5 Ways To Reduce The Cost Of A Stylish Office Renovation

Renovating your office is a balancing act. Operating on a fixed budget if you spend  in one area, you must save in another. Keeping your renovation cost effective is crucial,so it’s important to know where to spend and where to save.Trim your budget by adopting these money-saving office remodeling tips to improve your office space.

Mix high end and budget elements

One money-saving tip for an affordable office renovation is to mix expensive brand items with simple standard items. You don’t have to limit your choices to one brand. Mix and match, spending on luxury elements where required, but using affordable options where possible.

Recycle and reuse rather than buying new

Before throwing your old office furniture and equipment, check whether it can still be used or repurposed. For example, the cost of sanding and polishing a wooden conference room table is much less than buying a new one. Not only will you be saving money, you’ll be helping the environment. 

Buy in bulk 

Renovating several workstations or locations? Buy in bulk for big savings.

In addition to cost savings, bulk buying will also increase efficiencies in delivery, installation, and even repairs.

Buy from local suppliers  

When you’re looking for interior renovation materials make sure to shop local first. Buying local will avoid shipping and transportation charges and delays. It will also reduce the chances that equipment will be damaged in transit. Additionally, you’ll be helping your local economy.

Go for simple and classy office designs

Consider going for simple, understated designs, layouts, and equipment. While an office renovation is a style overhaul, you also need to make sure that efficiency and productivity are increased in the redesign. With that in mind always remember that form follows function.

6 Benefits of choosing Cornerstone Remodeling Services

With decades of combined experience, Cornerstone maintains its success by making our clients’ remodeling dreams come to life. From small rehabs to complete store and office renovations throughout the Greater Toronto Area, we create spaces that our clients love. Beginning with expert design followed up by precise project management and flawless execution, Cornerstone takes care of every aspect of your renovation project.

Reliability and quality in everything we do

Our expert remodelers, contractors, and designers improve office quality, productivity, and functionality for our clients by providing high quality renovations with the finest materials, workmanship, and a constant eye for detail.

We own what we say and do

We take responsibility for the successful execution of each aspect of your Toronto remodeling project. Plans are clearly documented and mutually agreed to which helps to manage expectations every step of the way. 

Solutions for all commercial remodeling services

We are professionals who offer the services you need in order to complete your renovation project. From structural repairs to additions to aesthetic renovations, Cornerstone is the single trusted company to rely on.

We educate our clients

Throughout the construction period our clients are updated with all relevant information related to their renovation project. Design, materials, budgets, and deadlines are all clearly communicated ahead of time. We know how disappointing it can be if a commercial contractor doesn’t communicate with clients properly, so we always make sure to go the extra distance in doing so. We believe the key to a successful project is consistent communication & collaboration with our customers throughout the entire project. We believe in creating a better journey for all those involved.

Safe and insured construction and remodeling 

By hiring Cornerstone, you ensure your project will be safe and covered by insurance. We have general liability insurance; hence, and unforeseen incidents will be covered. Although we take every precaution to be safe and keep everyone around safe.

Minimal disruption to your business

We ensure minimum disruption to your business activities during the renovation. We specialize in off-hours renovation and can conduct your renovation in stages to minimize disruption to business, staff and customers.

Cornerstone is one of the finest commercial contractors in Toronto. We work to ensure your list of priorities are not only met, but your expectations are exceeded. Let's work together to bring your vision to life!!

6 Tips for Renovating Your Retail Store

Remodeling can be frustrating, but it can be worth it -- making your store a better and more functional place to shop. Whether it's adding new rooms, increasing the size of your store, tearing down unnecessary walls, etc., the right renovations will benefit your retail store by improving both the aesthetics and function of your location. To get the most benefits from a renovation, there are a few things you should consider before you decide on a commercial contractor.

Find the new look for your store

The new look of your store will surely attract more customers. Have a clear plan about what the store’s new look will be, to help you have a better renovation experience. Don’t know what you want? Ask your contractor about what their other clients love about their renovations. 

Decide the changes you want to make

Start the process by making a list of features you like and dislike about your existing store. Prioritize and decide to change those things that aren’t working first.You can often cut remodeling costs by keeping the features you like in your existing store.

