We’ve worked in several unusual locations over the years, and it’s fair to say that they always have some unique challenges to overcome to complete a retail or hospitality refurbishment. From conservation concerns in listed buildings to working in restricted spaces, we always find a way to get a job completed on schedule.
However, we recently finished a project that presented careful thinking and planning around more restrictions than usual. So, we thought we’d share some insight into the planning side of your shop refurbishment and the type of complications we encounter.
Potential working restrictions in a busy shop fit out.
One of our recent projects took place in the Bullring – Birmingham’s ultimate shopping destination. With thousands of visitors every week, it’s bustling with members of the public. And, being in the heart of the city, the centre is still open at 11 pm and full of pedestrians.
The logistical issues with working in this environment are numerous. We have to identify how to deliver materials to the unit and remove debris. In this case, the loading bay was not conveniently by the rear of the unit, and we were not able to take materials through the public areas. This means manoeuvring equipment, materials and our workforce through the restricted access available behind the scenes.
The unit itself was quite a small space. This limits the number of workers on-site at any time to ensure they have the space to work safely. Of course, fewer people working at any one time means the job itself will take longer.
In addition, working in a public environment like the Bullring comes with its own rules, including noise restrictions. We are limited in the kind of work we can do during opening hours. At SKK Interiors we are nothing if not determined – and our workforce is prepared to work anti-social hours to get the job done. However, fitting out a shop overnight between 10 pm and 8 am does add to the costs.
Health and Safety in a shopping centre
Health and safety is always our highest priority. We care for all our workforce, subcontractors and the public and we are fully compliant with building regulations and codes.
A huge multi-layered building like the Bullring comes with its internal regulations as well. For instance, consider fire regulations. We might be grinding, soldering or torch cutting. We have our Hot Works permits in place. But we also need to turn off the fire system and sprinklers in our unit – while not impacting any other part of the building.
A managed building also has strict requirements on the materials we use – so we provide fire ratings and information for every product we use, which must be checked and signed off. That includes all shop fittings and decorations that the client may wish to use, and obtaining details for the more unusual features takes time and paperwork.
Finally, due to the limited space and late hours, the finishing touches on the job may be done by just one person. Our own SKK policy is very clear when it comes to lone working restrictions. We have a check-in every two hours – even through the night.
It’s all about the planning
While the actual shop fit-out might be a small job, the planning and logistics of bringing it to a successful finish can be quite involved. Every limitation slows work down and can increase costs. That’s why it’s important to have a realistic and detailed quote before a project begins.
We pride ourselves on always setting realistic expectations from the start. We will explain every aspect to the client and be sure they understand what needs to be done. That way, there are no sudden additions to the budget or huge extensions to the deadline. We’re proud of our record for finishing a job on time and within budget –and that’s largely down to our experience in knowing just what will be involved. It’s all in the planning.
If you’re looking for a team to turn your retail or hospitality fit out from dream to reality, give us a call. We’ve got the experience and the reputation you can trust for a reliable, quality finish.