Construction Insights
Plain-English guides on commercial construction, tenant improvements, and build-out costs across the Pacific Northwest.
What a Dental Office TI Allowance Actually Covers
Walls, HVAC and general plumbing are in; chairs, X-ray and sterilizers are out; the dedicated plumbing, vacuum and imaging circuits are the negotiation. Plus section 110, QIP and ASC 842.
Read the guideSeptember 25, 2026Converting a Retail Space Into a Dental or Medical Clinic: Change of Occupancy
A store becoming a clinic is a change of occupancy from Group M to Group B. The permit, restroom counts, zoning limits, ventilation, accessibility and sedation rules it brings.
Read the guideSeptember 25, 2026Dental Office Build-Out Timeline: From Lease Signing to Opening Day
The construction clock and the clocks that are not construction: Portland review targets, X-ray registration and shielding, occupancy, and the DEA, NPI and Board filings after you open.
Read the guideSeptember 25, 2026Dental Office Plumbing and Utility Rough-In: What Each Operatory Needs
Compressed air, vacuum, power and data at every chair, water and drain only with a cuspidor, a ventilated mechanical room, and certified medical gas piping. From the equipment maker's own specs.
Read the guideSeptember 22, 2026What Permits Does a Dental Office Build-Out Need? The 6 Approvals
Six approvals from three authorities: the building permit, separate plumbing, mechanical and electrical trade permits, state X-ray registration, and the EPA amalgam separator compliance report. Plus Portland review timelines.
Read the guideSeptember 14, 2026Tenant Improvement Cost per Square Foot: $50 to $300 by Finish Level (2026)
Basic office build-outs run about $50 to $100 per square foot, mid-range $100 to $175, high-end $175 to $300 or more. What each tier includes, how shell condition adds up to $130, and what the allowance usually leaves you to fund.
Read the guideSeptember 1, 2026How Many ADA Parking Spaces Does a Commercial Lot Need?
A 25 space lot needs 1 accessible space, 50 needs 2, 100 needs 4, and one in every six has to be van accessible. The full count table, plus the Oregon sizing rules that run bigger than the federal minimum.
Read the guideAugust 10, 2026What Are Tenant Improvements? A Complete Guide for Business Owners and Property Managers
Tenant improvements are the permanent construction changes that turn a leased shell into a space you can open in. What counts, who pays for what, how the process runs, and how long it takes, from a Portland commercial contractor.
Read the guideAugust 3, 2026How Long Does Commercial Construction Take? Real Timelines From Lease to Keys
A typical office TI runs 4 to 6 months from lease to opening day, and ground-up runs 8 to 24 months. Real Portland permit review times and where the calendar actually goes.
Read the guideAugust 3, 2026How Many Bathrooms Does a Commercial Building Need? (Oregon Code Guide)
One toilet per 25 occupants for offices, 1 per 500 for retail, 1 per 75 for restaurants, and when a single restroom is enough. The real Oregon code numbers, from a Portland commercial contractor.
Read the guideJuly 23, 2026Who Is Responsible for Pulling Permits? Contractor vs. Owner in Portland, Beaverton & Vancouver WA
Who pulls the building permit on a commercial project, the contractor or the owner? How it actually works in Portland, Multnomah County, Washington County, and Vancouver, WA.
Read the guideJuly 20, 2026Restaurant Construction: The Kitchen Code Requirements and Build-Out Costs That Actually Matter
Real restaurant build-out cost ranges, NFPA 96 kitchen ventilation and fire code, grease trap sizing, and health code handwashing rules, from a Portland restaurant construction company.
Read the guideJuly 20, 2026Veterinarian's Office Design: The Exam Room, Reception, and Surgical Suite Standards That Actually Matter
Veterinarian's office design and vet reception design: exam room and surgical suite sizing, ADA requirements, kennel noise levels, and real construction costs, from a Portland commercial contractor.
Read the guideJuly 17, 2026Retail Build-Out: The Layout, Lighting, and ADA Rules That Actually Matter
What a retail build-out covers, plus ADA aisle widths, sales-floor lighting standards, loss-prevention sightlines, and backroom ratio, from a Portland retail construction company.
Read the guideJuly 15, 2026How Big Should Your Office Be? A Square-Footage Planning Guide
Square feet per employee, private office sizing by role, conference room capacity, and ADA clearances, the real numbers behind office space planning, from a Portland commercial contractor.
Read the guideJuly 15, 2026Dental Office Design: Operatory Sizes, ADA Clearances and Code Specs
How much space an operatory needs, the four zones around the chair, ADA clearances, sterilization flow, imaging rooms and HVAC, from a Portland commercial contractor who builds these spaces.
Read the guideJune 29, 2026How Much Does a Dental Office Build-Out Cost? (2026 Per-Square-Foot Guide)
A dental office build-out runs about $80 to $200 per square foot for construction, and $300 to $500 with equipment. Real 2026 ranges, what drives the price, and how to budget.
Read the guideJune 19, 2026Tenant Improvement Allowance: 2026 Ranges, What It Covers, and How to Get More
What a TI allowance is, typical per-square-foot ranges, what it covers, and how to negotiate more, explained by a Portland commercial contractor.
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