What’s involved with maintaining a commercial building?

Buildings are like cars – they do require some ‘servicing’ from time to time. While some of the maintenance is based around making the building as aesthetically pleasing and comfortable as possible, there are actually many aspects that are legally required. For owners, maintenance really is an ongoing thing. It’s a good idea to review and fix problems as they arise, rather than allow them to build up and get worse. Trust us when we say that it’s worth investing in maintenance in order to avoid costly work later on down the track! Below is a very brief checklist of the types of things Sydney developers and owners need to be able to tick off.

Interior

Commercial buildings can house hundreds or thousands of people at a time. Because there are so many people that work and generally spend a great deal of time in commercial buildings, it is so important to make sure they are regularly maintained. Building inspectors can drop in at anytime unannounced, so it is in every owner’s best interest to be confident that everything is up to scratch.

Safety

• Review safety measures of the building. Are they compliant with the latest version of OH&S? (The most up-to-date OH&S requirements can be found on the Australian Government website).
• Check the condition of stairs and railings – they need to have enough grip to support those using them.
• Test the fire alarm and make sure the fire extinguisher is working.
• Confirm that the emergency exits are easily accessible by everyone in the building.
• Check for tripping hazards.

Facilities

• Ensure that the plumbing and electricity throughout the building is safe and unexposed.
• Check that all fixtures in the kitchens and bathrooms are working properly (e.g. fix any dripping taps and broken flushes)
• Make sure the elevator is operating well on each floor, and that the emergency instructions are clearly visible.
• Windows and doors should easily open and close.
• Confirm that the garbage removal and cleaning services are sufficient enough for the demands of the building.

 Aesthetics & comfort

• Check that lighting is sufficient in all areas of the building.
• Maintain insect and pest control.
• Make sure there is enough ventilation flowing through the building, particularly in basement areas or rooms where there are a lot of computers.
• Ensure that signage is clear and obvious.

Exterior

Maintaining the outside of a building is just as important as the inside. While it’s important for the building to look presentable, it also needs to be safe for people walking in and around the property. Sydney commercial builders will usually take the below into consideration in the design stages of a project.

Street view

• The street number, warning signs, and other signage needs to be clearly visible from the street.
• There should be sufficient lighting for people walking in and out of the building during nighttime hours.

Grounds

• If the commercial building has gardens or landscaped grounds, they need to be attended to on a regular basis. This involves mowing, manicuring, and weeding.
• Owners also need to fix any weather damage, such as erosion, leaks, or the impact of hail or heavy rain.

While this checklist will guide owners about what they need to look out for when maintaining their building, it is not as extensive as the official ones provided by the government as well as investigators. This is a good start, but please contact those departments for the most up-to-date, comprehensive information.

The limitations that come with a heritage-listed building

Although Australia is a relatively young country, we still have a fair few ‘heritage-listed’ properties scattered around the place. If you live or work in a heritage building, or are planning on buying or leasing one, it’s important to know the restrictions you may have to deal with. As Sydney developers, we can explain the kind of power the authorities have when it comes to assessing heritage-listed buildings. We’ll then talk you through the limitations as well as the extent of freedom that people have when renovating these properties.

What is a heritage-listed building?

A heritage-listed building is one that is historically or culturally significant in some way. A government panel has decided that it’s worth preserving the character, architecture, or the landscape of the property. Basically, it’s a building that has been deemed special enough to protect from demolition or change. Once a property has been heritage-listed, there are rules that say it must be kept in its original state. Heritage status can be a positive thing, as you’re inhabiting or working in a part of history. On the other hand, it can be very frustrating when it comes to renovating such properties.

Who controls heritage real estate?

In Australia, there are three levels of authority that control heritage properties. These are the federal, state, and local governments. The ‘levels’ correspond with how important the property is. For instance, the federal government manages properties that are of Australia-wide significance, while the local councils do not. These governments set out the restrictions on each type of heritage property. The restrictions differ depending on how significant the property is, and what part of it needs to be preserved. The authorities also assess, approve, and reject any proposed changes to the properties.

What are the restrictions?

