Remodeling Blog

Inflation has affected all sectors of the economy, including commercial construction. A recent report from Associated General Contractors (AGC) shows that the price of construction materials rose by leaps and bounds between April of 2020 and June of this year. In that time period, the cost of lumber and plywood rose 61%, copper and brass rose 68% and steel mill products rose an incredible 128%. If you're a commercial building owner in Connecticut seeking to remodel or build a structure, inflation will affect how much you'll pay for your project. Knowing what to expect and planning ahead is important. Working with an experienced commercial construction contractor can help make the entire process a success. Your commercial contractor should have the experience in the industry to help you plan a project that meets your needs, even amid these rising costs. For more information about finding a contractor that can help with this, download the Litchfield Builder's free guide. Below, you'll see information about how inflation is affecting commercial project costs, and suggestions for how you can plan an affordable commercial construction project in Connecticut.

Restaurants rely heavily on ambiance to create a pleasant dining experience. Aging restaurants can lose some of that ambiance as scratches, scuffs and stains begin to accumulate on surfaces like upholstery, tables, floors, and walls. Regular remodeling can keep your restaurant looking fresh and beautiful. Remodeling a restaurant is a big job, and it's important to know what costs to anticipate. Once you know how much you can expect to spend, then you can decide for yourself whether this type of business upgrade is right for your establishment. Keep reading below to learn about what you should expect for restaurant renovation costs.

Every commercial construction project is different, but when you're working with a professional construction business with a well-established process, you can expect your project to be streamlined and well planned. This is the case when you're working with Litchfield Builders. Litchfield Builders has been in business for over 25 years, and in that time, we've created a number of processes that make each job a success. Knowing what to expect in your commercial project can help you prepare for your upcoming commercial property improvement.

Commercial building permits are a crucial (and unavoidable) part of many business construction projects. Whether you want to replace your roof, build a new structure on your property, or add on to your existing structure, you’re going to need to get a permit before the work can begin. Permitting is a process that helps ensure building quality and safety, so it’s an important function of local government. However, permitting costs are on the rise and many business owners are unaware of it. In addition, the permitting process isn't changing, even as costs are increasing. This important issue is just one of the many reasons that property improvement projects cost more now than they did just a few years ago. Knowing the permitting process, what’s involved and how much it costs to get a permit can help you as you plan your upcoming construction project.

Many office-based Connecticut businesses changed their work configurations in 2020 allowing employees to work from home. While some of these businesses may maintain a permanent work from home configuration even after the pandemic ends, others are planning to come back to the office when it is safe to do so. It's hard to know what the workplace will be like after COVID-19, but most people agree, it will not be the same. Now is a good time to plan for a safe office reopening - whether a portion of or your entire workforce is coming back. If you're considering a reopening sometime in the near future, this is also a good opportunity to remodel and reconfigure your business operations to create a safer and healthier work environment. Many things are changing. The world around us is taking a new form. With good planning and visionary thinking, your business can be more agile, more resilient and more prepared for whatever is coming tomorrow.

Meeting ADA standards is an unavoidable part of maintaining a commercial structure. Still, most business owners don't know what they need to do in order to be ADA compliant, or whether their structure meets ADA requirements as is.

It is essential to have complete proper tools to make everything convenient and avoid any construction remodeling projects. However, this is something that most newbies might have a hard time deciphering. With the numerous equipment available in the market, one might confuse which are essential from just miscellaneous.

At home, touchless faucets add an element of convenience to the bathroom and kitchen. In commercial settings, they are important for maintaining appropriate levels of sanitation, cleanliness, and hygiene. Touchless faucets can even be a tool in sustainability and green commercial construction and are a regular fixture in commercial construction renovations.

Are you a business owner hiring a contractor in the next several months? It's important to vet contractors thoroughly before choosing one to work with. Asking probing questions about each contractors' business practices and about the remodel itself can help you vet professionals and prepare for your upcoming improvement project.

US Department of Energy estimates that, with the right improvements, commercial buildings can operate up to 70% more efficiently. Imagine how much money your business could save if you could cut your utility bills by 70%! By improving your building's energy efficiency, you can increase profits and position your business for growth over time.