Before signing a lease or buying a new property, it is always advisable to undertake an independent due diligence inspection of the warehouse floor.
This can cover slab loading capability, flatness suitability, and general defect inspections. Taking a property without any record can result in expensive make-good costs or inheriting expensive maintenance on the slab.
Glenn Powell, General Manager at Face Consultants, an independent floor surveying and testing organisation, says, “Understanding potential ongoing maintenance or future make-good costs can help negotiate a better lease deal. Likewise, taking a facility and not knowing if the floor is suitable for the material handling equipment or robotics can have expensive repercussions later.”
Brand new is not always the answer
If you are building a purpose-built facility, unless the specification for the floor is robust or written specifically for your use, a brand-new warehouse might result in a worse outcome than an existing one.
Your concrete floor specification is critical to the success of a new build. All too often, concrete floor specifications are ambiguous at best and favour the contractor, rather than ensuring they are written to be fit for purpose, covering every aspect of the warehouse’s design, construction, and end-use.
“Once you have your specification, we suggest you always have a peer review process to confirm the designs meet the specification,” says Glenn.
“Then follow this through with on-site quality and assurance inspections to ensure the floor is being built to the design. Finally, get your floor independently checked post-construction to verify the flatness meets the specification. A final defect inspection at PC will also make certain any issues are covered by the contractor and that you do not inherit defects that should be covered by the builder.
It is always far easier and cheaper to fix an issue before the concrete is poured. Get the specification right, get the design checked, and have on-site quality and assurance inspections to ensure your investment will provide the best long-term solution for your business or operation.”
Face Consultants have helped developers all over the globe save money, achieve incredible outcomes with new or existing properties, and ultimately, bring peace of mind to your project.
Speak to the experts at Face Consultants for independent due diligence services and ensure your next big investment is built on a solid foundation.
Read more about them here