Ten little-known facts about mezzanine floors for business owners to consider

1. It might be more cost-effective to install a mezzanine floor than to acquire new premises. A Mezzanine Floor could add a new dimension to your premises by making use of redundant overhead space - giving your business the additional room it needs at a fraction of the cost of relocation. And if you can outsource not only the build but also the mezzanine floor design, you will reduce your own staff costs to the minimum.
2. Mezzanine floors are useful for more than storage. The additional space created by a Mezzanine Floor can also be used to accommodate offices, or to increase production space. A well-built mezzanine floor can be used for any of the following:

• Retail outlets / showrooms
• Viewing Galleries
• Laboratories
• Office Accommodation
• Assembly / production
• Fitness / Gyms
• Canteen / Staff Rooms

1. Mezzanine floors can be designed to your own specification. A good design and install company will create a bespoke design to meet your precise requirements, and will  install it having taken into account such things as site conditions, Building Regulations, safety and access.
2. Mezzanine Floors can be Multi-tiered. Where height allows, a two-, three- or four-tier mezzanine floor will give considerable additional floor space, and is particularly effective in ensuring a good return on your investment if and when you come to move on.
3. Planning permission is not usually needed for mezzanine floors if they are going to be used solely for storage space. For many other uses, planning permission and other building regulations must be obtained. A good mezzanine floor design company will obtain permissions on your behalf, having first advised you on the most cost-effective use of materials which will both comply with regulations, and fit in with your requirements.
4. Mezzanine floors can look wonderful. Wide ranges of colours and design options are available so that staircases, gates, walls and other structural elements can be blended with the overall design of your brand and internal decor. This is particularly important if you intend to use the additional space as a showroom.
5. Installing a mezzanine floor can be done quickly and with a minimum of disruption. If you can provide your mezzanine floor designer with detailed plans of the space and your requirements, much of the planning can be done off-site. A good company will provide you with detailed drawings and calculations for your approval, will give you an installation date well in advance, will let you know exactly how long the installation will take, and will keep disruption to the minimum while installation is carried out.
6. Mezzanine floors can be customised for special environments. Provided that your mezzanine floor installer is experienced in more specialist projects, you can use him to include such things as plant support structures, lorry sheeting platforms, plant access walkways or outdoor staircases.  And if you want your mezzanine floor to be used outdoors, there are numerous structural and design features that can make this work.
7. Production lines and production centres can benefit from mezzanine floors - for example, a mezzanine floor can be used to provide workers with a higher access point to a particular item. In addition, the installation of a mezzanine floor can minimise the amount of wasted space, while maintaining a safe and secure working environment.
8. A mezzanine floor can be most effective as a storage solution when combined with bespoke racking and shelving. Look for a mezzanine floor designed/installer who can also offer you design, supply and installation of  bespoke racking and shelving. This will ensure that your vision for transforming redundant overhead space into useful storage space can be effectively costed, planned, and realised in one undertaking.

If you would like to know more about designing, installing and using mezzanine floors, please contact a mezzanine floor designer, who will be happy to answer your questions. In the meantime, we hope this article has helped you become more informed about mezzanine floors!