Summary
The Short Answer:
- No, you do not need finished design drafts before talking to a contractor—as long as you partner with a design-build contractor who handles both planning and execution.
Two Types of Builders:
- Standard Tradesmen: Best for simple projects with signed, stamped permits in hand. They execute existing plans but rarely assist with regulatory navigation.
- Design-Build Specialists: Essential for larger commercial or agricultural builds. They guide your vision through complex engineering, zoning, and permitting hurdles upfront.
The Danger of Building Out of Order:
- Skipping preliminary regulatory and design legwork risks major fines, costly structural re-works, or building permits being denied after money is spent.
- Commercial projects require mandatory sign-offs from civil/structural engineers, fire marshals, local zoning boards, and environmental agencies before pouring foundation.
The short answer is no.
You don’t…
So long as you hire the right type of contractor. Otherwise, you may end up with an overpriced, frustrating mess of a project on your hands.
Let’s help you avoid all that, shall we?
Two Types of Contractors to Be Aware Of
In the commercial and agricultural contracting world, you have two kinds of builders:
- Those who just want to pour concrete, nail wood, and slap a roof over a plot of dirt, and
- Those who enjoy listening, solving problems, and coming up with seamless plans for execution
In all fairness, the first group is a great choice if you know exactly what you want—and have signed and stamped permits in hand. In that case, you’ll most likely get a building you like and can even save some cash.
These are your dime-a-dozen contractors. Our area is known for them. And for simpler projects, they do a fine job.
The second type of contractor, however, is rarer. They also cost more upfront. That being said, working with a builder versed in contemporary commercial building design—and the legwork required to get that building permitted—is essential for larger projects and avoiding near disaster.
Here’s why.
The Dangers of Not Having Design Drafts Before Building
Commercial building design ideas can only legally be carried out when signed and stamped by a slew of regulatory offices. This is where most investors get bogged down and frustrated and waste buckets of cash.
Hear this: just because you’ve got the land, it doesn’t mean you can build on it. You need approvals from stormwater, land development, road access, and many more. All of their input goes into the final commercial building design.
And if you don’t satisfy the regs, there will be trouble.
Even for a small commercial building design, you need sign-offs from:
- Civil engineers
- Structural engineers
- Building code officials
- Township zoning boards
- The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
- Local water and sewer authorities
- The Fire Marshall
- And more…
So it isn’t just about buying some land and hiring a designer. Each of these offices has its own requirements and strict code books your project must adhere to. All before a single drop of concrete gets poured.
Commercial building design services are complicated. If you do things out of order, start building without a clear plan, or try to fly under the radar, you face serious repercussions: from having to redo work, paying massive legal fines and penalties, and sinking a tremendous amount of money into a project that may never get completed.
Because of this, the right choice of contractor is the single most important decision you make in solving your problems and advancing your business.
How Do I Choose the Right Commercial or Agricultural Contractor?
Your choice of contractor comes down to two things: budget and goals.
If you want a simple pole barn and aren’t concerned with curb appeal, quality craftsmen are easy to find in central and southeastern PA. Just be sure to look for someone with at least 7 years of business experience—to avoid fly-by-night builders—and a strong reputation in your community.
If you have bigger dreams—and the funds to back it up—I strongly encourage you to hire a contractor that does design and permitting work, or at least an independent designer. Here’s why.
Without finalized design drafts, you can run into serious issues piecemealing your project together as you go.
It could be as simple as pouring a foundation and having the framers come out only to find the plumber can’t do his job without reworking the basic structure. At its worst, it can mean putting up a building that isn’t legal—or signing a $1M contract only to find your project can’t be built.
For this reason, you’re often better off paying more upfront—even in the event you find the project can’t be done as originally planned.
Why Are Design Drafts So Important? Maybe Not What You Think
If you’ve got big dreams, bringing in a single design and build team—while costing you more upfront—can save you tremendously down the line. It also gives you a better end result while reducing the overall stress of your project.
The design of a commercial building is about more than looks. While aesthetics are important—and they are—it's the upfront regulatory legwork that’s most important. And trying to do it on your own is not something most business owners want to mess with.
The right contractor for your project can see you through that process. They’ll make sure the entire building works before so much as throwing a shovel into the dirt. And then, when everything is tied up nice and clean with a bow on top, they’ll build it.
Plain and simple.
Creek View Construction has been solving building problems for business owners and agricultural operators for 20+ years. And in all that time, we’ve never met a problem that couldn’t be solved. That’s not to say all those projects went through, but in our experience, with the right relationships, enough back-and-forth, and financial backing, most projects can be done.
So if you’re one to dream big, give us a call. Because while building dreams might be complicated, it’s not impossible. And with the right partner, you can take your vision all the way from a dream to a building you’re proud to operate out of—for life.
Take the first step toward your vision today. With a free, zero-obligation consultation with me, Mervin Hoover, owner of Creek View Construction.
If you’re one to dream big, call Creek View Construction. After 20+ years, our favorite projects have been the ones other builders avoid. Let’s build together.