Are you ready for a building upgrade without committing to a new build? Time, land availability, or budget… sometimes a new building just isn’t an option. These affordable upgrades help you give your existing building new life and new potential. Whether you have a farm shop, industrial building, or aviation hangar, there are many small(er) projects that you can tackle, and each project comes with its own rewards.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficient building have a wide range of benefits for you and the environment. For you, investing in things such as insulation, lighting, and upgraded heating and cooling systems may cost a bit upfront, but it’s worth it when you see the savings reflected on your energy bill.
Visual Appeal
One of the easiest ways to add value to an existing building is to improve its visual appeal. It’s also one of the most flexible goals in terms of finance. With a little ingenuity and invention, the limits are almost endless.
Increased Functionality
You want to be able to make the most of your building. A few upgrades can help you do that by maximizing available space and making your building multi-functional. Again, it only takes a little creativity to make a huge change.
What’s your goal?
The projects you choose will depend on what you are hoping to achieve, as there is a lot of overlap within these goals. Improved functionality might lead to an improvement in energy efficiency, while energy efficiency might lead to a nicer looking building – like bright and eco-friendly LED lightbulbs.
Hoping to lower your energy costs? Look into insulation options, or new windows or doors. Tired of fighting with your sliding doors? Consider a new bifold door for easier access. Need a more functional workspace? New lighting can make an old building a much more enjoyable place to work.
Regardless of your primary purpose for updating your building, the benefits are clear. Let’s dive into the details of a few of the most affordable and effective building upgrades.
Storage, Organization, and Clutter
Whether it’s on the farm, at the shop, or in the hangar, it’s easy to let things get out of hand, making your workspace an overwhelming display of clutter. Tackling the mess is one of the most affordable and simplest (though not always easiest) projects to start with when making upgrades to your existing building.
Start with a thorough declutter to make reorganization and storage an easier task. For tips on maximizing your existing building space, read the blog post.
Having a clean, organized workspace makes it easier to tackle the new few projects on the list – and to make the most of the space that you already have available.
Upgrade Your Lighting
Upgrading the lighting in your building makes it a more welcoming place to spend your time and makes it easier to see what you’re working on. For a cost-free improvement, be sure to clean your windows regularly and keep them free of clutter.
You could also consider upgrading the light fixtures in your shop or hangar. Replacing old, incandescent fixtures and bulbs with more energy efficient LED bulbs will brighten your workspace and lower your energy bills. If light fixtures are few and far between, adding a few strategically placed fixtures over workbenches and common work areas will also do wonders for your space.
Finally, consider adding windows to your building (or polycarbonate sheeting to your bifold door) for natural light. While this is likely the most costly option for a lighting upgrade, you won’t regret it when you see the sunlight streaming in.
Insulation and Temperature Control
If you are heating or cooling, or planning to do so in the future, its worth considering the insulation (or lack of insulation) in your building. Adding insulation, sealing gaps and cracks, and ensuring your doors and windows provide a strong seal against the weather are a few ways to improve your building.
This not only reduces your energy bills, but also helps make your space a more comfortable place to work.
For more information and ideas on insulating your existing building, read our blog post on Energy Efficiency, Your Building, and a Bifold Door.
Make it Look Like New
If your building is in good shape but starting to look a little worn and tired, it might be time for an exterior refresh. Start by cleaning up the clutter that may have accumulated outside the building and trimming back overgrown weeds and grass. Clean off any dirt and cobwebs that have gathered on the walls over the years.
If needed, consider a fresh coat of paint on wood siding, or even replacing the cladding and trims on buildings sheeted with tin.
And, if your door is looking like it’s seen better days, you could consider upgrading that too.
Upgrading Your Door
Upgrading your existing door to something like a Diamond bifold door checks off all the boxes – it improves temperature control in your building, gives you a larger clear opening than something like an overhead door, and provides easier access to your building.
Easy, Convenient Door Operation
A Diamond door makes it easier to access your building. As a convenient and reliable door option, they open with the push of a button. When you add the remote opener package and autolock system, it makes it even simpler.
In our post, Why You Should Consider a Bifold Door, we take a closer look at the advantages and convenience of choosing a Diamond door.
A Cost-Efficient Investment
A Diamond door is an investment that gives back to your building and operation. Their design means that they’re a reliable, low maintenance choice, working when you need them without fuss. Bifold doors are also a great choice for energy efficiency, with insulation options that are far better than anything offered by traditional sliding or overhead doors.
Read more about The Best Investment for Your Industrial Bifold Door here.
Larger Clear Opening
Bifold doors are usually installed on the face of the building, meaning that they don’t take up any interior headroom. This also means that they can be installed past the roofline (with our self supporting header option). For many new and existing buildings, this allows you to make use of the entire face of the building – creating a wall that lifts up and out of the way so you can easily maneuver your equipment into the building.
You can learn more about upgrading your building with a larger clear opening on our blog.
How to Make the Most of Your Budget
Even though many of these projects are relatively low-cost compared to building something new, they still cost something. So how do you make the most of your budget?
Start by planning ahead. Prioritize your upgrades and set aside funds for each one as needed. Planning ahead also enables you to make smarter decisions on the materials you choose for the project.
Take time to look into different option, like light fixtures, and compare prices. However, remember that cheaper isn’t always better – sometimes you’ll need to consider the quality of the materials. If you can, buying a higher quality item that lasts far longer than it’s cheaper alternative will always help you save money in the end.
Have Questions?
We’re here to chat. Contact our sales department toll-free at 866-325-7600 or by email at info@diamonddoors.com. We’re always happy to hear from you.
