Floors to Floor You - What Suits You?

 

Floors to Floor You - What Suits You?

Making or renovating a house or a commercial space is a long-drawn process, involving somewhat infinitude decisions. One of the multitudes of questions that perplex most to be homeowners / commercial space buyers, happens to be about the kind of flooring they need to settle for. The market is flooded with an overwhelming variety of options, which makes it even more difficult to choose the right flooring option for your space. In this Part, we shall be discussing the four most sought after flooring materials and their pros and cons so you can take a well-informed decision.

l  Tiles. Tiles are usually made with a mixture of clay, which is shaped, cured in a scorching kiln, and finally glazed to impart shine and a protective layer. They are usually of two common types, namely, ceramic and porcelain. Porcelain happens to be the more durable one as it is made out of more refined clay and baked at a higher temperature. But, ceramic, on the other hand, is more budget-friendly and lighter in weight, making it suitable option for walls. Which one suits you more? Let’s deal with it.

n   Points to ponder:

Ø  As one would have experienced in day-to-day life, mmaintenance is effortless when it comes to tiles, and there is no fear of staining the floor, all because of the liquid glass glaze on the tiles. All one needs is a damp mop to clean up any accidental spills or the regular mess. 

Ø  They can withstand harsh weather conditions and fluctuations. Mostly they don’t lose colour easily.

Ø  They are available in a wide range of colours, textures, designs, styles, and sizes.

Ø  They are one of the most affordable option in this list.

Ø  Owing to their supreme hardness, tiles can turn out to be quite brittle and develop cracks if a very heavy object is dropped on it from a height.

 

l  Marble. Marble is a natural metamorphic rock formed naturally by subjecting limestone to immense heat and pressure of the earth. The natural beauty is now used extensively in the construction business for flooring.

n  An analysis:

Ø  Marble instantly imparts a sense of opulence and elegant style when used for flooring.

Ø  It can be polished to achieve an unrivalled gleam and sheen on the natural stone, which can light up the entire space. Moreover, whenever one feels the beauty of their flooring has dampened over time, they can revive its former beauty with rubbing and polishing.

Ø  They are very good conductors of heat and are conducive to the installation of the heating system underneath them in chilly climates.

Ø  They are very environment friendly.

Ø  Good quality marble is costly.

Ø  They are fragile and may develop cracks over a period of usage & dark lines could be seen in the crevices.

Ø  Marble is porous in nature, thus, making it susceptible to stains.

 

l  Hardwood. Hardwood flooring gives a very cosy yet modern vibe to the home and is appreciated for its beauty all over the world.  

n  Why & why not:

Ø  They are highly durable and can last beautifully over decades, with proper maintenance.

Ø  Abundant variety of natural textures and colours are available to fit your preference. They can even be stained to achieve a different hue in the future.

Ø  They can be refurbished and polished easily to pretty them up after continuous use.

Ø  Wood is biodegradable.

Ø  They do not go well with moisture and in the areas with high humidity.

Ø  They are the most expensive option on this list.

Ø  They need some Tender Loving Care regularly, ie, high on maintenance.

The climatic and weather conditions are instrumental in deciding our flooring options to a great deal. In Scandinavian or Siberian region any floor which gives a psychological warm feeling may be more suitable; wooden / carpet flooring could be a preferred option. In Sub Saharan deserts or Middle East, marble or stone may be preferred. There are many other options, which your designer may guide you to use. We shall soon be covering other options.

 

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Pros and Cons of Investing In Commercial Construction

 

Pros and Cons of Investing In Commercial Construction

 

In the economy today, the construction industry is one of the best industries to invest in. If you think the construction industry is only limited to building houses, that’s where you are wrong because construction involves a wide spectrum of activities such as real estate development, streets, and bridges building, setting up of telecommunications infrastructure, repairs and alteration services, installation services of different materials such as windows, floors, and even general-purpose access doors, excavations, demolitions, and many other activities. Here we are discussing the Pros and Cons of Investing In Commercial Construction.

 

Investing In Commercial Construction

Nowadays, a lot of developments are taking place almost everywhere in the world with new commercial buildings rising everywhere such as hotels, hospitals, office buildings, fast food outlets, and restaurants, as well as recreational centers.

 

There are two common kinds of construction–

·         Commercial and

·         Residential construction.

·         Residential construction is all about houses or buildings where people can live, such as condominiums and apartments. Residential construction is exclusively used for private living quarters while commercial refers to any property that is used for business activities.

·         Commercial construction covers numerous establishments such as hospitals, assembly plants, malls, shopping centers, office spaces, storage warehouses, or any other setup for a business enterprise.

