How Much Does A Mezzanine Floor Cost?

When your business is showing positive signs of growth, your current premises may begin to look far too small. Relocating could be a serious option, but it's generally expensive and highly disruptive. An often more viable alternative is to install a mezzanine floor.

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With a fast and efficient installation process, opting for a mezzanine enables you to achieve the increase in space you need with minimal disruption to your productivity. A mezzanine floor is also typically regarded as a semi-permanent asset, which means that when the time's right, it can easily be dismantled and moved elsewhere. It's a worthwhile investment for the future wherever your business takes you.

Installing a mezzanine floor is therefore a less disruptive and more cost effective solution than relocation for businesses that require more space. But just how much does a mezzanine floor cost?

The real answer to this is that it depends.

Installing a mezzanine floor within a warehouse, retail unit or other commercial space is typically not a ‘one size fits all’ solution. There are a range of factors that can impact the cost for the project, and it’s vital to seek input from professional designers, engineers and installers. This will enable you to be provided with an accurate cost for installing a mezzanine floor to meet your specific requirements.

Many of today's industrial, commercial or retail units have cavernous interiors that are actually an inefficient use of space and resources. A mezzanine floor installation typically provides one or two tiers, providing additional work or storage areas. It's a cost-effective method of improving and expanding your business. However, the exact cost depends on multiple factors that are unique to your business and premises.

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Factors That Impact the Cost of a Mezzanine Floor

There are a number of factors that go into the cost of a mezzanine floor. Some of the main factors that need to be assessed before beginning the project include:

Intended Use

Only you know what additional space your business needs. Mezzanines are ideal for all types of purposes. You can use the extra floor space for machinery, an assembly line, a showroom for your products, or designated office space.

A mezzanine could also provide more shelving for storage, or canteen facilities for employees. The larger the size of the floor you require, and the more complex the final design, the more your installation will probably cost.

Number of Levels

One storey is usually less expensive than two. It's up to you entirely to decide how much you want to invest regarding the size of a mezzanine installation. A bespoke mezzanine means the design can be tailored to accommodate your budget.

Where internal height within a premises is available, multi-storey mezzanines mean that as much of the internal space as possible can be used. This helps to further increase efficiency of the building whether the space is used for storage, as a mezzanine for production, or other purposes. However it’s important to be aware that more levels will almost always mean a higher initial outlay.

Future Proofing

A great advantage of a mezzanine installation is its adaptability. If you decide to expand your business in manageable stages, you may initially prefer to invest in only one storey. However, the design is highly adaptable, leaving you the option of adding an upper tier at a later date.

If you need additional space in the immediate future, but also want to plan for further expansion at a later date, then it often makes sense to ensure the mezzanine you install can be extended when the time is right and available budget allows. Installing a single tier mezzanine that is designed to allow another level to be added later, for example, will likely impact the initial cost. However, future proofing the floor will generally be more cost effective than needing to change a mezzanine that is unsuitable for newer requirements further down the line.

Weight Loadings

On average, standard mezzanines are designed to support 500 kilograms per square metre. Office furniture and equipment require load bearing for approximately 350 kg per square metre. This figure increases to 480 kilograms per square metre if you want to add a retail area. The load increases to at least 720 kg per square metre for light manufacturing or maximum storage capacity.

It’s also essential that any warehouse shelving and its estimated load bearing are incorporated into the original assessment and that the mezzanine is engineered to meet these requirements. When the column grids have to bear heavier loads, the platforms will require secondary steels and heavyweight beams. This is one area where you will need reliable, professional advice. These measures inevitably increase the cost, particularly if the site conditions need extra attention, but your mezzanine must undoubtedly be safely designed and constructed.

Site Conditions

A great deal of the cost depends on the site of your premises. An old building may be suffering from subsidence. This would usually involve additional work to ensure the mezzanine stands level. If the site is severely affected, especially when the weight of the mezzanine is taken into account, remedial work may have to be carried out on the foundations.

Obstacles that may affect the cost could include repositioning concealed water or gas pipes. Heating and air conditioning units may have to be moved. It’s also essential that the existing slab or base of the warehouse is fully assessed to ensure it can support the planned floor, or that any remedial work required can be completed.

Position

Where you'd like your mezzanine to stand within the building could influence the costs involved. Repositioning existing windows or installing new casements adds to the expense. Additional doorways may also need to be cut into the existing building, which also increases your costs. However, to some extent, these issues are determined by health and safety regulations.

Fire Rating and Protection

A mezzanine that's more than twenty metres in length, occupies around half the existing floor space, or is designed for at least three people to be present, must have fire protection. This usually includes a fire rating of one hour. This means components shouldn't fully ignite for sixty minutes, providing everyone with the chance to escape.

An essential consideration, mezzanine fire protection incurs additional expense as fire-resistant fascias have to be installed and cladding has to be applied to columns. Staircases must not be any further than eighteen metres from an exit and a large mezzanine may need more than one staircase to comply with fire safety regulations. Depending on the intended use for the space, you may also need to adhere to additional requirements, and it may also be necessary to update your insurance.

