Getting the Most Value Out of a Construction Budget

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It’s getting expensive out there. As the economy reopens and businesses start gearing up again, demand for construction materials has shot through the roof. Steel prices alone have increased 91% since Q4 2020. Demand for basic construction materials far outweighs supply, and many project owners are seeing the cost of construction blow way past their original budget projections.

The pain is real. Writing in Construction Dive, Jen A. Miller reports that skyrocketing lumber costs are making residential projects much more expensive, too:

The National Association of Home Builders reported that lumber costs are adding an average of $36,000 to new single family home prices. Those prices have also added $12,966 to the value of an average new multifamily home. As those are typically built to rent, that in turn is adding $119 a month in rent to new apartments.

These same cost impacts are hitting commercial construction projects, which result in higher lease rates for potential tenants.  Leon Williams Contractors, a Maryville construction expert, is dedicated to helping our clients get the most value for their money. We combat price creep through our value engineering services. Every client deserves our honest appraisal of design complexity and the materials being used to build a structure. To help find more economical solutions that provides the same quality, we might:

  • Look for different materials and structure designs to reduce costs.
  • Substitute fixtures and finishes to be more economical but still meet client needs.
  • Point out features that have little benefit but can result in added costs and completion delays.
  • Even positioning the building differently on a site can have a ripple effect on the cost of grading, utilities, sidewalks, parking, etc.

Overly complex designs that rely on costly materials can break the bank in the current environment. We’ll use our value engineering techniques to make sure your project is providing the most value for the expenditure without ever sacrificing quality. If you want to learn more about how we can help, contact Leon Williams today.

Responding to New Retail Construction Trends

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As retailers rethink the physical layout of stores to meet the changing needs and preferences of customers as the economy reopens, one thing is certain: The team at Leon Williams Contractors is ready to help build the perfect retail space.

A Maryville construction company, Leon Williams has decades of experience working with business owners to find the right solution to their needs, whether a new custom-built space or by updating and renovating existing stores.

If a new facility is called for, our experts can help evaluate the best sites for the building. During construction, we’ll keep an eye on costs and use our value-engineering expertise to ensure the client is getting the most value for their money.

But catering to customer preferences doesn’t have to require building a brand-new commercial development. Existing spaces can be adapted to new trends. In a Commercial Observer article, the authors write that even small changes can make the difference when retooling retail properties and restaurants to appeal to consumers in the months and years ahead:

Take the expanded curbside pickup trend that exploded during COVID-19. By making simple, small changes, retailers have been able to capitalize on this way to purchase and pick up during the pandemic.

… Landlords will need to find quick, inexpensive ways to accommodate new consumer desires for more space and less contact — like bigger, outdoor patios at restaurants for al fresco dining. It’s all about identifying and tapping into the next wave of consumer interaction and patterning a property to accommodate them quickly.

Whether a full build or an interior renovation, Leon Williams has the experience and know-how to turn our clients’ visions into reality. Since 1964, we’ve been building retail spaces and restaurants throughout East Tennessee. Visit www.lwcontractorstn.com or call (865) 982-1734 to learn how we can help.

Building the Future of Franchise Restaurants

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After learning the lessons of operating during the pandemic, restaurant franchises and individual owners are making physical changes to their locations to better suit customer demands going forward.

The new normal in restaurant design incorporates the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. More people prefer to pick up meals in their car and have become accustomed to curbside service. Inspired by enforced social distancing, some restaurant franchises are rethinking old assumptions and design patterns. For example, Taco Bell has debuted a new restaurant design in response to the pandemic, explained in a CNN Business article:

The most significant difference between the new and old restaurant designs is the size. Taco Bell is cutting back on dining room seating and adding a second drive-thru lane dedicated to pick-up orders made on its app. Inside, customers will also see more digital kiosks in addition to human staff that will still take orders.

There’s also curbside pickup for contactless pickups and “bellhops”— masked employees stationed outside taking customers’ orders on digital tablets.

