You have got a vision. Maybe it’s a new commercial facility on the north end of Colorado Springs, an industrial warehouse near the Powers Corridor, or a complete gut-renovation of your current space. Whatever the project, one thing is true: what you ask before you break ground matters just as much as the construction itself.
At Hammers Construction, we’ve worked with business owners across Colorado Springs and the Front Range long enough to know that the projects that go smoothly, and stay on budget, are the ones where the right questions got asked upfront.
Here are the five we think every business owner should be asking.
1. Is My Contractor Familiar with Colorado Springs Permitting & Local Regulations?
This one might sound like a “contractor problem,” but it directly affects your timeline and your wallet.
Colorado Springs has its own permitting process through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD), and navigating it takes experience. Commercial and industrial projects often require multiple permit types, building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing , and each has its own review timeline. Add in zoning considerations for areas like the Airport Business Park, the Powers Corridor, or downtown CS, and you’ve got a process that can stall an inexperienced team fast.
Ask your contractor: How many commercial or industrial projects have you permitted through PPRBD in the last two years? A locally experienced team will know the reviewers, the common holdups, and how to submit clean plans the first time.
2. What’s Included in the Estimate, and What Isn’t?
A low bid can be exciting. It can also be a trap.
Before signing anything, ask for a breakdown of the estimate and get clear answers on what’s excluded. Some common “surprises” in commercial construction include:
- Site prep and grading
- Utility connections and tie-ins
- Environmental or soil testing
- Permit fees
- Temporary utilities during construction
At Hammers, we believe in transparent, detailed proposals, because a surprise $40,000 change order three months in doesn’t work for anybody.
A good follow-up question: What are the most common scope changes or cost additions you see on projects like mine? Any contractor worth hiring should be able to answer that honestly.
3.What Does the Project Timeline Actually Look Like?
“It’ll take about four months” isn’t a timeline. It’s a guess.
Ask for a phased schedule that breaks down design, permitting, procurement, and construction, because each of those phases has dependencies, and delays in one ripple into the next. Right now, lead times on certain steel, electrical components, and mechanical equipment can run significantly longer than pre-pandemic norms, so material procurement planning matters more than ever.
Also ask: What’s your plan if there’s a delay? Weather in Colorado Springs, especially from October through March, can affect exterior work. A contractor who has a contingency mindset going in is a contractor who won’t leave you scrambling.
4. How Will This Project Affect My Day-to-Day Operations?
For many business owners in Colorado Springs, the hardest part of a construction project isn’t the construction, it’s staying operational while it’s happening.
If you’re renovating an existing facility or building an addition, talk through phasing options that minimize disruption. Things to cover:
- Can work be done in stages to keep part of the facility running?
- Where will your employees, customers, or equipment be during construction?
- How will noise, dust, and access be managed?
- Will there be periods where utilities are shut off?
A contractor who takes the time to understand your operations before laying out a plan isn’t just being thorough, they’re protecting your revenue.
5. What’s Your Experience with Projects Like Mine?
This is broader than it sounds. You’re not just asking about project type (commercial, industrial), you’re asking about scale, complexity, and local context.
A contractor who’s built a dozen retail strip malls may not have the systems experience for a specialized industrial facility with specific ventilation, load-bearing, or code requirements. Ask for examples of comparable projects in the Colorado Springs area and, if possible, references you can actually call.
Questions to dig into:
- Did the project come in on budget?
- How did the contractor handle unexpected issues?
- Would you hire them again?
Real references from real Colorado Springs business owners will tell you more than any website.
Ready to Start the Conversation
Breaking ground on a new commercial or industrial project in Colorado Springs is a big deal, and you deserve a contractor who treats it that way.
At Hammers Construction, we work with business owners across the Pikes Peak region to plan, permit, and build commercial and industrial projects that come in on time and on budget. Whether you’re in the early planning stages or ready to move forward, we’re happy to walk through these questions with you, no pressure, just straight talk.
If you’re in ready to start commercial build in Colorado Springs, start the conversation with Hammers. Call us at 719-570-1599 or reach out through our website. There’s no commitment, just a straight conversation about what it’s going to take to build what you need.