Different Shop Fit-Outs and Their Processes

Shop Fit-Outs

Fit-outs allow you to design a space in a way that yields the most productivity. A well-designed fit-out design will give you the maximum utilisation of the space, increase the aesthetics, and enhance your business.

Fit-outs allow people to design what their interior spaces should look like. It’s the process that makes the indoors ready to use and for occupation.

Usually, a fit-out process involves main activities such as floor installation, ceiling, partitions, and furnishings whether it is office or shop fit-outs. It can also include cabling, wiring, internet connectivity, and designing arrangements for communication.

Fit-out usually refers to the interior design and establishment of walls and cabins. It tells how the interior space should look so that it’s ready to use.

On the other hand, renovation is more about increasing the aesthetics of the space. It involves activities such as painting a new colour, buying new furniture, adding modern décor items, etc.

Generally, renovations take more time to complete when compared to fit-outs.

Type of Fit-Out Designs

Before you go planning to consult fit-out planners, it’s important to know the types present in the fit-out designs. It keeps you informed and makes you customise the design when discussing with a fit-out professional.

  1. Shell and core:

    When you want to fully customise the fit-out design, then you should opt for shell and core design. Here, the outline of the building is present but the major components will be missing such as power, interior walls, lighting, and heating.

    It may appear finished from the outside but often lacks the main entities like walls, cabins, etc.

    It’s suitable for the big companies that are looking for only a large space where complete customisation is possible.

    You can discuss with a professional how you want to design the available space depending on your needs and the number of employees. You can have everything planned without compromising like you may have to do the pre-constructed fit-out designs.

  2. Category A fit-out

    Category A fit-out designs are ready to rent as they have all the basic amenities like electrical wiring, cabling, plumbing, ceilings, etc.

    The end goal in category A fit-out design is to create a functional and habitual space by installing features such as:

    Electrical outlets,
    Raised access floors,
    HVAC system,
    Fire protection system,
    Toilets,
    Grid ceiling.

    It’s an upgraded version to the shell and core and is designed to match the needs of an industrial standard building. However, it’s still not ready to move in or occupy as you still have to include the features that come in the category B fit-out design.

    Some landowners choose this fit-out design so that the tenants that move in will design the space however they want. And when they move out, they restore the space to its original condition before handing it over to the landlord.

  3. Category B fit-out

    It’s the category that takes into account both business needs and image. The image includes furniture, lighting, painting, and branding. It has all the features that are lacking in category A and make it ready for you so that you can move whenever you want. In simple terms, it’s the aesthetic design fit-out phase where it’s constructed more suitable to the business needs.

    Some of the other activities that are involved are fixing the window treatments, painting, partitioning the space to create a fully fitted kitchen, meeting rooms, workstations, breakout rooms, power points, etc.

    Category B fit-out design must be inspired by the company’s culture, work ethics, employee number, and work protocols. It’s tailored to the needs of the business that’s ready to move into the building.

Before starting residential or office fit-outs design, it’s important to consider a few factors such as price estimate and the design that matches your needs. The pricing of the design is made for design briefs, technical plans, building assessment, project management, material delivery, and construction. You should be clear on what the space should look like so that you convey it correctly to the contractors. It helps you to get the end result exactly like you imagined.