When beginning a new commercial building project, many phases are involved and it’s critical to get all of them right for a successful build. Perhaps the most crucial phase of any commercial project is the design, and once you’ve got one in place that matches the building’s intended function and the project’s budget, all that remains is for the design plans to be put into action.
But this isn’t always as simple as it sounds, and even with the best laid plans, things can go wrong along the way; sometimes costing the building owner thousands of dollars as their project encounters problems and delays. While a sound design is essential for the success of a commercial building project, should you hire an architect to draw one up, or rely on a general contractor? Contrary to popular belief, general contractors often prove to be more reliable than architects when it comes to designing a project plan, and here’s why:
General contractors ensure the best design according to their capabilities
If you go straight to an architect and ask them to draw you up a plan for a commercial property, while they might well have a good understanding of what will look good, they may not always have such a sound understanding of what’s possible in terms of construction. They may suggest that something be done a certain way in order to achieve the most aesthetically pleasing design, but without knowing the limitations in relation to materials, and construction techniques, you could end up paying out for more highly skilled construction contractors, who are willing to explore the limits of their skills and capabilities, and charge you handsomely for it.
Working with a general contractor, on the other hand, means that they’ll come up with a design that they know their team is capable of carrying out to a high standard, and which will mean that the building is safe and functional, as well as aesthetically pleasing.
General contractors help to reduce costs
A reliable and experienced general contractor will ensure that the project remains within the parameters of your budget, by choosing only those materials and techniques that are affordable to you. Should an architect design a building that might involve a lot of sub-contracting or the renting of specialist equipment, for example, the project could easily start to exceed the budget, and without specialised knowledge and understanding of construction techniques, this can easily happen.
General contractors may come up with a more efficient design
Architects are skilled at what they do and are capable of designing many incredible and functional buildings, but, they are renowned for being somewhat stubborn when it comes to sticking to their blueprints. Without the experience of a general contractor, they may not know that there are more efficient ways to construct something, and that what looks great and perfectly doable on a computer screen, may in reality, not be quite as straightforward.
Working with a general contractor on a commercial building project simplifies the entire process, and cuts out a lot of unnecessary and often costly, middle men. As well as coming up with a plan that they know they can put successfully into action, you’ll also get an entire team of contractors who will carry out the work under the general contractors watchful eye. However, if you still want to involve an architect in the designing phase, that’s absolutely your choice, but you should at least ensure that they work closely with a general contractor.