Are you considering expanding or redesigning your office? If so, you likely have numerous decisions ahead, including how to minimize costs as you proceed through the construction stage. While you may be sketching out a new floor plan, consider how a modular approach could save you money and make the process easier. Free-form acrylic dividers and office partitions can eliminate the financial strain of expensive, permanent construction (and the delays it can bring).
Modular partitions are a smarter financial asset that depreciates differently (that is, more favorably) than fixed walls.
Here are the basics of how portable dividers save money, from labor and materials to the changes you can make in the future without additional cost.
Key Takeaways
|
The Financial Reality of Modular Dividers Compared to Drywall
Changing the structure and design of your office can be a complex task, but it does not have to be. Reference this office partition cost comparison to establish your baseline idea of the financial aspects of your office remodel.
Materials
No matter which option you choose for your office, any material difference will involve cost. Physical objects cost money to create, but modular office partitions fall at the lower end of the scale compared to drywall and new wall materials. While it is true that the base materials (often acrylic) for partitions are initially more expensive than plain drywall, your office partitions are finished products; you will need several additional materials, such as hardware, texture, primer, and paint, to turn drywall into a finished product, raising the cost. Thus, modular dividers win in this category.
Labor
Aside from the materials used to make your walls or partitions, the next most obvious cost is the labor to complete the project. You will find that, with almost no exception, your drywall installation cost will be higher than acrylic panels by a large margin.
Specialized, licensed contractors must install new walls, while anyone in your office can pick up and move a partition. Even if you choose to hire someone to add the dividers to avoid the physical component yourself, a simple visit from a moving company may cost only a few hundred dollars compared to thousands in contractor labor.
Installation
Modular wall systems are simple to install. Pick them up, move them to where you’d like them to be, and make adjustments as necessary. However, drywall is more complex. In addition to the standard labor costs, you will need to consider the cost associated with changing your office (e.g., demolishing existing walls) and securing the tools to make sweeping changes.
Business interruption
One factor that companies often forget to consider is the money they will lose as they wait for changes to be complete. Modular office dividers can be installed while your business remains open. Adding or removing walls, on the other hand, typically requires that you pause business. While employees might enjoy the day off, your company is missing out on profits that should count among your loss calculations.
Depreciation
A wall itself does not depreciate in the traditional sense. However, should you move offices or change your layout again in the future, the depreciated value of your changes can be significant. Compare this to acrylic dividers, which can travel with you. Once you purchase them, they are yours for use at any time in the future at no additional cost, unlike permanent changes to a specific property.
Future reconfiguration
As mentioned previously, any investment you put into a property is moot if you leave or make further changes later. In addition, consider what happens if you move to a new location and must reconfigure your office once again. You could pay for drywall and demolition once again, or you could simply use the dividers you already have (paying a minimal fee for movers to help, if you like).
Utilities and permitting
Modular dividers require no additional permits. You will not need to pay to change your wiring or ductwork, and no jurisdictional fees apply.
A Price Guide for Modular Dividers Versus Drywall Installation
For simplicity, consider the following price comparison to see just how different the cost of modular acrylic dividers can be compared to drywall construction.
Choose Acrylic Divider Panels to Save Money Without Compromising on Quality
As you decide which changes you would like to make to your office space, be sure to consider pricing from a variety of angles. In most situations, office dividers cost less than comparable changes using drywall.
Contact Tree Towns to share your vision for your office and get help creating customized dividers that accomplish your goals while offering aesthetic enhancements.