Make a wish list for your new store

If you want a new look but have no clear plan about what you want, make a wish list for your new store.  These may or may not be possible within budget but will help the commercial contractor understand what kind of design and layout you like, and make a plan within budget.

Visualize the placement of fixtures

Make a plan on where to place different elements like the store’s service area, cash registers, merchandise, and storage. Visualize how the placement of fixtures will affect initial impressions and traffic flow to and from your store.An expert commercial contractor will help you determine how much space everything needs.

Determine your budget early in the process

Find out how much money you can allocate towards the renovation. Before you commit to an expensive idea, you may want to compare its cost to something more practical if the dream build will negatively affect your cash flow.

Take the advice of your contractor

 Take the advice of the contractor when it is offered; they are renovation experts! This does not mean that everything they advise will suit your vision, but it may save your money in the end. Keep the lines of communication open, sharing ideas and getting questions answered all along the way.

Cornerstone – The smart solution for store and office renovations

 When businesses grow, change, or evolve, they may require updates that can't be handled with simply new furniture or a fresh coat of paint.When that time comes, turn to Cornerstone. Our renovation expertise enables us totackle older properties that other commercial contractors consider a challenge. Our mission is to provide the kind of superior contracting and renovation services that make every project a successful one. Cornerstone is the dependable, affordable commercial contractor that you’ve been looking for. When it's time to make a change, we're here to make sure it is a change you will enjoy for years to come. 

We approach every renovation project with a fresh perspective

​We don’t bring our preconceptions to you, only our experience. Every renovation project has unique requirements, so we bring a fresh approach to your renovation to successfully translate concepts, designs, and ideas into concrete reality. We bring our talent, experience and our ability to listen. We listen to your needs and respond with great ideas and solutions that will deliver a fantastic store or office while respecting your budget.

Our team excels at developing renovation plans

​A great work space starts with a great plan.Our store renovations in Toronto are an outstanding example of our ability to rehabilitate a site and restore it to full.Whether you’re looking to renovate or create a retail space, you never have to compromise on what you want.

We help you discover unknown potential hidden within your existing space

​Let us craft a new design for your space or discover unknown potential with your existing space. You can depend on us to make the most of your existing workspace. We enhance the functionality and free up floor space while preserving its basic character and develop options that upgrade aesthetics and increase efficiency of your store/office

We make sure that you are part of the project every step of the way

​We always take the time to discuss your ideas and visions, while we share our own with you. We provide as much attention to detail as we can to every project we undergo. We work with your ideas, accurately updating accounting data,project progress reports and always answer your calls. Most importantly, we make sure that you are part of the project every step of the way 

7 Common Commercial Renovation Pitfalls and How To Avoid Them

Knowing what not to do when you take on an office renovation project in Mississauga will help you make the most of your time and money. To make your renovation easier, we've compiled a list of common remodeling pitfalls and how you may be able to avoid them.

Starting the work without planning

Make sure you have a design in mind that is used to create a detailed project plan with costing, resources, and deliverables. Review your plan and clearly define what you want and what you expect from the finished project. More floor space? Modernization?

Remodeling without a fixed budget

Make a list of work that must be done and corresponding price. If you are not sure about your budget you will likely overspend. Instead, work with a licensed, experienced contractor to understand your needs and what it costs

Using low quality Materials

While it may seem like you are saving money, low quality materials may cost you more in the long run due to faster wear and tear. Instead, consider investing in quality materials.Often they may even have additional features that make them worth the cost in addition to lasting longer and reducing future maintenance costs.

Taking Last minute decisions

Last minute decisions lead to long lasting regrets. Make all decisions in advance and execute it as per your plan. This will ensure you and your developers have a shared understanding of your project, budget, and deliverables.

Not discussing your project in detail

Discuss and put on paper the timeline of theremodeling project.What are the main phases? What areas of your office are off limits during the remodeling and which can be worked in? Talk to your commercial contractor about process, timing and disruption to your regular activities and communicate that with everyone involved.

Don’t change your mind too often

Once your project has begun, try your best to stick with your plan. Don’t get persuaded to change something that you may later regret based on a whim.

Hiring the Wrong Contractor

Get to know your commercial contractor. Check their references and licenses. Make sure they are the right one. Choosing the wrong contractor will lead to delays, subpar work, and even legal problems.

