With rental and property prices skyrocketing in recent years, many businesses are looking for an innovative, affordable method to increase their workspace. A mezzanine floor is an intermediate floor built between the ground floor and the roof of an existing building and is a common solution for warehouses needing more space. Ideal for commercial and industrial spaces, the most popular uses for a mezzanine area are for storage space and offices.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the benefits a mezzanine floor can bring to your business.
Key Takeaways
- A mezzanine floor is a freestanding structure providing extra space within your existing space.
- It is a value-for-money solution for commercial and industrial businesses.
- Mezzanine offices provide office space without sacrificing warehouse space.
- Mezzanine floors can be custom-built to suit your requirements and are available in a range of designs to suit your needs.
What are mezzanine floors?
A mezzanine floor is an intermediate floor built between the ground floor and the ceiling of a shop or warehouse. A mezzanine floor can be used for office spaces or storage space in commercial, industrial or warehousing.
Top advantages of a mezzanine floor
- It’s a great way to build offices without giving up valuable floor space.
- A mezzanine adds extra storage, retail or office space.
- It’s a fantastic way to take advantage of the vertical space in buildings with high ceilings.
- It can be quickly installed, especially when compared to other renovations.
- Your mezzanine can be custom designed to your specification and unique needs.
- They suit a range of warehouse environments and uses.
7 Ways mezzanine floors improve your business or warehouse floor space
A well-designed mezzanine floor could be one of the most valuable additions you can make to your business. Here are just seven of the key ways a mezzanine floor will take your business or warehouse to the next level.
1. Increases space in your building
Why take up the precious ground floor when you can build up? Most warehouses have a high ceiling and a mezzanine floor takes full advantage of this. While some of your ground floor space will be used for columns, staircases, and posts, for the most part, you’ll retain the majority of your original space.
2. More space without moving or building
In our experience, no one decides to build a mezzanine floor without a purpose in mind. Mezzanine floors can be built for a variety of needs, including for offices and extra storage space. A mezzanine floor allows you to have these extra facilities without having to move location, seek building approval or pay renovation costs.
A lot of businesses don’t own their building and therefore renovations can be difficult. A mezzanine is a freestanding structure that doesn’t need to be installed in the surrounding environment.
3. They’re designed to meet your needs
Warehouses come in a range of shapes and sizes, and different customers are after different things. A mezzanine can be custom designed to suit your specific needs in your space.
Our engineers have worked in a variety of environments and have a lot of flexibility when it comes to design. All components including flooring, walkways, handrails, stairs, grating and shelving will be designed to not only suit your available space but to make the most of it.
4. Create an office area
A busy, noisy warehouse floor is not an ideal place for paperwork, meetings with staff or clients, phone calls, or behind-the-scenes work. A mezzanine office space allows you a separate area within your existing space to take care of the computer work. Therefore, you can take that zoom call in comfort and afterwards be on the warehouse floor in seconds.
Available in a range of designs, you can choose to have an office that looks out onto the warehouse floor or one that is completely private for extra peace and quiet. Whether a staff member runs the forklift or works on your website, you can have the entire team under one roof with the help of a mezzanine.
5. A Mezzanine floor can be moved
Due to mezzanine floors being freestanding structures designed to be shipped, they can also be easily deconstructed if you decide to move. Components can be disassembled and re-installed at your new location, so you don’t have to give up the office space you’ve become accustomed to.
Once the mezzanine floor has been taken down, it’ll be like it was never there, avoiding any damage to the building.
6. You’ll get extra storage space
Have you ever heard of warehouse owners complaining they had too much storage space? Yeah, us neither.
Before you make plans to move to a location, consider whether a mezzanine floor might not be the cheaper, quicker and simpler solution. By creating extra levels, you’ll provide yourself with more storage areas without having to hire more space. Our designs can be custom-made to suit both your site and storage capacity needs.