It’s a common misconception that you can’t do anything to a heritage-listed building. This isn’t true. There are limitations of course, but really, these apply to all buildings. For example, council and zoning are always an issue for Sydney commercial builders. With heritage properties, the building has to keep the same look and feel. However, functionality is a different story. If the buildings are going to be used, it’s only fair that they are practical, so there is some leeway in that regard.

Renovations

There is a little bit of flexibility when it comes to renovating these properties. The properties must be safe and useable. Some of the older houses may need new kitchens, better bathrooms, new electrical outlets, and more modern plumbing. Similarly, commercial buildings may also need fire alarms and stairs. The first thing to do is find out what the property was heritage listed for, and then that will help you understand the limitations. For example, if it was for the architecture, then you will have some freedom in updating the interior design. If it was for the outdoor landscape, you are just obligated to maintain that.

Extensions

In most cases, extensions are allowed, but they must match the existing building. They must be built in the same style, whether that be Federation, Victorian, or so on. If you are looking to add on to a heritage-listed property, just check in with your council first and find out if there are any styles you’ll need to imitate.

Hopefully this post has helped you gain a better understanding of both the power and freedom involved with heritage-listed buildings. In addition, we hope it has also debunked some of the myths about these historical properties.

The difference between tier 1, 2, and 3 building companies

Every industry has a ‘classification’ or a ‘rating’ system. Sometimes these labels are official; other times they’re just unofficial ways to describe a company’s size and abilities. For example, small companies often call themselves ‘boutique’, while larger ones make their ‘significant’ size known. While these general labels are helpful, the construction industry has a very specific rating system. Building firms are classified as ‘tier 1’, ‘tier 2’, or ‘tier 3’, and since that doesn’t really give much information away, we thought we’d explain what those terms mean.

What’s the difference?

The tier system isn’t a difficult one to wrap your head around – it’s actually quite logical. Basically, Sydney builders are rated according to their capacity to take on certain projects. The size, resources, experience, and of course, money a company has determines the kind of projects they are able to take on, and therefore what ‘tier’ group they fall in to. In layman’s terms, tier 1 companies are the big guns, and the tier 3 ones are the more modest firms. Over time, companies can move up the tiers if they fit the criteria.

Now, let’s explore the different tiers a little more.

Tier 1

Tier 1 firms are the largest, wealthiest, and most experienced in the industry. This tier is so exclusive, in fact, that there are only 5 tier one contractors in the whole of Australia! Furthermore, all 5 are run under 2 parent companies. Here’s the breakdown:

• Leighton Holdings – has Leighton Contractors, Theiss, and John Holland under its umbrella
• Lend Lease Infrastructure – controls Boulderstone and Abigroup.

These Sydney commercial builders take on major commercial projects such as motorways, railways, hospitals, universities, office towers, shopping centres and the like. They have the expertise, resources, and finances to take on such large-scale projects. Tier one contracts are usually in the hundreds of millions and even billions price range.

Tier 2

Mid-tier companies are still key players in the construction industry. As the name suggests, they are somewhere in between tier 1 and 3. As a general rule, tier 2 companies are more likely to take on commercial (rather than residential) projects. Patterson Building Group is a tier 2 company, and we specialise in aged care, education, heritage, retail, and industrial projects.

Tier 3

Now that you know a little bit about the tier ratings, you can probably guess that tier 3 companies take on the smaller projects. There are a lot more of them around, and they have plenty of work to keep them busy. Tier 3 firms usually take on projects around the million-dollar range; sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. The types of projects they take on are:

• Sizeable residential jobs, including rebuilding and refurbishing.
• Small-scale commercial work, such as building or refurbishing petrol stations, supermarkets, offices, and places like McDonalds.

These companies are essential to the industry, and they build up their portfolio with this type of work. They then have the opportunity to start moving up the tier ladder.

What makes building companies stand out in a highly competitive marketplace?

Last week we talked about what to look for when hiring a building company, focusing on essential considerations such as accreditations and price. This week, we wanted to discuss how the values of and people in a company can make all the difference to the client’s experience. There are countless construction companies out there, so what makes one really stand out? Besides the obvious reasons such as performance, there are subtle ways a company such as PBG can make their mark in such a competitive industry.

