Commercial Construction Fit Outs

Commercial fit-outs in London, done properly

A commercial fit-out is one of the more disruptive, expensive things a business takes on - so it pays to work with one accountable team rather than a chain of separate trades. UpKeep delivers design and build under one roof: we draw it, price it, build it and hand it over, with a single point of contact the whole way through. That is the difference between a fit-out that runs to plan and one that drifts.

What shapes the cost of a fit-out - and what is inside your fixed-price quote

Every space is different, so the right way to understand a fit-out budget is to understand the drivers, not chase a headline rate. The biggest swings come from the mechanical and electrical scope - how much new power, data, heating, ventilation and air conditioning the design needs. The age and condition of the building matters too: an older unit may need more making good before the new work goes in. Then there is the amount of partitioning, the complexity of any front-of-house (a shopfront, a servery, a reception), the specification level of your finishes, and whether furniture and IT are in scope.

UpKeep prices all of that as one fixed, itemised sum agreed in writing before work starts, so you can see exactly what is included and plan around a number that does not move. If you would like indicative figures before you enquire, our commercial property refurbishment guide walks through what affects cost, and our London refurbishment process guide sets out the stages. For inspiration, browse examples of commercial refurbishments we have completed.

Cat A vs Cat B - explained in plain English

A Cat A fit-out is the landlord's base build: raised floors, suspended ceilings and basic mechanical and electrical services that leave a unit market-ready but empty. A Cat B fit-out is the tenant's works on top - partitions, finishes, branding, joinery, furniture and IT that make the space ready to occupy. The simplest way to hold it in your head: Cat A is what you inherit; Cat B is what you build. UpKeep delivers both, and can take a shell straight through to a finished, trading space.

Trading through the works

For most retailers, restaurants and offices, closing for the duration is not an option. We plan the programme around how you trade, phasing the build so one area stays open while another is worked on, and scheduling the noisy, dusty trades out of hours, overnight or at weekends. The site is screened, kept tidy and made safe each day, so your customers and team barely notice the work going on.

Compliance, handled for you

Commercial premises carry real regulatory obligations, and we take them off your desk. Where the work calls for it we arrange building control, design to fire safety (Part B) and accessibility (Part M) requirements, and have electrical work certified by accredited engineers - then hand over completion certificates at sign-off. You can read the relevant approved documents on gov.uk and check building control basics on the Planning Portal.

Dilapidations & lease reinstatement

At the end of a lease, tenants are usually required to return the space to an agreed condition. UpKeep carries out strip-outs and reinstatement works to meet your schedule of dilapidations cleanly, which helps landlords and managing agents get void units back to a lettable state faster. It is the same accountable team that can then deliver a fresh property refurbishment or Cat A finish for the next tenant.

Fixed-price versus day rates

Day rates leave the final bill open-ended, which is exactly the uncertainty businesses do not want on a disruptive project. UpKeep works to a fixed price so the cost is settled up front; the only time the number changes is if you ask us to change the scope, and that is agreed with you first. Our quote sets out clearly what is and is not included, so there are no grey areas when the invoice arrives - in line with our promise of transparent, fixed pricing and clear invoicing.

Fast turnarounds, real value to your business

The sooner a space is finished, the sooner it earns - whether that is a shop trading, a restaurant serving or a team back at their desks. A well-run fit-out protects that timeline: a realistic programme, one project manager keeping it moving, and trades that turn up and join up. If you operate in hospitality, our hotel and hospitality services and reads like planning your restaurant renovation are worth a look. When the build is done, UpKeep can keep the space in good order with ongoing planned maintenance, so you have one team for the long term. Explore the full range of our construction and design-and-build services or get in touch to scope your project.