Accordion Doors (Why the Good Ones Don’t Come from Big-Box Stoes)

An office fit out can be an exciting new chapter or a stressful ordeal. Not only do you need to devote a lot of time to meticulously plan for design,money and time constraints; you also need to ensure a talented,experienced set of project managers and fitters are used to ensure the project goes smoothly and safely.

However,some companies try to save money on the project above all else by cutting corners,trying to do it themselves or hiring a cheap contractor. The problem is that when you use an inexperienced,sub-par contractor,the results can be less than you require. This is where the real costs of a bad office fit out come home to roost,which is the basic reason it is vital to use an experienced commercial interior designer.

Poor safety

Your commercial premises must be designed with a mind for all potential health and safety issue. This needs a full site survey from an expert who can identify potential hazards and problem areas. The planning stage of your fit out should include an appraisal of the current building in order to create the new look around what would be safe for anyone who occupies the place. If you cut corners in the refurbishment,you risk leaving your premises with hazards that could cause costly accidents down the line.

Unexpected costs

Some things in life can be bought for a little bit of money,but an office fit out isn’t like a store brand pasta sauce. With an office re-fit,you get what you pay for,and choosing cheap,inexperienced contractors and products could end up costing you a lot more overall. Even a badly installed plug or uncomfortable furniture can end up costing a lot to replace,and any downtime that’s caused is likely to end up costing more than had you hired an experienced interior designer in the first instance.

Unproductive staff

Your staff have to feel like they are the main consideration in your office fit out. After all,the way the place looks is essential for boosting their comfort and safety,which in turn impacts on their ability to work. Even something as simple as poor colour choices can have a significant impact on their mood,and an inexperienced interior designer is more likely to make the wrong decisions. If you want to get the maximum out of your employees,you have to get the best out of your office refurbishment,and the only way this can be assured is to hire a professional interior designer.

It can be very tempting to try to cut corners to reduce costs,but you should never compromise on quality with an office fit out. The points raised above are just a few of the problems of working with an inferior design and fit team,and these expenses far outweigh the extra financial investment you would need to make to get the services of a seasoned expert. Don’t put unnecessary strain on your company; go for quality of service every time.

Contact - – Ozone Interiors today to work with a commercial interior designer who knows how to get the very best results.

There are many important factors to consider prior to making any kind of land or property purchase,and environmental pollution plays a big part. In the very worst case,environmental contamination can present hazards,to users and or residents of the site. This is one of the reasons environmental risk surveys are such an important part of due diligence for any land or property purchase.

Types of environmental contamination

There are many different types of environmental pollutants that can cause dangers to land users. In many cases these are associated with previous industrial use of land,although this is not always the case as natural pollutants do also exist.

There are many types of contaminants,these contaminants can include dust or gas pollutants which can be inhaled or contamination in soils which can be transmitted to foods grown on the land and any grazing animals. Such contamination could also impact anyone working on the land.

Indirect pollutants can also damage buildings or leach out of the soil due to effects of groundwater or any river,stream or pond in the vicinity. Some of these contaminants are corrosive or could even cause fires or explosions.

Examples of contaminants include:

– Lead or other heavy metals such as cadmium or arsenic
– Tar and oil
– Asbestos
– Radioactive materials
– Chemical substances and solvents
– Gas

You can discover more on the matter of contaminated land on the UK government website.

What isthe definition ofcontaminated land?

If you want more information on contaminated land or read technical guides on dealing with special sites on the website of the Environment Agency.

The legal definition of ‘contaminated land’ relates to land containing substances which can cause:

– Very significant damage to property,people or protected species
– Harm due to radioactivity
– Pollution to surface waters,such as lakes or rivers,or groundwater

Some of the reasons for land contamination are when it has been previously used as:

– Factories
– For mining
– Steel milling
– Refining
– Landfill sites

Contaminated land may also fall into a ‘special sites’ category. These sites could:

– Cause serious effects to any drinking water,or surface or groundwater
– Previously have been used for activities like oil refining or the manufacture of explosives
– Have previously been regulated under permits relating to integrated pollution controls or prevention
– Previously have been used for disposal of acid tars
– Have been occupied or owned by the MOD
– Previously been used in connection with the nuclear industry or be contaminated with radioactivity

What about brownfield sites?

It’s long been government policy to bring what’s termed brownfield land back into use in order to help preserve the greenfield sites and land within rural areas. This land regeneration often causes concerns,however. The majority of larger towns and cities contain areas and sites that are not in use and due to demand,development of these brownfield sites and derelict buildings is becoming increasingly common.

Very often minimal regulations were in place to check on the re-use of brownfield sites or any potential environmental hazards thus presented. Now however,things are very different,but it has to be said that the majority of brownfield site developments are perfectly safe for residential purposes. Selling homes in these neighbourhoods can present some conveyancing issues,though.

If you have any concerns about environmental contamination which could impact on your property purchase,give the experts at - a call to discuss your worries.