Commercial Concrete for Commercial Businesses in Bristol

Larger slabs and anything structural should be designed by an engineer rather than specified by the contractor on the day. Internal industrial floors are commonly specified with reference to Concrete Society Technical Report 34, which deals with flatness, joints and wear resistance for different uses; very narrow aisle racking, for example, needs a far flatter floor than general storage. Slab thickness is only one part of the design, and joint spacing and load transfer matter as much. Ask what design information the contractor will work from and whether a ground investigation has been done.

Drainage and falls come next. External hardstandings need to shed water to gullies or channels without ponding, and new impermeable areas can require surface water to be managed through sustainable drainage rather than simply connected to a sewer. Areas where fuel or oil is handled may need separators and containment. If the work needs planning permission or building regulations approval, the drainage design will form part of it, so check before committing to a layout.

Trading does not stop for concrete. Agree phasing so that parts of a car park or yard stay open, how pedestrian and vehicle routes will be separated from the works, and when noisy breaking out can happen. Concrete needs time to gain strength before it takes traffic, and heavy vehicles need longer than cars, so the programme should state when each area can reopen and what it can carry. Consider whether a faster-strength mix is worth the extra cost where downtime is expensive.

Accessibility and safety are part of the finish. Level changes, ramps and dropped kerbs around the entrance affect customers and staff with mobility impairments, and service providers have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments. External surfaces need a slip-resistant texture, and kerbs, bollards and line markings should be planned with the slab rather than added afterwards. Around the building, make sure new levels do not bridge damp-proof courses or send water towards doors.

Check responsibilities before instructing work. On leased sites, the yard or car park may be the landlord's responsibility under the lease, or covered by a service charge on a multi-let estate, and alterations may need consent. Utilities under a yard need locating before breaking out, using records and a cable avoidance survey, because striking a buried cable or gas main is a serious hazard. On older sites, contaminated ground or buried tanks can also turn up, so agree how discoveries will be handled.

Useful proposals state the specification each price is based on, including sub-base, slab thickness, reinforcement, joints, finish and sealant, together with phasing, traffic management and disposal of broken-out material, so the contractors you are put in touch with can be compared on the same basis. Ask how joints will be maintained, because joint edges in trafficked floors are where damage usually starts.