7. It’s a cost effective space solution
Everyone who’s run a business knows how important it is to keep to a budget. Moving to a whole new location for your business is an expensive proposition and a bit of a gamble. Meanwhile, renovation requires applications for approval and may not be a choice if you’re renting the space.
There are also construction and manufacturing costs that come with altering an existing structure. A mezzanine floor costs a fraction of other types of renovation. It also provides the benefit of more work areas without the headaches that come with buying more space or moving.
Is a mezzanine floor right for your business? Answers to common questions about mezzanine floors
While there are many benefits to building a mezzanine floor, you may still be considering whether a mezzanine is the right choice for your business. To help you decide, here are some of the key factors you should take into consideration.
Are mezzanine floors safe?
When constructed correctly, and used in a safe, responsible manner, a mezzanine floor is a safe addition to your premises. Though you don’t need planning approval in most cases, mezzanine structures still need to meet health and safety standards, have fire protection and meet building codes.
Therefore, it’s vital that your mezzanine is designed and installed by someone who knows what they’re doing as this will guarantee the quality, durability and safety standards of your mezzanine floor. Installation of mezzanine floors can be done by non-professionals with a higher ability level.
However, this would be too big a job for someone’s first DIY project and if you’re not confident, we recommend hiring a professional. It’ll ensure your floor meets regulations and safety standards and provide you with peace of mind.
Do mezzanine floors require planning permission?
In most scenarios, you won’t need planning permission for a freestanding mezzanine floor as you won’t be making changes to the building itself. Our mezzanine floor construction process doesn’t require any alternations to the existing building. This is because the mezzanine is a free-standing structure that doesn’t need to be bolted in or need any support from the existing building.
If your renovations involve any alterations to the existing building (the roof, walls, etc), or the mezzanine is a permanent addition to the building itself, you may need to seek planning permission. If in doubt, speak to an expert or someone at your local council.
What is the maximum height for a mezzanine floor level?
Our engineers can design a mezzanine floor to meet our client’s specific needs. The most economical option is to keep the height around 3300mm max to the top floor, as this means you’ll only need a single-run staircase. Any mezzanine over 3400mm will need a mid-landing to the staircase, which we can also accommodate. The space you are building the mezzanine in will also decide what the best height for your platforms will be.
How much weight can a mezzanine floor hold?
Depending on the design and material, a mezzanine structure can hold anywhere between 300-1500 kg/m2. The average office mezzanine has a loading capacity of 360 kg/m2.
For anyone looking for storage, our engineering team will design a mezzanine with adequate storage capacity for your requirements. Storage capacities will vary depending on the design, and you should only ever use your floor for what it was designed for. If you’re unsure of the amount of weight your mezzanine level can hold, or if you plan to use your mezzanine for a different purpose than it was originally designed, talk to an expert first. It could save you from damaging your property, or worse, hurting someone.
What materials are used to build mezzanine floors?
Like any product, the materials you use to build your mezzanine floor will determine the quality of the finished product. A mezzanine can be made with a combination of materials, including steel, concrete, or wood, among others. We make the frame with the finest Australian steel to ensure a reliable, sturdy product.
Our staircases treads and decking can be made from various materials, including steel and timber. We believe in value for money over cutting corners, so we avoid using cheaper materials like particle board or chipboard to ensure you’re left with a quality, durable product.
How does a mezzanine balcony provide value for my commercial business?
A mezzanine is an investment that provides a range of benefits. Need extra storage space? A meeting area that will wow clients? Or office mezzanines for employees to organise payroll, stocktake, computer work and phone calls? A mezzanine supplies extra space, meaning it can meet whatever requirements you’re after.
Mezzanine floors by Advanced Warehouse Structures
Advanced Warehouse Structures is the name to remember for all your mezzanine needs. Our team of experienced engineers will design, manufacture and install a mezzanine floor to meet your specifications and requirements. We pride ourselves on efficiency and using only the best materials to create quality, durable mezzanine floors. So, if you’re looking for more information, a quote or want to get started with your new mezzanine, get in touch with our friendly team today.