best prepare your commercial business for winter, from the reliable tenant improvement contractors at Stryker Construction. 

What Can Go Wrong? 

Your company’s building should be taken care of similarly to your home, only the risk is often far greater given the high value of the commercial property and your business equipment. Because of this, it’s essential that you properly prepare yourself for winter hazards in Reno. Some examples of winter-related complications may include:

• Heavy snow/ice accumulation on roofs and equipment
• Low temperatures that may lead to plumbing problems
• Blocked roof drainage systems 
• Accessibility issues due to heavy snow or ice
• Heating system failure

Commercial Building Winterization Checklist 

The best way to prepare your commercial building for winter is to start with a comprehensive checklist to keep you organized and ensure every part of your building is safe and secure. The tenant improvement contractors at Stryker Construction recommend starting with an “Extreme Weather Emergency Plan” and an evaluation of the current state of the commercial property. From there, various repairs, maintenance and preventative steps may need to be made to secure the building from extreme weather. 

Emergency Plans

Developing an emergency plan in case of extreme winter weather should be completed first. It should include the following:

• Assignment of emergency roles and responsibilities
• Annual training and emergency preparedness 
• Compile all necessary emergency supplies such as:
  • plastic tarps 
  • mops 
  • emergency lighting
  • battery operated radio 
  • emergency temporary heating equipment 
  • snow and ice clearing equipment,
  • road salt
• Plan ahead with your recovery efforts. Create a guide for restoring daily operations after the event
• Task a responsible employee with monitoring weather reports to deliver timely information that allows sufficient time to implement your emergency plan
• Plan snow removal arrangements accordingly

Building Assets

The structure of any building is its greatest support. Typically, weather-related damages are less noticeable when they’re first developing and it usually isn’t until other building assets start to display signs of deterioration that these issues are addressed. Be sure to include the following checks in your winter preparations to avoid serious structural damage:

• Weatherproof your commercial building’s windows, doors, and vents to limit exposure to the outside air
• Seal any openings or leaks in exterior walls and indoor features such as ceilings, walls, and floors
• Ensure indoor temperatures remain above 40? (4?) to keep from freezing
• Inspect the outside of the building as well. Look for:
  • Structural damage
  • Unstable trees/tree limbs 
  • Broken equipment
  • Other external hazards

Equipment and Utilities

Business equipment is highly valuable meaning it’s also quite expensive to replace if it’s damaged. The same applies to your property’s utilities like the heating system and plumbing. Here are some tips for preparing your commercial building’s equipment and utilities:

•  Have your HVAC system inspected by a professional to ensure it functions properly
  • Heating and process boilers
  • Furnaces 
  • Ovens 
  • Process water tanks
  • Etc.
• Check all processes subject to freezing (i.e.: water, fuel, oil, and steam lines)
• Verify that your facility is equipped with adequate fuel supplies
• Drain all water from equipment or piping that are stored in unheated areas
• Have your wet and dry sprinkler systems inspected
  • Adjust antifreeze and temperatures accordingly 
• Have fire pumps and fire hydrants inspected

Rooftops

Roofs provide the most protection from outside elements, but they also face the brunt of poor weather conditions and often suffer the most damage. Be sure to complete the following winterization checklist to keep your roof in tip-top shape this winter:

• Inspect your roof while it is completely dry and visible. Look for things such as:
  • Cracked or bent beams, joists, or columns
  • Rusted or deteriorated decking
  • Cracked or deteriorated roof coverings
  • Areas vulnerable to water pooling 
• Evaluate your roof’s drainage system. Check to make sure there are no blockages from built-up debris or ice. 
• Determine the roof’s snow load capacity and prepare to remove excess snow if necessary

Seek Advice From A Tenant Improvement Contractor

Our team has extensive experience working on commercial construction sites, making us the ideal tenant improvement contractor to join your team. Each of our tradesmen has special skills and knowledge that help your project come together to be completed successfully and efficiently. For tips on how to properly prepare your commercial building for the winter, connect with the team at Stryker Construction today.

