Could Suspended Ceilings Work Well For Your Commercial Building?

Building Construction 21.12.22
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Been looking up suspended ceilings? Wondering if they’d work well in your commercial building? Well, you’re in the right place to find out. In this blog, we’ll see what makes suspended ceilings ideally suited for workspaces and what other options are available.

What Is A Suspended Ceiling? 

First things first, what is a suspended ceiling? Even if you don’t know, you will have walked under hundreds of them throughout your life – they’re in most retail, education, healthcare and office environments. 

Suspended ceilings, also known as dropped ceilings and false ceilings, are most commonly made from a metal frame that forms a grid. Tiles are placed into each square to create a secondary ceiling that sits below the surface above.

The Benefits Of Suspended Ceilings

There’s good reason as to why most commercial buildings opt for a suspended ceiling… Because there are so many benefits. If you’re looking to refurb your commercial property and are thinking about ceilings, you’ll want to look at this list.

Quick Installation

If you’ve been updating your office, warehouse or retail unit, then time is of the essence when getting things finished. And that’s where a suspended ceiling can help keep your project to task. A whole ceiling can be finished quickly, making it one of the most convenient options when refitting or renovating a property.

Good At Concealing

That gap between the concrete ceiling and the suspended tiles isn’t dead space. It’s ideal for hiding the plethora of ducts, cables and pipes that a commercial building usually has. With a suspended ceiling, those ducts, cables and pipes are not only tucked away out of sight, with some suspended ceilings, they’re also freely accessible should you need to replace or repair them.

 

Flexibility With Design & Lighting

That same cavity above your ceiling tiles means you can design your lighting to suit the use of the space below. Need extra lighting above your checkouts? No problem. Want specific areas zoned? Then use different coloured tiles to give a clear indication. And the best bit is that is really simple to change at a later date!

Sound Proofing

Sound can really travel in big, open spaces, so if you have a space with an upstairs neighbour or your building has multiple floors, you’ll benefit from a ceiling that can help reduce noise. The gap between the top of the room and the ceiling tiles will help to lessen noise, but if you want maximum peace, then acoustic pads or panels can be added.

Acoustic pads and panels have been designed to block noise travelling through ceiling tiles. They’re ideal for open offices, units in shared spaces and workspaces that need a greater level of quiet and calm.

Affordable

Suspended ceilings are the most affordable option on the market. The materials aren’t expensive, and installation is quick, so it is a surprisingly cost-effective ceiling solution. 

Fire Resistant 

Ceiling tiles must adhere to British legislation and provide fire protection. Most tiles offer passive fire protection (they help delay the spread of fire) for between 30 – 60 minutes. You can opt for tiles and ceiling treatments that have a longer burn time if you want additional peace of mind.

A Lighter Space

A white suspended ceiling is excellent at bouncing light around a space, so if your room is a bit on the dark side, then a suspended ceiling can help brighten it up.

A suspended ceiling can have up to 0.86 light reflectance, which means the tiles can reflect 86% of all light back into a room. This can help reduce your lighting costs, as well as create a more tranquil environment with a better distribution of natural light.

Improve Energy Efficiency

Speaking of reducing bills, did you know that a suspended ceiling can also help bring down your heating costs too? There are two ways it can help; firstly, the lower ceiling means that you’re heating less space overall, so you reduce the heat needed to keep your property warm. 

The second is by adding ceiling insulation. Available as pads that are placed above the ceiling tile, these encapsulated wads of fibre stop your heat from escaping upwards. If you want to get better control of your energy bills (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?), adding an insulating layer is a good idea.

What Are The Different Types Of Suspended Ceiling Available?

Concealed Grid

This is when the metal framework sits behind tiles that meet edge-to-edge. The finished look is more high-end, with a continuous expanse of uninterrupted ceiling. 

Gypsum Board

Gypsum board – also known as plasterboard – is used in suspended ceilings when a smooth finish is preferred. It can be plastered to give a seamless finish.

Exposed Grid

This is the most inexpensive type of false ceiling. We install a metal grid and place ceiling tiles on the cross-hatched metal. When you look at the ceiling, you’ll see a tile framed by metal.

So, Could Suspended Ceilings Work For Your Commercial Building?

Based on the above, it’s hard to see how any other option can deliver as many benefits whilst also being so cost-effective. If your business premises needs a neat, tidy ceiling that helps to create a safe place for your ducts and cables, provides flexible lighting configuration, a great range of colour options, adds thermal efficiency AND improves your fire protection, then suspended ceilings should be your first choice. 

At GI Sykes, we have decades of experience installing suspended ceilings for all manner of commercial properties. Our specialist team can get your new ceiling up and ready with minimal disruption to your day. Just get in touch to arrange a no-obligation quote, and we’ll be happy to help you decide if a suspended ceiling is right for you.

