Owning a commercial building is one of the best ways to grow wealth through real estate. However, if the building ages quickly, it can become more trouble than it is worth. Degraded sections of the structure will lead to high ongoing maintenance costs. Outdated features will make it hard to find interested tenants. To help avoid these issues, keep reading for 5 durable and innovative materials to look for in a new commercial building.

Flat Roof Support

Many commercial buildings will feature flat roofs instead of the pitched roofs common in residential properties. Flat roofs provide far more options for rooftop decks, storage, and service access, but they face increased stress. Without proper support, heavy rooftop loads can lead to acute damage.

 

A great way to mitigate this concern is through b decking. It is a lightweight, durable material applied to the roof substrate. It can help roofs accommodate more insulation and increased traffic. B-decking offers shear protection and transfers vertical forces horizontally to the frame. This allows flat roofs to withstand far greater loads than they could without b-decking.

Hurricane Grade Windows

Large windows and open interiors are increasingly popular for energy efficient buildings. They permit the flow of natural light, which reduces reliance on electricity.

 

The downside to this approach is that additional windows are potential areas of weakness. Cracked glass and poorly constructed frames can be the path of least resistance for unwanted air transfer.

 

When shopping for commercial buildings, look for those that use hurricane-grade storm windows. They are made with structural steel frames, sashes, and grilles to prevent UV, moisture, and impact damage. They also use reinforced glass that can withstand winds up to 250 MPH and projectile impact up to 100 MPH.

 

By choosing hurricane-grade storm windows, you can feel confident that additional window area does not result in a weaker building envelope.

Moisture Barriers

Water is the foundation of life. But when left unchecked, it can wreak major havoc on properties.

 

There are multiple ways of protecting commercial buildings from water damage in 2023. One way is through waterproof foundations. Add a permeable drainage screen to the exterior of the foundation walls. This will direct flowing water groundwater down to a drainage mat. From there, it goes to underground pipes and moves away from the structure. This guarantees that erosion and water absorption do not cause any issues with the foundation.

 

Moisture-resistant cladding is also increasing in popularity. A decorative facade is decoupled from the framing substrate via a permeable moisture barrier and insulation layer. This guarantees that water never reaches the frame and protects the structural integrity of the building.

 

A less expensive means of moisture protection involves the application of crystalline waterproofers to all concrete surfaces. The material penetrates deep into porous concrete and reacts with water to form non-soluble crystalline particles. This prevents moisture from entering the heart of the concrete.

Enhanced Safety Features

Those who own and operate commercial buildings must be on increased alert for lawsuits and liability. There is no shortage of safety concerns that could potentially arise, but a few areas to keep an eye on when searching commercial properties include:

 

  • Check for ADA accessibility in all required areas
  • Assess whether the fire prevention system is in line with modern standards
  • Look for a glass railing around staircases and upper-level walkways
  • See if there are any doors that could be vulnerable to criminal entrance, prioritizing an infrastructure for secured access

 

It can be difficult for the untrained eye to notice weak points in a building’s safety. Therefore, it is a good idea to hire a professional building inspector to assist you as you go through the shopping process.

Noise Mitigation Panels

Modern commercial buildings are increasingly versatile structures. Tenants desire a high degree of customizability. They want to be able to quickly rearrange spaces to sublet or share with other tenants. It is one of the only ways to control the cost of exploding commercial rents.

 

When sharing space with other tenants, unwanted noise transfer is a major concern. It can be distracting and cut into productivity. Drop-ceiling insulation is a way to keep noise from transferring vertically through stories of a building. But it is not very useful for noise transfer on the same floor.

 

This is where acoustic wall panels come into play. They are typically a fiberglass, sound-insulative core wrapped in decorative fabric. They adhere to the wall almost like a picture. Acoustic panels can absorb as much as 95% of the noise in a room. This reduces echo and keeps sounds local to the area in which they originate. Overall, they are a must-have material for bustling commercial spaces.

Be Discerning When Shopping Commercial Buildings in 2023

Investing in a commercial building is a great idea, but it will become a money pit without the right materials in place. To ensure that your building stands the test of time at the lowest possible cost, look for b-decking, storm windows, moisture barriers, staircase railing, and acoustic panels when shopping for new commercial buildings in 2023!

 

Sam Willis is a freelance writer that loves sharing his knowledge and expertise on commercial real estate. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia where he enjoys spending time with his wife and researching real estate trends in his free time. Sam’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisor, a new construction industry resource.