From small business ventures to billion-dollar corporations, every successful company needs a home to serve as the valuable headquarters for operation. Your commercial headquarters not only speaks to the quality of your business but will many times be the first impression that potential customers and clients receive. With so many different building materials available to create with, how will you craft a look that instills confidence and reassures the client that they are choosing the right company?
The materials you choose to build with can greatly contribute to the long-term success of your business, as well as the building itself. For a multitude of prized advantages, timeless brick will prove to be worth every penny spent as a building material. More than just traditional appeal, here are a few of the many benefits of using brick for commercial buildings:
Thermal Mass Properties – For many business owners constructing a commercial property, energy efficiency is at the top of the priority list. Brick will immediately become a leading material contender thanks to having a high thermal mass that allows you to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat the building in the winter and cool it down during the summer. High thermal mass improves energy efficiency so well that many energy codes will require less insulation in walls with thermal mass. Thus, brick walls can save money with initial building requirements and with energy bills each month. This advantage will greatly benefit your building and your business over the long haul!
Longer Lasting Than Other Materials – Have you ever noticed that the “old town” district of many US cities is composed of classic brick commercial buildings? There’s a reason that the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) gives brick masonry a lifespan of 100 years- it simply lasts longer! Structural steel will last on average anywhere from 35 to 50 years. Vinyl will serve buildings somewhere between 20 and 40 years. However, brick will stand the test of time, while resisting the harshest natural elements and threats. With all of the valuable equipment, files, and records in your business, brick will resist exposure of flames and high temperatures for at least one hour after a fire starts! You will not have to worry about the rotting or cracking that can occur with wood or vinyl. In fact, brick structures are rarely ever demolished due to the brick exterior, only when it is cheaper to rebuild in order to get a commercial building up to modern safety codes. You have enough factors to worry about as a business owner- make sure your building condition isn’t one of them.
Reduces Maintenance Costs – It goes without saying that running a commercial building will incur many different bills, functions, and services to oversee. By building with brick, your maintenance costs are reduced significantly. For starters, you will not need to paint or finish a brick exterior as it only requires removing dirt and debris with water when necessary. The thermal mass properties of brick will lessen the wear-and-tear on your HVAC system, and thus reduce your monthly electricity bill while also lowering annual maintenance and repair costs. Unlike building with wood, brick also allows you to avoid costs associated with termite control. You can spend more of your time and resources on the operations that will allow you to grow your business!
Sustainable Certification – Many builders know that sustainable brick is made from raw, all-natural materials like clay, shale, and water, and are completely recyclable with virtually zero waste. However, savvy builders also know that brick can contribute up to 11 points in the Materials and Resources category towards LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) sustainable certification. LEED is the most widely used and recognized green building certification standard, administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, providing a framework to create healthy, energy-efficient, cost-effective buildings. A sustainable “whole building approach” has been known to help produce long-term employee benefits such as reducing sick days, improving performance, and increasing focus. It also improves building performance, saves on health spending, and reduces cleaning products. As many consumers continue to vet companies for sustainable practices before they spend money with them, LEED Certification will also improve your business reputation!
Warmer Appearance – From the homebuyer perspective, National Association of Home Builders’ surveys found that respondents preferred brick as the top home exterior choice with a double-digit lead over the next closest material. This is in large part due to the fact that brick is instantly familiar and comforting, full of warm, natural beauty, texture, and color. An inviting, soothing appearance can help ease the anxiety of your customers as they enter your place of business, no matter what the nature of your products and services are! Whereas brick exteriors recall skilled masonry, materials such as steel, vinyl, and stucco can have a manufactured, colder feel. At the very least, adding thin brick to the base of your building and columns as wainscoting can help create warmer curb appeal.
For all of the factors that go into running a successful business, it’s an incredible asset to have a building that works for you, not against you! Give your company the ultimate advantage with the gorgeous brick options found in our Cartersville and Cumming showrooms. Our knowledgeable experts are ready to help you complete a business headquarters created with brick for superior performance and operations.
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