So don’t make your renovation any harder than it has to be by making these mistakes.Good Luck.

6 Ways Cornerstone’s Approach Delivers A Successful Office Renovation

Cornerstone Building and Property Services delivers store and office renovations that satisfies our customers way beyond their expectations. Our work speaks for itself, when you see a truly eye-catching office or storefront around Brampton or Greater Toronto it may just be a Cornerstone success story. Though store renovations in Toronto may seem straightforward, they can actually be quite challenging without an experienced contractor like Cornerstone at the helm. Six approaches that make Cornerstone’s renovations and remodels successful include :   

Proper planning and monitoring

Cornerstone’s systematic methodology for each project is the key to a successful renovation. We take the time to plan out all aspects of the project, which saves time, stress, and resources down the line. After proper planning, our continued monitoring and feedback process while the work is going on ensures that any hiccups that may pop up are quickly resolved, delivering a high-quality finished project to our clients. 

Focusing on the big picture–without ignoring the details

Cornerstone focuses on the big picture so that we can lead our team more effectively. Remodeling can sometimes feel like an endless series of decisions. At times it’s easy to get caught up in all of the details and forget about the big picture. Our remodeling decisions are made through experience, made in a timely fashion, and will meet all of your budget requirements.

Choosing The Right Materials 

Cornerstone knows where you want to splurge and where you can reasonably cut costs. Our material selection process minimizes cost while meeting product performance goals.

 Risk Tolerance

The ability to tolerate risk is part of our business. Our professional commercial contractors are aware of issues and risks beforehand and their helpful advices will ensure a successful outcome. The early identification and pre-purchasing of products that have long lead times can help reduce the extended construction schedule while our experience in the industry helps us head off issues before they even arise.

Effective Communication

We present plans and sample boards to communicate the vision and intent of the renovations, which is a good way to answer questions and dispel concerns. Ultimately,our job is not finished until you, your team members, and your customers love your space.

 Realistic Schedules That We Meet

We follow a timeline process showing you the steps at every stage so you can track progress and ensure that we deliver on time, every time.

As a specialist in commercial renovation, we deliver high standards and a great finish to your project, right down to the very last nail!

6 Ways To Plan Your Office Space

When it comes to your business’s future, it’s always good to have a plan. Ensuring that your office is an inspirational place to work is vital. Smart office renovations and space planning greatly impacts the efficiency of your work environment. 6 great ways to guide this process are listed below.

Make a list of your priorities

Making a list of your priorities and everything you would like to have in the space is a great way to simplify and organize your thoughts. These priorities will guide you when you have to start making hard decisions taking space, budget, and time into consideration.  

 Don’t ignore future growth

Include room for a reasonable growth. The goal of space planning is to maintain a productive environment for years to come. Consider what space and equipment you need to allow for additional staff, customers, and products.

Calculate the space per staff member required

Space outyour team according to the flow and circulation of your office space. In many places, there arelaws concerning the amount of space each employee must have. Make sure you understand your employees’ requirements and your obligations to them when planning. Speak to a licensed, professional commercial contractor if you need guidance in this area.

Don’t forget space to move around. 

Traffic jams aren’t only for roadways, they can happen in your office too – hindering production and creating frustration for your employees. Clutter closes down space; so de-clutter to avoid blocking circulation and common pathways.                                                                                                Cubicles aren’t always the best idea!

Plan your space according to your wants and needs, not according to trends and traditions. Consider collaborative workspaces instead of cubes, think about different layouts. Subdivide different activity zones to give definition to each part of the room. 

What your employees think?

Effective space planning should focus on employee’s needs. Professionals can make suggestions but they can’t always tell you what you need uniquely for your office.  

You and your employees have the most insight into your one-of-a-kind needs and know what is best for your work culture.

Do you have any other methods you use to effectively plan your work space? Let us know!

The Role of Cornerstone as Your Project Manager

Project management is all about a structured approach to planning and implementing construction projects to result in a smoother, headache free experience for you, our client. 

