Blog | Our Essential Guide to Office Refurbishment

As we head into the New Year many business owners will be evaluating their organisation and any changes that need to be made. Often the process of considering their current office space and how it fits their needs will be part of this.

Whether you are moving to a new premises and need to do some work to make it better fit your requirements, or you’re staying in your existing building but need to make some improvements, our essential guide to office refurbishments is a good place to start your planning...

What would you replace in your office?

There are different levels of office refurbishment - from making small changes such as a new partitioned room or a new ceiling, to a complete strip-out where you replace absolutely everything with new fixtures and fittings.

It is important to consider each element of your office space and think about what you would like to replace and what you could keep.

There are so many different options available that the cost of your office refurbishment project will very much depend on these choices. A reputable building contractor will be able to give you a quote for what you would like to achieve, or alternatively will be able to work within a budget and advise you on what is possible.

Most office refurbishments involve replacing or adding some or all of the following fixtures and fittings:

• Office partitioning
• Suspended ceilings
• Kitchen areas
• Lighting
• Air conditioning
• Fire alarm system
• Floor coverings
• Furniture and storage units
• Office, reception and staff room seating
• Security alarm or CCTV system
• Internal and external painting & decorating
• External window blinds and shutters

Key things to consider with your office refurbishment

There are many things to take into consideration when planning your office refurbishment...

Timing - One of the key things to consider is the timing of your refurbishment - will your staff be able to work elsewhere during the refurbishment or will you need a builder that can do the work out of office hours? Ask your builder to give you specific timescales so that you can plan accordingly.

Health and safety - This is a key issue to consider - you have a responsibility for the wellbeing of your staff and also any visitors that come to your business. By law you are obliged to consider certain issues such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and exit signs. You may also want to consider things such as emergency lighting and the specific materials that you use in the refurbishment.

Office environment - Another practical consideration is that of the overall office environment - this is both for efficiency purposes and to ensure a comfortable working space for your staff members. Key considerations here will be things like noise reduction - using different types of flooring and partitions to minimise the impact of noise, and lighting - thinking of ways that you can create as much natural light as possible without resulting in glare.

Management style - We would always recommend considering the management style and culture of your organisation to ensure that the layout in your office reflects this - do you want senior management to have their own offices and junior managers to be in an open office, or would you prefer an open style throughout with subtle partitioning?

Staff involvement - A good way to approach the planning of your office refurbishment is to get your staff involved throughout the planning process - this gives them the opportunity to share their views. Your staff will most likely have some insights or ideas that prove invaluable when it comes to creating an office space that suits everyone and enhances productivity.

Enquire about office refurbishment in Leeds and Wakefield

Here at Dobson Building Contractors we have years of experience in providing a professional and efficient office refurbishment service to help you make the most of your office space. Our services range from installing wall partitioning and suspended ceilings, to electrical work, decorating and carpentry. Our office refurbishment services are available in Leeds, Wakefield and surrounding areas in Yorkshire - take a look at some of our office refurbishment testimonials.

We are able to work on small or large projects and importantly can work within a budget - our initial site survey and quotation service is also completely free of charge.

Get in touch with us on 01924 871 044 or 0113 283 9710 to speak to one of our office refurbishment experts.