Existing restaurant locations must also adapt to changing preferences — from accommodating curbside service to expanding outdoor seating. To deal with all of these construction needs, restaurant or franchise owners should look for a general contractor with extensive restaurant experience.

Leon Williams Contractors, a Maryville construction company, has that experience in building food service buildings and locations for customers including Which Wich and Chick-fil-A. We offer a full range of construction services from pre-construction consultation and site assessment to project management to value engineering.

If you’re a restaurant owner wanting to build a new facility from the ground up, build out a commercial space, or renovate an existing location, we’re ready to help. Give us a call at (865) 982-1734, or contact Leon Williams Contractors online to learn more.

Advantages of Design-Build Construction for Your Project

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What’s the not-so-secret recipe for successfully completing construction projects on time and under budget? That would be teamwork, plain and simple.

Teamwork in integral to the design-build construction services that we offer at Leon Williams Contractors, your Maryville construction expert. This involves a collaborative approach where our team works hand-in-hand with an outside design firm from the start of a project.

The Design-Build Institute of America describes the design-build model as an effective way to streamline the construction process:

The owner manages only one contract with a single point of responsibility. The designer and contractor work together from the beginning, as a team, providing unified project recommendations to fit the owner’s schedule and budget. Any changes are addressed by the entire team, leading to collaborative problem-solving and innovation, not excuses or blame-shifting.

This approach allows for increased cooperation and coordination as the project proceeds — minimizing delays, reducing costs and mistakes, and reducing paperwork. We’ve put the approach to work for many clients throughout East Tennessee.

Not every contractor is suited to provide construction design-build services. It requires a team-oriented mindset. At Leon Williams, we believe the foundation of a successful project is reliable communication and attentive on-site management.

This carries over into our day-to-day operations throughout the lifespan of a project — from site design and to carrying out the final punch list, we listen, respond to concerns, and help solve problems before they because costly issues. A project isn’t complete until we’ve met all the expectations of the project owner.

If you’re interested in learning how our design-build construction services could benefit your next project, contact Leon Williams Contractors today.

 

Leon Williams Believes in the Power of Client Relationships

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Leon Williams Contractors LLC is proud to be the Maryville construction expert, serving our hometown and all East Tennessee. Want to know what we’re proudest of? The relationships we’ve made along the way.

For more than 30 years, we’ve built restaurants and churches and businesses and facilities for some of the region’s universities. Leon Williams, our founder, has been involved in construction even longer. He started out working with his father and uncle, in 1964, before founding the business that became Leon Williams Contractors in 1986.

Today, Leon Williams Contractors continues to embody his promise to only provide the highest levels of value and quality. We commit to:

  • Attentive on-site management
  • Reliable communication
  • Providing quality
  • Acting with high ethical standards.

When it comes to any commercial construction project, you need a trustworthy contractor. Without attention to details, small mistakes can snowball to huge problems down the road. If you’re building a new church, a new office, or just want your facility renovated, you shouldn’t have to worry about these issues.

That’s where we come in. Leon Williams Contractors will treat your project like it’s our own. As proven value-engineering experts, we’ll be on the lookout for potential problems, working with our clients to simplify the building process and get them more bang for the buck by finding ways to get the most out of their money. Most of all, we promise to listen and always act in the best interests of our clients.

In our decades in the business, Leon Williams has become an expert at preventing problems before they start. We’ll treat you like a partner, and we’ll listen to you concerns. Contact Leon Williams Contractors online or give us a call at (865) 982-1734 to learn more.

Spruce Up Your Business with a New Façade

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Don’t underestimate the power of a facelift. A new façade can quickly transform a commercial building, boosting its curb appeal and generating increased traffic and brand awareness. On top of that, a façade installation can provide many of the same benefits of a full-scale renovation or new construction at a fraction of the cost — and with far less inconvenience.

