From building homes in the Texas Hill Country to planning and designing an industrial warehouse on the outskirts of San Antonio, it is important to understand that residential and commercial construction are not as similar as one might think. At Kopplow Construction, we specialize in commercial construction across a variety of verticals/industries. Let’s look at what makes the commercial construction industry so complex and different from our counterparts in residential construction.

Purpose and Function Between Residential and Commercial

Residential construction focuses on buildings meant for individuals and families to live in, including single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes and apartments. This type of construction emphasizes both comfort and function while also considering the unique style and aesthetic a future homeowner desires in a home.

Commercial construction specifically applies to buildings for business or public use, such as office buildings, warehouses, retail shopping malls, medical facilities and manufacturing. This type of construction prioritizes business needs based on industry. For example, a shopping mall will need to incorporate foot traffic flow and efficient layouts, while a manufacturing plant must also consider environmental regulations, codes and safety.

Regulations and Permits for Residential and Commercial Construction

Before starting a residential construction project, Texas homeowners must obtain building permits and typically submit detailed plans, ensuring compliance with zoning requirements, structural stability, safety and more. Specific permits are required for new builds and often for renovations. You can find a full list of those permits here.

Depending on the intended use, commercial construction projects often need more requirements and permits, beginning with zoning. Ensuring the property in question is properly zoned for commercial use and qualifies for your industry is critical. Zoning violations can carry fines, stop-work orders or even result in the demolition of non-compliant structures. Kopplow schedules preliminary plan reviews to assess the project’s requirements before submitting drawings for permits and plan review. Much like residential construction, we perform inspections at each stage in the building process to ensure construction is meeting health, safety and compliance, whether the commercial property will be open to the general public or not.

Project Timelines for Residential and Commercial Construction

Residential construction projects are often time-efficient and can be completed in just a few months. Once the house is framed and enclosed, your trade work (plumbing, HVAC, electrical, etc.) can begin the “rough-in” phase while exterior work continues. Effective scheduling can prevent conflicts, maximize productivity, and keep timelines shorter.

Because of scale, commercial construction projects can stretch over years. Proper planning for a hospital, for example, can take years from design through permits and finally construction. There are also more people involved, including investors, engineers and architects, who must manage the scale and complexity of commercial projects. It is best that these projects are broken down into phases that allow for better project management to stay on the correct timeline.

Budgets for Residential and Commercial Construction

Residential projects are more likely to have predictable costs and budgets and can usually be financed with loans. Plus, materials and labor are typically less expensive than commercial projects.

Commercial construction projects are larger and more complex, which accounts for higher costs and budgets. That’s more material, specialty equipment and labor. Our commercial construction projects typically range from $1M-$50M.

If you plan to open a new business, expand your commercial portfolio or renovate, it’s important to know the differences between residential and commercial construction and to select a company that specializes in the construction you need. If you’re unsure if your upcoming construction planning fits into commercial construction, contact Kopplow Construction today.