Electrics and Smoke Detection

Installing electrical sockets and lighting throughout your mezzanine costs money. However, it could be even more expensive if your premises are around thirty years old. The electrical circuitry might require a full rewire to modernise it and make it compatible with your brand-new mezzanine. Smoke alarms should be fitted if the mezzanine is longer than twenty metres.

Again, the intended use for the space will influence the requirements here and in turn the cost. For example you may need power to accommodate specialist machinery or equipment, to install additional warehouse HVAC facilities to ensure safe temperature levels, to install data points for office space, or ensure that clean rooms or other specialised areas are powered, protected and ventilated adequately.

Access for People & Products

Fire regulations may help determine how many doorways and staircases your building must accommodate in your mezzanine installation. In addition, you'll need to consider how you'll be using the extra space. Product storage and heavy machinery could benefit from a lift installation. Conveyor belt systems and chutes could be needed for warehousing or an assembly line. Adequate pallet gates, barriers and handrails must be positioned for people's safety and convenience, as well as any other mezzanine floor accessories that are needed.

If you’re using a mezzanine as office space, as an area for staff, or as floor space for customers within a retail environment then it’s also important to decide how you want people to be able to access the space, and to ensure you have enough entry/exit points of the right size to avoid bottlenecks.

Ancillaries

Depending on the use of your mezzanine, the design could include facilities such as washrooms, cleaner's rooms or kitchenettes. Any facility you want to add is always going to affect the final cost.

Discussing your plans with your installation partner is vital here, as requirements will need to be factored at the design stage so that they can be properly costed, so that all relevant safety regulations can be adhered to, and so that any necessary services can be included.

Finishes

How you intend using your mezzanine can affect the cost regarding its cosmetic appearance. Storage or light manufacturing usually only requires a basic finish, however it’s vital that any finishes are suitable for the continued wear and tear that they will likely be subjected to within an industrial or commercial facility. It’s also important to factor in items such as column protection, particularly if the mezzanine is to be installed in a space where forklifts or other vehicles may be operational.

For an office or showroom, you may want to include double boarded ceilings, lightweight partitions and staircases with a superior tread to improve the safety, appearance and comfort level of the mezzanine area.

Building Control

For the majority of mezzanine installations, there's no need to seek planning permission. It's only usually necessary if the work results in the exterior of your premises being enlarged or altered. However, every mezzanine does need to comply with current building regulations.

Working with a specialist partner such as Avanta means that all aspects relating to building control and building regulations are handled as part of the design and installation process. It’s worth using the expertise of a professional here, as failure to comply with applicable regulations, or to submit the necessary paperwork, could lead to an unsafe installation or costly work to correct issues before the project can be signed off.

Location

Where your premises are located might influence the cost. Building regulations in different areas of the UK may affect the type of materials that can be used, ultimately affecting the cost.

As with many other factors of operating a business, the location of your warehouse can also impact the cost of a mezzanine installation project in other ways. For example, if materials or people need to be moved over longer distances or if the site has unique access requirements then this will likely need to be accommodated within the budget for the project.

Plant

For the work to be carried out, your premises will have to provide adequate access for deliveries of the mezzanine's components. Parking and access for vehicles and equipment will also be required, increasing your costs if barriers need to be placed outside.

The size and complexity of the project may also impact plant requirements, as will any regulations within the immediate vicinity of the building. For example, undertaking a project within a city centre may mean there are additional aspects to managing plant facilities than for a project at an out of town business park.

Logistics

A construction project always brings a host of additional essentials such as skips to remove debris, and facilities for the builders. These could include portable toilet blocks and a temporary canteen. Such arrangements often affect the cost.

While often overlooked, logistics are an important part of any project to get right. This means planning for the duration and scale of the project, to ensure the installation goes smoothly and that costs can be managed correctly.

Health, Safety and CDM

A mezzanine installation usually involves hiring more than one contractor. Construction (Design and Management) Regulations then have to be followed. The cost usually includes providing a temporary office for the project manager.

High Quality & High Value Mezzanines

At Avanta we have many years of experience in commercial mezzanine installation and are able take care of the entire project on your behalf. We have our own professional designers and structural engineers to ensure that every requirement is accounted for and factored into the quote for your project.

Our experience also means that we’re able to quickly identify the most appropriate solution for your requirements, and to deliver a project specifically tailored to meet the needs of your business and of your building.

More About Mezzanine Floors Solutions

With a comprehensive range of services included in our turnkey solutions, we handle every aspect of installing a mezzanine floor such as the design, assessing the site's suitability, and compliance with building regulations. We'll also ensure your new mezzanine floor space is finished exactly as you want.

Your business can flourish with the additional floor space and facilities provided by a mezzanine installation. It can be a cost-effective solution compared to moving to new premises. Contact AvantaUK.com today for a free no obligation consultation. We'll provide you with expert advice on the best high-quality mezzanine designs for your business.

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