With commercial projects such as building additions and renovations, the completion duration can be as much as several months, meaning that you’re faced with economic disruption and operational inefficiencies.
In such situations, it may be ideal to sequence or phase your construction to minimize these disruptions without sacrificing project construction progress. So, how do you determine whether a phased construction plan is right for you? Read on to learn about this.
What is phased construction?
This refers to an approach that phases or sequences the construction process rather than linearly. In other words, the entire project is broken down into phases and conducted as such.
In phased construction planning, the construction manager and the project owner consult to prepare the project outline and determine the best phases to carry out the project to minimize disruptions.
What to expect during phased construction
Below are some realistic expectations and planning tips regarding phased construction:
Physical disruption
Potential physical disruptions in your commercial project include the need to relocate IT equipment such as your server room. If the construction site takes up all or part of your parking space, you’ll need to plan for this too.
Physical safety is also crucial, as you’ll have to ensure that your employees aren’t in harm's way and can go about their daily activities with minimal disruption.
You should also consider the impact of noise
Cost
Phased construction projects generally cost more, given that you’re expanding in guided phases. You may also have to pay a premium for the increased construction activity based on the following factors:
Potentially high inspection fees from authorities
Increased meetings and design documents for each project phase
Confined workflow
Multiple deliveries for construction items and storage
Potential HVAC, plumbing, or electrical equipment costs.
Advantages of phased construction
Below are some benefits of phased construction over linear projects:
Low initial investment
With phased constructions for your commercial project, you can spread out the project's overall cost over a defined, convenient timeline rather than shell out all the money upfront.
This way, large undertakings can be done in small, affordable pieces, which is ideal if you’re on a budget.
Design flexibility
A phased construction can allow you to see the big picture (physically speaking) long before the project is completed. This way, you can change designs as required if your initial plans aren’t as great on paper as they will be in real life.
Continued income
Although your commercial operations will be disrupted, they will be kept to the barest minimum. And this can be all the advantage you need to earn steadily from your business to offset the construction costs.
Completed phases can resume operations to your profit and help fund the units undergoing construction.
Disadvantages of phased construction
Here are some demerits to this approach:
Increased overall cost
This is the most apparent disadvantage of phased constructions. Due to the extended project duration, you’ll incur more costs.
Extended duration
If you’re on a tight schedule, a phased construction won’t work for you, as staged construction takes longer than a linear one.
Which type of construction is right for my commercial project?
In summary, the significant determinants for whether you’ll choose a phased construction or not are your budget, time constraints, and willingness to wholly or partly relocate your commercial operations while the project is ongoing.
Consult us at Luxury Commercial Contractors to help you come to a workable solution.