As a project manager on your next office or store renovation, Cornerstone will work closely with you, focusing on understanding and anticipating your needs.As an experienced project manager in the building, remodeling, and renovation of space,we have the technical knowledge and market awareness to meet the challenges in construction, development, and office/store renovations in the GTA. Cornerstone’s impartial advice leads to project cost savings, on time construction, and a happier client. We strive to provide a better journey for our clients. Our goal is to reduce cost and maximize project efficiency and project management is a critical part of that. When working with Cornerstone you will enjoy a phased approach to your project that includes: 

Project Initiation Phase

A project initiation document is created which defines the direction and scope of the project. The document reflects the current -status, plans and controls of the project.

Pre-construction Estimating (Planning Phase)

As a project manager, Cornerstone creates the project management plan which helps identify foreseeable risks in office renovations in Mississauga, including estimates, budgets, requirements, and resources. We work closely with the client, suppliers, and vendors alike to help identify the project scope, cost estimates, project schedules and budgets. By establishing client expectations and goals during this phase, our project team addresses the issues before they even arise.

Project Implementation Phase

The project is executed during this phase. Our team assigns resources and starts executing tasks according to the project management plan and updates the schedule and current status of the project. Project implementation is complete when all of the requirements have been met.

Managing and Monitoring Phase

During the monitoring phase,Cornerstone as a project manager closely manage subcontractor performance providing instructions, training, scheduling, and evaluating the project. Any client problems will be addressed during weekly meetings with the staffs and arrange human and material resources which is necessary to bring the project to a successful completion. 

Project Closure Phase    

The phase ensures the completion of the project. Cornerstone provides all project closeout information to the client during the closure phase. We aren’t happy until you are.

Therefore Cornerstone as a Project Manager actively participates in the process by planning,managing,and handling every detail of the project.

Why Cornerstone is known as being the ideal renovators of GTA?

Cornerstone is known as the ideal commercial contractor of GTA. We enjoy what we do. Cornerstone believes increasing a better journey for our clients. Here are some of the qualities which make us the perfect commercial renovator of GTA.

Respect for the Space

We have respect for your store/office space and take care of it as if it was our own. When giving suggestions we keep your taste, budget and functional criteria in mind.

Involvement

We are involved in even the minutest of steps of your office renovation in the  GTA. We know that our job is not merely to project manage, but to make sure you are part of the planning, purchase and installation phases. We are on time for meetings and always respond to your calls and emails.

Good Listeners
We are good listeners and have a systematized process of communication. We engage in conference calls if necessary, unplanned site visits and keep open lines of communication during the entire project.

Eye for Detail

We look into every detail of your office renovation in the GTA. The smallest of details are just as important as the big ones, and we take due diligence to make sure that every aspect of your project is completed to the highest of standards.

Problem Solver
Challenges always come up. We are problem solvers and not excuse makers.We maintain a mindset and temperament which enable comfortable two way communication, and assist in making informed decisions.

Creativity
We view things differently and creatively and incorporate those ideas to make your project a great success.

Tips for Customers to reduce renovation stress

It is important for the customer to start a renovation project with the right frame of mind and attitude. Here are some tips for a smooth renovation project.

Don't select a contractor based on price alone

You may get what you pay for when it comes to quality and expertise. So don’t select a customer based on the price alone.

Mutual Respect

After having gone through the process of selecting a Commercial Contractor in Markham, honour the professional's experience and time, just as you expect the contractor to respect your time and ideas.

Trust and Openness

Being upfront and honest about your budget will save your money and time. Being open to learning about new ideas and being realistic about scope, materials and costs are key to a smooth renovation.

Solid Understanding of the Process

No one expects a client to be a construction expert.It is the responsibility of your contractor to establish a clear understanding of your project's procedures, phases and timetable. You should be aware of the time frame, schedule and what happens next.

Act Quickly

The customer should have the ability to be decisive once presented with the facts. When it comes to selecting materials or making a critical decision, the ability to act quickly will keep a project on track and on budget.

Ask Questions

If you don’t understand something, just ask. A true commercial contractor in Markham will never have an issue with explaining any issues that may have risen or answer any questions you may have. Keeping concerns to you only hinders communication and can build resentment or distrust.

Flexibility

Some phases will progress faster than planned while unforeseen issues inevitably may appear during the course of a project. Being a little flexible may save you time and money in the long run.

Likeability

Both you and your commercial contractor should like each other and be able to work together on your project. If that relationship does not have trust and respect, your office renovation in Markham won’t go as smoothly as you would like.