Fast & Friendly

New construction can take years to plan and complete. Full renovations may require excessive interruption of business and inconvenience customers and vendors. Façade improvements, on the other hand, can be wrapped up in a matter of weeks or months, and usually don’t impede operations or create barriers for foot traffic.

When completed, a new façade might include improved lighting, more visible signage, and pleasant landscaping. A stylish, modern look that’s legible from a distance encourages curiosity and invites more traffic than an outdated, rundown or generic exterior.

Façade projects are a good option in many different situations, whether it’s a new business moving into its first space or an existing business rebranding, relocating or opening a new location. Any company that wants to quickly freshen up its appearance and attract new attention can consider a façade improvement as an effective, affordable option.

Save Energy (and Money)

Before dismissing façade upgrades as purely cosmetic, think about the potential energy savings. Many older buildings lose heat in the winter and cool air during the summer through uninsulated storefronts and old, drafty windows and doors. Insulation, new energy-efficient building materials and energy-saving windows and doors can improve indoor comforts and help reduce utility costs for years to come.

Leon Williams Contractors is a Maryville construction firm with decades of experience working closely with business owners to ensure the best possible results for their commercial projects. We can assist you in assessing your company’s needs and work with you to create the right solution. To learn more about façade improvements or other renovation and construction options, contact us today.

Finding the Right Site for Your 2021 Construction Needs

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Looking for a site for a new commercial facility can be a chore. It’s important to find the right match to meet your business needs and ensure your success. As the saying goes, it’s all about “Location, location, location.” It’s important for any business. Is there enough traffic to justify building a retail location? Can the property be easily accessed or will inconvenient roadway access drive away customers?

Site Assessment

Leon Williams Contractors, your Maryville construction expert, can help you find the perfect site for your facility. Our preplanning and site assessment services are thorough. We’ll ensure there are no unexpected, expensive surprises at a proposed location such as environmental issues requiring remediation, geotechnical issues that would need overly-extensive sitework to overcome and insufficient utilities or infrastructure.

If you think that finding the right site for your commercial facility will take care of any potential issues, that’s not quite the full story. Businesses also have to consider what happens to the site once construction begins and design plans are being implemented. A construction company needs expertise and the ability to work well with designer and architects to execute their vision exactly. Otherwise, problems can creep in.

We Can Help

That is where we can help. The team at Leon Williams Contractors has decades of design-build construction experience working closely with our clients and their design firms on commercial construction projects. We take pride in properly executing all aspects of a project, ensuring that both commercial facilities and sites are built out in the best way possible.

At Leon Williams Contactors, we’re ready to assist our East Tennessee clients assess the right site for their building projects. If you are ready to talk about your construction plans for 2021, contact us today.

Etowah City Hall

Looking Back at the Accomplishments of 2020

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This has been a challenging year in East Tennessee, but Leon Williams Contractors has been proud to continue helping our clients create new and renovated spaces.Etowah City Hall

Etowah City Hall

After beginning work in late 2019, Leon Williams Contractors completed construction on a new 3,200-square-foot city hall in Etowah, Tennessee. The new Etowah City Hall is the city’s new permanent dedicated building for municipal government. The new one-story structure complements the historic L&N Depot, which was extensively renovated in 2012. The depot currently houses a railroad museum, the Etowah Chamber of Commerce, and serves as a facility for public and private events.

Benchmark Physical Therapy

Leon Williams completed the new Benchmark Physical Therapy location in Maryville in July. “We were thrilled with the work done by Leon Williams Contractors,” said Jason Hutcherson, Benchmark Physical Therapy facilities director. “They brought our project in on budget, ahead of time, and with a great final product. Their communication and professionalism is above board and they went above and beyond to make sure our move was a success. I will certainly use them again for projects in the area.”