 

Whether it is commercial or residential, any type of property can be a good investment opportunity. However, commercial construction typically offers more financial rewards than residential construction.

 

That’s why you need to understand the pros and cons of investing in commercial construction to make sure that you make the right decision. Worry no more because, in this article, we are going to tell you the pros and cons of investing in commercial construction.

 

Pros of Investing in Commercial Construction

Investing in commercial construction has many positive reasons that you probably know of already. We gathered the four most common pros for investing in commercial construction:

 

Bigger Income potential – This is probably the best reason why you should invest in commercial construction instead of residential construction. Commercial properties have greater earning potential than residential properties. They have a much higher range of annual return on the purchase price.

Professional relationships and Network – Because commercial construction is larger in range than residential, commercial business owners are more likely to make more professional relationships and a wider network than residential construction businesses.

 

Pleasing the Public Eye – When you’re running a business of leasing buildings to retail tenants, you know that they have a vested interest in the upkeep of their store and store facade to avoid negative feedback about their business. This results in retail owners hiring the services of a commercial construction company to improve the quality of the property.

 

Limited Hours of Operation – Businesses go home once the day ends. If you are engaged in commercial construction, you should also be able to rest at night when commercial businesses go home. You won’t experience what owners in residential businesses experience, say, having a tenant calling you at midnight because he needs repairs or has lost a hey.

 

Cons of Investing in Commercial Construction

Of course, investing in commercial construction does not only have positive reasons. There are also negative issues to consider such as the following:

 

High Competition – In commercial construction, most business owners are always looking for opportunities to improve. A commercial property needs to have a constant increase in value. Therefore, more people offer innovative services to commercial companies, thus an increase in the number of people engaging in commercial construction. You must ensure that your commercial construction business is recognized for something that the others don’t have– you need to have an edge.

 

Professional help – When it comes to commercial buildings, doing a DIY job is not recommended. If you are someone who is a “do-it-yourself type” and you want to handle maintenance issues at a commercial property, you need to be licensed to do the job properly. Whether you like it or not, you will not be prepared to handle maintenance issues yourself and you will really need to hire a professional for emergencies and repairs.

 

Bigger investment – Engaging in commercial construction typically requires more capital than residential construction. You also must expect some large capital expenditures to follow. Moreover, when your business grows, you would also need more costs for improvement.

 

More Risks to Take – Commercial businesses have more public visitors and clients every day that can possibly get hurt or do some damage to your property. Aside from risks to people, you also have to face risks in running your business. Some businesses close because of poor management so you have to take all the necessary measures to keep your business running.

 

The Takeaway

Before you actually invest in commercial construction, you have to weigh all the pros and cons. You need to make a solid plan that covers not only starting your commercial construction but also seeing it through until the end. It will always involve risks that you are willing to take.

 

If you are risk-averse, then maybe you should turn your back on plans of investing in commercial construction and instead invest in residential construction. Whatever your decision is, whichever kind of construction you invest in, you must also invest greatly in thinking and planning.

 

Do you want to know more about how to improve commercial construction projects?

Visit our website

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               Taking / Giving Property on Rent?  Our Advise----- Be Wise 

Tenants. Points to be considered:

·         near / around the property, public transport, neighborhood gentry, proximity to essential markets, schools, hospitals, etc.

·         Check the safety aspects, especially for working / single women. You could get the crime rate in the area on internet.

·         Find out the age of the property. If possible, speak to the previous tenants or the neighbour.

·         by him to the property owner. This agreement is ideally drafted before the tenant occupies that place. Necessary Inclusions of the rental agreement or the Lease Deed would be;

·         Include start and end date of the tenancy

·         Monthly Rent amount payable and the date of payment- should generally be 10^th of the month, especially for salaried persons, to avoid cheque bounce.

·         Security deposit amount to

·         Conditions of termination of Agreement.

·         Notice period for vacating the house.

·         Provisions of electricity, water and power facility & their payment procedure.

 

Property Owner / Landlord. Rented Property generates additional income by way of lease or rent. But if leased to a wrong person, could cause numerous problems. It requires substantial care and a lot of aspects have to be kept in mind while selecting the right paying guests (PG) or purchasers on rent (rent party):

·         Must check financial capability and background of the prospective tenant (Second party). (Too good offers are dangerous. If the going rental is Rs X and you get offer of Rs 2X, reject it)

·         Police verification of the prospective tenant is a must. This process helps in background check of the tenant. Not doing this is a punishable offence under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

·         Take the permanent address proof of the prospective tenant.

·         Take the bank statement of the bank from which the payment cheques are made.

·         Meet the tenants one on one, interact with them and get to know them. Don’t leave it on the broker – his sole interest is Brokerage.