Commercial build-outs are intended to make a business space more operable for the occupying tenant. Essentially, a build-out finishes an office or building space so that the business using the space can work more efficiently and effectively. The best way to go about building out office space is to contact a reliable, licensed contractor familiar with the industry you work in. They’ll be able to accurately assess the current condition and state of the office and offer sustainable solutions that will provide tenants with their ideal workspace. 

To better understand your business’s office and workspace needs, you’ll need a comprehensive commercial build-out checklist like the one provided below. For more information regarding build-out construction options for your business, connect with Stryker Construction in Reno today.  

What is a commercial build-out?

A commercial build-out, also called tenant improvements, allows tenants of a corporate building to make modifications and additions in order to help them operate at their optimum potential. The process involves reconfiguring the layout and sometimes the structure of an existing space to make it more functional for the occupying lessee. 

A commercial build-out may be done for a new space requiring structural accommodations or previously used office space in need of retrofitting. Regardless of the type of build-out, the ultimate goal is to complete a workspace so that it functions optimally for the current tenant.   

Things To Consider Before Starting Your Commercial Build-Out 

Before jumping right into your commercial build-out, there are some considerations that need to be made first. The most important part of commercial build-outs is making sure that the space is designed to fit your business’s needs. To ensure this is the case during your tenant improvements, you would want to discuss in-depth your construction needs and wants with your contractor. Some things to consider include:

• Who will manage and pay for the build-out? Depending on the clauses of the lease, a tenant or a landlord may facilitate overseeing the build-out. Before you begin planning your tenant improvements, it’s important to determine which party is responsible for the payment of such modifications and who will be working directly with the contractor. 
• What costs are involved? To determine the cost of the project, your contractor will take into account the building type as well as its condition and age. All of this will be a factor in the price of the renovations.
• How long will the build-out take? Commercial build-outs take time and the more work you want to complete, the longer the project will be pushed out. If you’re under strict time restraints, you may want to focus on the most important changes that need to be made first.
• Who is in charge of what utilities and building improvements? Some utilities, such as the electric bill, may be shared with other tenants in the building or paid for by the landlord. In this case, it wouldn’t make sense for you to spend money or resources improving the building’s energy efficiency if you aren’t able to make back the money you put into the alterations. 
• Do you have the right team to carry out the work? Having the right commercial construction company performing your build-out is crucial, so be sure to find the best contractor in Reno to see that your tenant improvements are handled properly. 

Our Comprehensive Commercial Build-Out Checklist 

• Ceilings - May consist of ceiling tiles, drywall, or Fineline ceiling 
• Countertops - Choose from stone, marble, or wood
• Custom Fixtures - These may be custom to your business or industry, or might include artwork, custom shelving, etc. 
• Doors - Traditional swing-door style, sliding doors, wood veneer building doors, or custom woodwork doors and framing can be installed
• Electrical - Each business has different electrical needs from requiring additional outlets or needing a streamlined layout, the options for electrical needs are endless
• Flooring - Choose from carpet, tile, hardwood, laminate, and more
• HVAC - Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are essential
• Lighting - Choose from recessed lighting fixtures, LEDs, industrial lighting, indirect cove lighting, parabolic lighting, and other custom lighting fixtures
• Millwork - This may include factory produced woodwork such as flooring and trim
• Networking - Your office space should include networking options to allow for simple network setup and more
• Office Fronts - Design of the office front may include no glass, full-height glass windows with metal or wood framing, etc.
• Plumbing - Includes standard plumbing fixtures to more advanced plumbing options for businesses like dental offices that need specialized plumbing layouts, fixtures, and tubing
• Walls - May include woodwork, wall coverings for improved acoustics, painted drywall, or wallpapered drywall

Commercial Build-Outs with Stryker Construction

Each business functions differently and has different needs based on its specific industry standards. Commercial build-outs are designed to make an existing structure suitable for the occupying tenant to be able to conduct business accordingly. To get the ideal workspace for your company, you need the best commercial construction team to handle your build-out. Stryker Construction has over 40 years of combined office build-out experience from professional engineers, architects, and tradesmen. Together, they have helped commercial sites across Northern Nevada design and construct their ideal space with care. 

Learn how we plan and manage your custom commercial office build out