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Is Window Spraying Worth The Cost?

Building Repairs 07.12.22
Is Window Spraying Worth The Cost 3

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If you own or manage a commercial, industrial or retail property, chances are, you’re no stranger to building maintenance and renovation. With every need that arises, you have to weigh up the value of the work vs the cost. So, if you’re considering updating your window frames, you’ve probably asked yourself; is window spraying worthwhile?

In this blog, we’ll share all the reasons why we think window spraying is a good investment, as well as cover when window spraying isn’t the right solution for you.

What Is Window Spraying?

First things first, what do we mean by window spraying? Well, it’s not the actual window we are referring to, but the frame. Using professional equipment and specialist paint, we can spray paint your window frames to any colour of your choice. 

Window spraying can be carried out on the three main types of window frame;

  • uPVC
  • Aluminium
  • Timber

The process is simple and quick, and leaves your windows looking flawless. But what calls for window spraying – and is it worth investing in?

Your Window Frames Are Ugly

To some, a window frame is a window frame, and it doesn’t matter what it looks like. To others, a faded, greying, or chipped window edging looks ugly and unkempt. If you lean towards the first opinion, here’s why we think leaving your window frames to decline is a bad idea:

Appearance Matters

While you might think no one cares about grubby windows, it’s been proven otherwise. A study found that shop exteriors that were well maintained directly impacted the intentions of customers. And it stands to reason – no matter if your customer base is business to business or business to consumer – you’ll make a better first impression if your exterior is looking tidy.

And window frames usually make up a significant part of that first impression.

A Slow Decline

If your window frames are missing chunks of paint or the surface feels rough to the touch, then they’re not adequately protected. Since your frames have to endure all weather, you can expect that, over time, the top layer or coating will start to degrade. Once that happens, you run the risk of significant damage occurring if left untreated. And trust us, when you’re comparing the cost of window spraying to total replacement, we know what comes in more favourably…

Match Your Brand

The colours available for window spraying mean that you can have window frames that complement the colour of your building (no more boring white!). Or, if you’re looking to really steer into your branding profile, you can have your window frames sprayed in your brand colours.

 

What’s The Worst That Could Happen?

Well, the world won’t end if you don’t opt for window frame spraying. But that’s not to say that there aren’t some pretty frustrating – and expensive – outcomes if you don’t take care of your windows.

Protect Your Frames From The Elements

While your window frames have been designed to withstand sun, wind and rain, it doesn’t mean that they’re impervious to damage caused by long-term exposure to the glorious British weather.

Frames can last anywhere between 10 – 50 years before they need replacing. You’ll start to notice signs of wear, and you shouldn’t ignore these signs. Make sure to include your windows in your regular maintenance check-up, and look for; 

  • Fading colour
  • Discolouration in white frames
  • Peeling
  • Chipped paint
  • Rust
  • Bubbling paint

These tend to be minor issues that can be repaired and restored by spraying your window frames. However, if your windows are warped or cracked, then you may be too late to save money with restoration work. You may have to bite the bullet and fork out for replacements. 

If you ignore the minor issues, they can become bigger issues. And if you ignore those bigger problems? Well, you run the risk of damp infiltrating your building – and damp in your walls is pretty catastrophic.

It makes sense to stay on top of upkeep with regular maintenance and invest in something that can add years to the lifespan of your window frames. And that something is window spraying.

Window Spraying Is Worth The Cost

In the face of compelling evidence, we think window frame spraying is worth the cost. Not only can you protect and extend the lifespan of your window frames, but you can also add colour and flair to your property. Even if you don’t fancy making a splash with vibrant window frames, you can still smarten up your building with a more traditional shade. Black or white are timeless, while anthracite has become the contemporary colour of choice.

How Much Does Window Spraying Cost?

So, we’ve established that it’s worth the cost – but what is that? Well, we can’t give an exact figure since every quote is different. We have to account for various factors that affect the cost, which include:

  • The current condition of your windows – the more degraded your window frames are, the more prep work we will need to do.
  • How many frames you want spraying – obviously, the more frames you have, the more you’ll pay
  • Where they are located – windows above ground level mean using scaffolding, which adds to the cost.
  • Colour choice – some colours cost more, particularly if they’re less common.

But since it’s helpful to have an idea of what the outlay may be, a ballpark amount is around ÂŁ150 – ÂŁ200 per window.

All of our work is carried out to a professional standard. Once complete, you won’t be able to tell that your window frames have been sprayed. The end result is totally smooth with a flawless finish. We also guarantee our window spraying work for 10 years, so you can have peace of mind that your newly painted frames will look good for years to come.

It’s Not Just Window Spraying

We don’t just spray window frames! We can help you with your doors, roller shutters, shop facias and even cladding. If you want to know more about our on-site spraying services, including window spraying, then just get in touch to arrange a free quote.

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