·         Services of Registered Brokers only must be used. If he charges service tax, (currently 14%), he should deposit the challan & give details of it to you.

·         It is imperative for the landowner to ask the appointed broker to provide the agency registration number, valid signature and agency seal/ stamp on every page of the 'Lease and License' accord so that the broker can be held accountable to look after any legal disputes in future.

·         If possible, rent your property to Tenants with families. If renting to Bachelors, obtain “Comfort Letter” from the Employer of the prospective tenant & do a call check with the Company’s HR / Admin.

·         Lease Deed/ Rental Agreement - A rent agreement or a lease deed is a legal document that contains the details of the rights of a tenant to occupy certain property for a fixed period of time in return of the rent paid by him to the property owner. This agreement must be drafted before the tenant occupies the place. Necessary Inclusions of the rental agreement or the Lease Deed would be;

·         If the period of time is 12 months or less, registration is not compulsory. If more than 12 months, you are legally bound to register which costs a minuscule amount (nearly 1% of the total rent value, depending on the local laws), making it a very authentic legal document.

·         Clear mention of Dates; to and from.

·         Notice period required from both sides; owner and tenant.

·         Rental value and the security deposit made by the tenant and any advance payments done.

·         The annual rent is generally 2-3% of the capital value and differs according to the location and amenities provided. 

·         Date of monthly rent payment (usually around 10^th of each month, especially for salaried tenants).

·         Annual increase in Rent Clause.

·         Mode of payment; ECS mandate or Post dated cheques. AVOID CASH TRANSACTIONS.

·         Clear mention of the size of the property and the number of rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, etc.

Wishing you a Happy Letting out/in of your homes. You may make lifelong friends with your Tenants / Landlord. Happy Safe homes are very important.

 

www.colonelz.com

 

Green Buildings – Indian Perspective

 

Deteriorating Environmental conditions pan India entails we MUST focus more on Environment Friendly Buildings & Infra development. We are a country of 1.5 billion people and counting , in which 32% of population lives in urban areas.India’s  increase in commercial energy consumption in the last four decades has been 700% and is growing. Energy consumption in India will grow unto 3 times of current consumption by 2030. There is a shortage of about 250 million liters of water per day, if we only consider the major Indian cities. The crisis is approaching, lest we stem it. Green building construction presents a solution for sustainable growth.

 

What is a Green Building? 

Green building, or sustainable design, is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use energy, water, and materials, while reducing the negative impacts of the building on human health and the environment over the entire life cycle of the building. Green building concepts extend beyond the walls of buildings and should  include siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition; as also, community and land use planning as well.

 

There are numerous ways to make your buildings more Eco friendly. We list a few below

 

 

Sustainable Site Selection:

 

Easy availability of public transport/ Mass Transit system and conveniences helps cut down energy consumption for transportation. Rehabilitation of sites damaged by environmental contamination is a better option than any new piece of land where large amount of energy and resource is needed to make the land worthy of building on, thus saving large amount of energy. 

 

It is very important to protect the existing Flora & Fauna, the soil and natural features. Avoid hard paving on the site to preserve top soil and ease rain water harvesting. There should be minimum storm water runoff.

 

Sustainable Building Components / Material

Material which can be recycled, have low toxicity, nil / low harmful air emissions, as also, have a long shelf life are better. Planning the Building’s structure and dimension can reduce the construction costs. Construction and demolition material can be reused and recycled for landfills. Proper planning for managing materials through deconstruction, demolition and construction is done. 

Using renewable materials like bamboo flooring, wool carpets, straw board, cotton ball insulation (made from denim scrap) is good. Locally available materials must be given priority; Saves transportation costs. Alternative materials that can be generated from waste with lesser energy is used over conventional building materials, e.g. alternative materials for timber, like MDF board, Mica Laminates and Veneers on composite boards should be used instead of natural timber. Industrial waste based bricks and blocks, aerated lightweight BPC concrete blocks, can be used for masonry structures and Fly ash, for bricks, outdoor paving and in concrete.

 

Solar Energy

Indian Govt is giving numerous subsidies, including sharing of Solar energy generated in the Grid so that excess energy generated during day can be bartered for energy at night, thus being economically efficient, as also environment friendly.

 

 

Water Efficiency

 

Installation of water efficient or low flow equipment in kitchens and bathrooms to reduce water consumption is very important. Newly designed Vapor generating taps save 80% water while being as efficient.

·      Incorporating waste water management technologies like dual plumbing for using recycled water in toilet flushing or using water conserving fixtures such as low flow shower heads, self closing nozzles on hoses, water closets with dual flush options.