So Many Projects

During the past year, our Maryville construction experts have worked on a variety of great projects around East Tennessee including:

  • The Donut Shop, renovating the flat iron building across from Regions Bank in Knoxville’s Fourth & Gill neighborhood.
  • Renovations for the Blount County Landfill Office.
  • Shift Church Knoxville opened in its new facility on Alcoa Highway.
  • Repair of damages at Everett Hills Baptist Church and Pecks Memorial Church in Blount County and working to help develop upcoming projects for several other area churches.
  • Construction began on the TLC Maryville facility, which is expected to open early 2021.
  • The new Freshens located inside Lupton Hall at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.
  • Various trade work on Pellissippi State Community College’s new Multi-Purpose Building at the Hardin Valley campus, the new classroom Building for TCAT Morristown and the new Anderson County Higher Education Center for TCAT.

As your Maryville construction expert, we always love to assist our East Tennessee clients with their building projects. If you’ve seen our work and want to talk about your construction need for 2021, we’d love to talk. Contact Leon Williams Contractors today.

The Basics of Build-outs

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If your retail location or restaurant is looking for a home, Leon Williams Contractors, your Maryville construction experts, can help with build-out needs.

Early Involvement

A build-out of an existing commercial space can be as simple as some light renovation or a refresh or as complex as a total gutting of the old space and refurbishment with new lighting, plumbing, interior walls, furnishings and HVAC.

Even though a build-out might not be as intensive as the construction of an entirely new building, the process should still be approached with great care, because there are plenty of problems and headaches that can occur.

A key to success is partnering with a proactive contractor like Leon Williams. Problems that could affect the project’s budget and schedule need to be found before they occur. Cost overruns and noncompliance with local codes can hurt projects large and small, so having a licensed contractor that listens to the client is essential when considering a buildout.

Staying on time and on budget is vital. If a contractor can’t stick to the timeline, it can hurt your business. At Leon Williams, we respect your time and are committed to meeting all deadlines to make sure your business opens on time.

You can depend on Leon Williams. Our experienced team has helped create quality locations for franchises all over East Tennessee area. We’ve worked with businesses ranging from Benchmark Therapy to Which Wich and more. Check out all our recent projects online.

We Can Help

Leon Williams has been doing buildouts for decades in East Tennessee and has experience with site evaluations, project goals, budgets and project life expectancies. If a build-out is what’s needed, we’re the right choice. Contact us online or give us a call at (865) 982-1734 to learn more.

Building Contractor Listening to Homeowners in Maryville Tennessee

You Need a General Contractor Who Will Listen

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Is your contractor really listening to you? It’s an important question to ask. Sometimes, the answer is no. When that’s the case, an owner can face a long list of potential problems that could result in lost time and lost dollars. 

Building Contractor Listening to Homeowners in Maryville TennesseeFirst off, owners need to be mindful of who they’re working with. Hiring an unlicensed contractor without insurance is never a good idea. Before breaking ground on any project, have a long talk with the contractor and make sure they have the experience and credentials to handle the job. If they don’t want to have this conversation, then they don’t need to be hired.  

Site Design Is Essential 

Another critical issue is site design. The way a building sits on a piece of property will oftentimes determine the success or failure of a building, regardless of its use. A good design-build contractor should know how to take full advantage of a site and increase the structure’s performance, whether it’s a church, office, or a drive-through burger restaurant. If an owner asks about site design and the contractor isn’t listening, there’s a good chance they are not up for the job.  Building expansion and traffic flows should be forecast to ensure the positioning allows for future needs. 

Prevent Problems Before They Start 

Finally, a common issue, and perhaps the most common issue, is cost overruns. If not properly managed, costs can soar and the project run longer than needed. Throughout the lifespan of a project, from site design to the final punch list, a design-build contractor should listen to the owner, respond to their concerns, and solve problems before they occur.  Many times, an owner may not be able to interpret plans and envision a finished product like the contractor can.  It is critical to explain what they can expect before it is installed to ensure they will be pleased. 

If you are looking for a contractor that knows how to do just that, call Leon Williams Contractors, an experienced Maryville construction company, with more than three decades building for clients in East Tennessee. Check us out online or give us a call at (865) 982-1734 to learn more.