The Owner's Manual · Industrial & Distribution
Warehouses look simple from the road. The money is in the slab, the power, the docks, and the dirt — the parts you can't see from the road.
What's different here
Thickness, reinforcement, and flatness spec should match your racking and equipment — including next year's. A slab that's 'fine for now' is a jackhammer bill later; concrete is the least upgradeable thing you'll ever buy.
Concrete tilt-up and pre-engineered metal buildings (PEMB) trade differently on cost, speed, insulation, and future flexibility. The right answer depends on your use and market — make it a decision, not a default.
Racking economics live and die on usable height under the structure and sprinklers. An extra few feet costs little at design and is impossible at occupancy.
Stacking high can require ESFR sprinklers, specific aisle plans, and a separate high-pile permit. Tell your team what you're storing and how high — before design, not before the fire marshal visit.
Truck courts, dock aprons, paving, drainage, utilities across the yard — site work is a huge share of cost and the first thing weather delays. Respect the dirt.
Timeline reality
Ground-up industrial runs on a longer clock dominated by site work and structure; getting dried-in before winter is the classic schedule battle. The lever: lock slab spec, clear height, power service, and dock count around your REAL operation early — those four decisions are 80% of the building.
The three mistakes
Terms you’ll meet on this one
When you're ready — or just curious
The expertise page has the process, the past projects, and a no-sales-call ballpark form. Or bring the 12 Questions and interview us properly — we like it.
Our Industrial work The 12 Questions