·      Use of Micro irrigation techniques at sites instead of high pressure sprayers.

·      Re-circulation system for centralized hot water distribution.

·      For landscaping purpose, local plants and trees are used as they consume less water.

·      Provisions for reusing and recycling water are made to ensure efficient water management.

·      Using treated waste water, non potable water for site irrigation. Raw sewage can be recycled using aquatic plants like duckweed and water hyacinth to produce clean water suitable for re-use in irrigation and industry.

·      Integrating Rain water harvesting system in building design to ensure maximum possible utilization of rain water.

 

1 billion sft building area has been certified as green by leading green building rating system LEED-INDIA.

There are two established Green Building rating system in India.

-       LEED-INDIA

-       GRIHA

 

Some Green Building Projects in India

·         Suzlon Energy Limited - Pune

·         Biodiversity Conservation India - Bangalore

·         Olympia Technology Park - Chennai

·         ITC Green Centre - Gurgaon

·         The Druk White Lotus School - Ladakh

·         Doon School -  Dehradun

·         Raintree Hotels - Chennai

·         Nokia - Gurgaon

·         Rajiv Gandhi International Airport - Hyderabad

·         Palais Royale at Worli – Mumbai

www.colonelz.com

 

 

Create an Aesthetic Space for Coffee Lovers

From a group of friends to couples to working professionals, nobody minds stopping by a coffee shop. A coffee shop usually attracts a wide variety of customers. The interior of a coffee shop plays a major role in engaging guests. An elevated aesthetic look and increased comfort can urge customers to become loyal patrons.

You can create an alluring space for your business with these coffee shop interior decor ideas:

·         Create an interior that reflects your brand and mission.

·         Emanate an ambience that is apparent to your patrons.

·         Choose your lighting wisely. Use organic lights to conserve energy.

·         Make the space interactive and Insta-worthy.

You can give an even more aesthetic look to your coffee shop interior by incorporating the following themes:

Industrial Style Interior

Take inspiration from factories, warehouses and other interior spaces. Opt for a colour palette which includes hues like grey, black, tan, white or maroon. Here’s all that you need to include in your decor:

·         Exposed architecture

·         Metal accents

·         Block shapes

·         Squared lines

·         Mechanical components

·         Use of vintage components

Mid-Century Interior

In the mid-century, from 1930s through 1960s, materials were celebrated for their uniqueness. Explore new materials in the light of new technology, while still celebrating traditional ones. For the hues, stick to neutral colours like light greys, browns and creams. Include these decor pieces to give your coffee shop a classic mid-century look:

·         Unique or contrasting materials

·         Clean lines

·         Organic and geometric shapes

·         Tables and chairs with tapered legs

·         Cozy and convenient furniture

Rustic Interior

This tone of interior will feature organic and natural elements. Country or farmhouse decor is also apt for creating an in-the-woods atmosphere. Neutral colours such as tan, cream, brown and green give an aesthetic rustic essence. Use the following to amp up the rustic feel of your coffee shop:

·         Lots of natural elements like real plants and flowers

·         A mix of different types of wood

·         Galvanized planters

·         Farmhouse components

·         Emphasis on rugged beauty

Vintage Interior

The vintage decor includes styles from a variety of decades. It draws inspiration from the past and emanates a romantic, charming atmosphere. You can play with pastel or faded colours like burgundy, light orange, peach, mustard, yellow and sea green for creating a vintage look. Enhance your vintage coffee shop interior with these decor pieces:

·         Floral accents and wallpapers

·         Mahogany wood

·         Stained glass lamps

·         Elegant patterns and designs

·         Distressed couches and chairs

·         Vintage luggage

·         Pieces with ornate elements

·         Tablecloths with intricate patterns

Modern Interior

Modern style decor is a fairly new concept. This style follows function which means all furniture and decor pieces should feel very 20^th century. Modern interior is simple but with a practical and intentional purpose. A modern environment can be created in a coffee shop by using colours like brown, taupe, cream or pure white. You can include the below mentioned decor pieces to give your cafe a modern look:

·         Smooth surfaces with crisp lines

·         Very light or dark wood tones

·         Clean and organized pieces without any clutter

·         A blend of comfortable and sophisticated elements

·         Clean metal accents

·         Lack of intricate detailing

Adhering to any one of these styles, you can also include these decor accents in your cafe to make the space more engaging and immersive:

·         Magazines and books

·         Artwork

·         Tableware

·         Music

At Colonelz, we have a variety of interior decor ideas best suited to the unique need of our customers.  Our team of professionals focuses on your requirements to create a space which compliments your concept and use.

 

www.colonelz.com