Company character

Just like people, Sydney commercial builders have ‘personalities’. Companies need to make sure that they present a positive character. The clever ones develop values or a mission statement that clearly expresses their vision. It is this vision that aligns staff, and drives them in every project. As a potential client, it’s a good idea to do your research on a company’s values before committing to them. When you’re going to have a working relationship for months or even years, it’s very important to make sure that you share the same ideals. Here at PBG, we have three key values at the core of our company: excellence, reliability, and passion. These values dictate everything we do.

Below are some further ideals that make building companies stand out:

• Authenticity – unfortunately, being genuine is a rare quality in the building industry.
• Approachability – businesses should work with you as a partner. They should be friendly, approachable, and happy to answer questions or discuss any issues. We can’t stress enough how important communication is!
• Commitment – all companies should be committed to seeing a job through to the end, and taking responsibility for every step along the way. This also includes being accountable for any errors.
• Honesty – the best companies pride themselves on being straight with their clients. Clients appreciate when companies are honest about any issues and shortcomings. Honesty plays a huge part in defining a company’s integrity and credibility.

Each staff member should reflect the Sydney construction company’s ideals and expectations. This ensures that every single project is delivered to the same standard. It is the management’s role to make sure that there is consistency across the company’s branding and performance.

Skills and training

The top construction companies take skill levels very seriously. There are a number of people involved on a building project – from engineers to labourers to project managers. Great companies hire or train people to specialise in these niche areas of construction or management. Experts are the best in their field, and hiring them ensures that every project is completed to the best possible standard. For instance, at PBG, we have project managers, contract administrators, civil engineers, architects, and site managers on staff – all of which have contributed to our successful track record.

While skills are essential, continual training is something that makes a company like PBG stand out in the marketplace. The construction industry is evolving all the time, and it’s important to keep up with these changes. There are always new techniques, tools, and regulations to learn about, and the top companies are committed to keeping up to date.

What to look for when hiring a building company

Hiring a building company is a process that requires careful consideration. If we’re being honest, the building industry doesn’t have a stellar reputation. Because of this unfortunate status, clients need to be alert and educated when they are approaching construction companies. Similarly, those companies need to be able to prove their skills and reliability. When embarking on a building project, you’re investing both money and time in your contractor. Of course, you want to make sure you will be working with the best possible partner. To help you avoid encountering any problems, we’ve compiled this guide to hiring a Sydney building company. We suggest you use it as a checklist when you’re at the initial stages of your project.

Qualifications

Fortunately, it’s very easy to find out a company’s qualifications. From a client’s point of view, a company’s accreditations are a useful indicator of how qualified they are, and what exactly they are qualified to do. As accreditations are awarded by third party boards, they attest to a contractor’s reliability and consistency. They prove that the company is genuine and accountable to someone other than their client. Finally, they give you, the client, peace of mind. Look out for accreditations such as Quality Assurance and OH & S.

Experience

When hiring a company to undertake a commercial project, experience is a major factor. We recommend choosing one that has experience with the type of project that you have. This is the best way of knowing that they have the skills and resources to do the job right. Luckily, all you have to do is ask for their project portfolio. A genuine, reliable construction company should be able and happy to provide you with this information.

References

As well as asking for proof of successfully completed projects, it’s also a very good idea to ask for recommendations. If people make the effort to refer a company, they are confirming their trustworthiness, reliability, quality of work, and communication skills. Such references will help you to determine if the company’s ‘character’ suits your needs.

Price

As a general rule, in the construction industry, you get what you pay for. Therefore, price is a very important consideration. Just like in any other industry, every company will charge according to their own fees and resources. Remember, the price does match the quality. If the quote seems too good to be true, it probably is. Projects are a long-term investment, so it’s worth spending that little bit more on a verifiable Sydney commercial builder that you know will do the job well.

Time

Make sure that the company has the time to complete your job within the given time frame. This hurdle can be taken down in the interview stage. Just ask them outright if they can meet your deadline. If they seem to be overstretched, it might be in your best interest to move on to the next one.

Put everything in writing

Repeat after us, everything must be in writing! This should not be a problem at all, and if it is, cue the alarm bells. Draw up a contract at the beginning of the project, and make sure it is signed and agreed upon before anything else. In addition, if there are any changes to the original contract along the way, put these in writing as well. Avoid verbal agreements at all costs. It’s the sensible thing to do.