Prefab Mezzanines vs. Relocation: Your Complete Guide

Before you call a crew to break ground on a new office space or choose a completely new space to call home, consider your options. Most modern office additions are designed to be flexible, offering usable space above floor level, a cost-effective solution to an otherwise costly problem.

Vertical space, especially that of a custom mezzanine floor, is achievable. All you need is a prefab mezzanine design and installation company knowledgeable enough to meet your demands, not make you sacrifice them to get the storage space you need.

Additional storage can be found where you might not have imagined. If you’re looking to create more space in your current workspace and are considering a full relocation, call us. We’re happy to walk you through our idea of an affordable office revamp.

In this blog, we’ll compare the labor demands and overall requirements of a mezzanine system versus that of a workplace relocation.

First Things First: What Is a Mezzanine System?

A mezzanine system or prefabricated mezzanine system is a fully-functional office addition with multiple levels of open space. Between ground level and just beneath the ceiling, employees can utilize vertical space for whatever they desire.

If you’re a site or facility manager, enjoy an overhead view of operations from your new modular mezzanine. While it still may be best for your business to relocate, consider adding onto your existing building first. You might find that KABTech-designed mezzanines are much cheaper than new construction.

We design our space-saving solutions with your needs in mind:

Industrial mezzanines, especially those with long-term operational efficiency, are made of a heavy-duty combination of a steel foundation and premium decking. Often made of vinyl, prefab mezzanine systems typically feature multiple layers of decking without the bulk. This way, you can mold your prefabricated mezzanine floors into any form you like.

Offer additional leisure space for employees or stack inventory upon this additional space, the choice is yours. Another popular KABTech decking choice is steel decking, as this provides an industrial look and feel. These durable floors slide atop your existing structure for elevated storage capacity.

Classic KABTech mezzanine design features include:

• A Steel Structured Platform (With Customizable Properties)
• Beams + Additional Support Systems
• Decking (Vinyl, Steel, Custom Colors)
• Any Desired Functional Features, Like Noise Control

Although we design our mezzanine systems to feel uniform, talk to us about a custom extra office space.

The Goal

When moving operations above ground, the goal is always to find a way to utilize space without having to undergo new building construction. This can mean maxing out every square foot your building can handle, laying down a few structural steel platforms where available, and more. Add some breathing room to your fast-paced industrial environment with a single mezzanine structure.

Distribution centers, retail centers, and warehouses may equally benefit from the simple storage accommodations that modular space provides. Need guaranteed easy assembly? KABTech’s experts can do that, too. If your facility has specific operational requirements, allow us to custom-fit a full-service system to your needs.

With such easy installation and complete control, why not consider a mezzanine?

Relocation: Pros & Cons

If you already know that your storage area cannot accommodate any additions, you might be considering floor plan changes or a full relocation. If this is you, know that there are ways to add new floor space without breaking the bank. Although we don’t specialize in relocations, KABTech can give you helpful pointers when weighing your options.

While relocation might be more expensive, you could install one or more high-functioning mezzanines just to find that the fit isn’t right, or you need more space than you’ve paid for. In this case, it can be more cost-effective to go for a relocation. Explore the pros and cons:

Pros

• Guaranteed Space for All Business Objectives
• More Room to Create Larger Personalizations
• Less Equipment On-Site (By Means of Prefabrication)
• Extra Load Capacity with a Construction Team
• Less of a Long-Term Financial Commitment

Cons

• High Upfront Cost
• Delayed Service Times Due to Construction Crews
• Release of The Existing Space and Its Features
• Further or Larger Compliance With Building Codes

Mezzanine Design & Installation: Pros & Cons

Ground floor space can be amplified with a single addition, in this case, a diamond plate mezzanine system built to carry the load of your needs: more room, an additional break space, and more. Utilize vertical space in a way that works for you.

Before we sell you on the convenience of readily available warehouse space, let’s talk about the pros and cons of installing a mezzanine floor:

Pros

• Complete Control over Personalizations, Each Step Of The Way
• Cheaper Initial Costs
• Improved Efficiency Immediately
• Minimize Downtime With Ready-To-Install Offices
• 100% OSHA Standard Compliant

Cons

• Temporary Solutions (If Desired)
• Anecdotally High Costs for Custom Designs / Features
• Some Flow Disruption
• Possible Accessibility Constraints

Things to Consider

Still unsure which one is for you? Consider the basics:

Time Spent: Relocations can require anywhere from a few weeks to a year to complete. This does not include the random or unexpected service times. Heavy machinery additionally takes a good amount of time to bring on-site, store, and handle. Mezzanine designs are turnkey solutions that take a substantially less amount of time to install.

Long-Term Costs: Relocation costs can be overwhelming upfront. You have to consider initial fees, construction costs, and additional savings for pop-up costs. While mezzanine systems can run up the bill in full, they’re still cheaper than breaking ground.

Space Utilization: Do you plan to utilize every square foot of your upgraded space? Or, will you divide space between tasks? Either way, you need to know how you will utilize your mezzanine or completely new space, as this will impact costs.

Heavy Loads: When it comes down to it, your current space may not be fit to handle heavy loads. Or, maybe the mezzanine you’ve chosen is not equipped to carry your desired load. This is where relocation might be a better fit than the latter.

For help narrowing down your needs, trust KABTech. We’re available to talk you through designs, load accommodations, and more.

When you just can’t get the job done with the space you have, lean on KABTech. Specializing in turnkey office solutions such as our modular additions, you know that you’re receiving a state-of-the-art composition with each installation.

Let us place a structurally sound mezzanine design on the ground floor of your retail facility, distribution center, or main office, and watch the benefits flow through your operations.