Building an office inside a unit

[Click2Post.co.uk]

Hi,

We are moving into a warehouse unit soon and it's one huge empty space, most of it will be warehouse but I need an office to fit 2 desks, I don't want something completely enclosed like a portakabin, just somewhere to shield from the tape dispensing, staff shouting nature of the warehouse.

Looking for something fairly cheap, was thinking of getting carpet tiles or laminate floor in the corner of the unit, with office dividers to make it enclosed.

What do you lot do for your warehouse office? :redface:

 

[GraemeL]

Hello Click,

When we did it 'legally', we sought landlords permission, local authority approval etc and had a proper office built. Also had to check that the allowed 'use' for the premises made an office permissable.

In another unit, we just did it and bought an old portacabin, putting it inside the warehouse. Short term though.

Fire regs will be an important factor if you have anything that is at all substantial. If they were not, you could buy a very cheap garden shed?

 

[internetspaceships]

We converted a block within the warehouse with the landord's assistance. They paid for all the brickwork and structure and kitchen/toilet and we paid for the electrical and data wiring.

It was a win/win situation as we collaborated. We got a lot of office/admin space and it added value to the warehouse for the landlords too.

As someone has mentioned, have a chat with your landlords they may do something similar with you.

 

[SamStones]

I looked Into this a couple of years back for a unit I was considering. I decided the portacabin was the best bet due to price. I never got as far as checking the permitted use etc but I don't see it being much of a problem.


You do need something though as it will get mighty cold through the winter months. If you're on your feet packing orders it's completely different to being sat behind a desk.

 

[internetspaceships]

Aye Sam but you tend to have staff out in the warehouse too all the time. Heating the whole warehouse is a b*tch.

I've got a pile of money to lash out for fan heaters next month as I can't let my products get below 1 degrees C or the condensation when they heat up ruins them.

 

[Click2Post.co.uk]

You do need something though as it will get mighty cold through the winter months. If you're on your feet packing orders it's completely different to being sat behind a desk.

Completely forgot about the cold atleast with a portakabin or similar you can just heat that up.

Speaking of which, what do you guys do for heating in the warehouse? Halogen, fan heaters etc?
We are going to have alot of empty space to heat

 

[GraemeL]

what do you guys do for heating in the warehouse?
:

Heat is needed for what reason? Product or people?

If the product doesn't require heating, then before any heating, consider getting your team insulated overalls; hats;gloves etc. The standard of insulation of the roof and walls might also influence what you decide on.

I have no advice on what is best after that, but most portable solutions seem to use gas powered blown air space heaters. Bit like a jet engine! Easily hired. Suggest you get a specialist warehouse heating company in to advise you. I would have thought the first visit would be free.

If you do go for space heating, you will then need to sort out how the goods in/out doors prevent heat loss.

 

[SamStones]

Aye Sam but you tend to have staff out in the warehouse too all the time. Heating the whole warehouse is a b*tch.

I've got a pile of money to lash out for fan heaters next month as I can't let my products get below 1 degrees C or the condensation when they heat up ruins them.

Sorry. Maybe you mis understood. I meant you will need an Office so that you can easily heat a small amount of space for the White collar workers sat at their desks. The blue collars in the warehouse will be on their feet and moving around meaning they need less heating if any.

Personally, my current unit has a diesel fired air blown space heater. It's mighty powerful but costs a fortune to run. If you don't need to heat the products then look for halogen heaters as they heat mass (ie people) rather than the air around you so are much more efficient. Perhaps site these near the packing station(s) or highly frequented areas where people will stop for a period of time.

Hth

 

[Glassglen]

Whack a cheap 3 metre square conservatory in there and smack a timber frame on top and pasterboard it or a lean to conservatory roof. And it will be double glazed