Commercial remodeling, upfits and ground-up construction in CharlotteCommercial construction in Charlotte, NC
K&Y Builders
Metal stud walls and door openings framed across a large interior build out under exposed ductwork, commercial upfits
Our Services

Commercial Upfits in Charlotte, NC

Commercial Upfits · Charlotte, NC

Leased space, built out for the business moving in

Commercial upfits turn leased space into a finished space a business can open in. Around Charlotte, people call tenant improvements an upfit. At K & Y Builders, we build upfits in bare shell space and in suites a past tenant built out.

We take a suite from its current state to the space the lease describes. As a commercial general contractor in Charlotte, we also build shells from the ground up. Call or text (704) 286-6210, and we will look at the space and put the quote in writing.

What We Handle

  • Shell space built out to a finished suite
  • A past tenant's suite reworked for the next tenant
  • Demising walls that split a large space into suites
  • Storefront and entry work for the new tenant
  • Interior walls, doors, ceilings and finishes
  • Code compliance updates in older suites
  • Build-outs scoped to the lease's work letter
  • Work in occupied buildings with minimal disruption

Request a Commercial Upfits Quote

Tell us about the remodel, upfit, addition or new building and where it is. We look at the job and put the quote in writing.

Is your tenant build-out in shell space or a past tenant's suite?

Shell space is usually the bare box: the walls, the roof, the slab and utilities brought to the space. Leases use terms like warm shell and vanilla shell, and each lease defines them its own way. In shell space, the upfit builds the whole interior.

Second-gen space, in broker terms, is a suite that still holds a past tenant's build-out. Parts can stay when they fit the new plan, such as restrooms and a ceiling grid. Landlords who split a large space into suites add demising walls, the walls between one tenant and the next. Depending on the uses on each side, the building code can call for a fire-rated demising wall.

Some tenants need a plan built around their work. A doctor's or dentist's suite is a medical office build-out, with exam and treatment rooms. A store or a restaurant calls for a retail build-out. A business that stays put and refreshes its office needs office renovation instead.

What a tenant improvement contractor reads first: the work letter

A lease with a build-out usually carries a work letter. It is the lease exhibit that sets the scope, the plan approvals, the schedule and who pays for what. It also says which side hires the contractor.

The tenant improvement allowance, or TI allowance, is the money the landlord puts toward the build-out. Leases state it as a total or as an amount per square foot. In an allowance deal, the tenant usually pays the cost past that amount. In a turnkey deal, the landlord delivers the finished space to an agreed plan.

As a tenant improvement contractor, we read the work letter before we price the job. The written quote then follows its scope. K & Y started as commercial property owners, and we still build for our own portfolio. We treat your capital investment with the same discipline we apply to our own.

Code compliance updates and upfit permits around Charlotte

Charlotte sits in Mecklenburg County, where Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement handles commercial plan review and building permits. Its small commercial review handles many upfit and renovation projects up to 10,000 square feet. Projects in that review must have all contractors selected and be ready for permits. Outside Mecklenburg County, the local permit office answers what your suite needs.

An older build-out often needs code compliance updates before a new tenant opens. North Carolina's existing building code sets the rules for work in an existing building. A change of use, like an office becoming a restaurant, can call for more exits or sprinklers. Mecklenburg County issues change of use permits for moves like that.

Federal ADA rules can reach past the suite itself. Altering a main area, such as offices or a dining area, can call for an accessible path and restrooms. The rule can require spending on that work up to 20 percent of the alteration cost. The architect on the job confirms what applies to your space.

New metal stud partition walls framed across an emptied office floor, commercial upfits Tall metal stud wall being framed and drywalled inside a large warehouse with scissor lifts, commercial upfits

Ready to get started?

Call or text for a written quote. We work about 40 miles around Charlotte across Mecklenburg County and the counties around it.

(704) 286-6210
How We Work

How a Job With K & Y Runs

From the first call or text to the finished work, here is how it goes.

1

Call or text

Call or text (704) 286-6210 and tell us about the building or the lot. Send plans or photos if you have them.

2

We look at the job

We meet you at the building or the site and go over the scope. In an occupied building, we also plan how your business keeps running.

3

Plan and written quote

We work out the budget and the schedule, with time for plan review built in. Then the quote comes to you in writing.

4

The build

Our crews do the work, and we keep you posted on the schedule as it moves. On a new site, public utility lines get marked through NC 811 before we dig.

5

Final walk-through

The last inspections and a final walk-through with you close out the job. Once the inspection department issues its certificate of compliance, the building or space is ready for business.

FAQ

Commercial Upfits Questions, Answered

Common questions about commercial upfits around Charlotte and the surrounding towns. If yours is not here, call or text and ask.

Call (704) 286-6210

What is the difference between an upfit and a remodel?
An upfit readies leased space for a new tenant, usually under the lease's work letter. A remodel updates a building or a space that a business already uses. That work is commercial remodeling, and we do both.
Do you build upfits for landlords or for tenants?
Both. Landlords and property managers hire us to ready a vacant suite for the next lease. Tenants hire us when the work letter puts the build-out in their hands.
How much does a commercial upfit cost?
The price starts with the size of the suite and how much of the old build-out can stay. Ceilings, lighting, HVAC changes and new restrooms often move the number most. Code compliance updates or a change of use add scope. We look at the space and the work letter, then put the quote in writing.
Who draws the plans for a commercial upfit?
Usually an architect or an engineer, because commercial plan review works from drawings. If you already have a designer, we build to those plans. If not, we coordinate the plans with an outside architect and engineer.
Can the rest of the building stay open during an upfit?
Yes, in most cases. We work within the building's existing footprint and keep daily operations going with minimal disruption. Clear timelines and proactive communication keep the landlord and the other tenants in the loop.
How long does a tenant build-out take?
The schedule depends on the plan review and on the order times for materials. Storefront glass and HVAC equipment can take the longest to arrive. We give you a realistic timeline with the written quote and keep you posted as the work moves.
More From K & Y

Work That Pairs With Commercial Upfits

Two story office block built inside a warehouse with a steel stair beside an overhead door, warehouse renovation

Warehouse Renovation

Warehouse renovation updates an existing warehouse or industrial building for a new use or a new tenant. We add office space inside the warehouse and rework docks and doors for the business moving in.

Learn More
Ironworker carrying a steel beam across a new slab beside an existing building, commercial additions

Commercial Additions

A commercial addition puts more square footage on the warehouse, office, shop or store you already have. We tie the new structure into the old one and plan the work around daily operations.

Learn More
Finished clinic exam room with wood cabinets, a sink, an exam table and a wall mounted monitor, medical office build outs

Medical Office Build-Outs

Medical office build-outs for doctor's and dentist's offices, in leased suites or buildings you own. We build the exam rooms and treatment rooms a practice needs.

Learn More
Why Choose K & Y

Commercial Remodels, Upfits and New Buildings Around Charlotte

Full control, start to finish

We keep full control from early planning through the final build. You have one team to call about any part of the job.

In-house crews and equipment

Our own crews and company-owned heavy equipment do the work. That removes delays from subcontractor availability.

Transparent estimates

We look at the job first, then put the quote in writing. It comes with a realistic timeline and the scope spelled out.

Based in Indian Trail

Our office is in Indian Trail, and Charlotte sits at the center of our service area. We take on work up to about an hour out.

Guides and Resources

Commercial Upfits Guides

Request a Quote

Get In Touch With K & Y

Tell us what you want to build or remodel, and where the property is. Call or text (704) 286-6210 or use the form, and we will get back to you.

  • Call or text (704) 286-6210
  • Serving Charlotte, NC and the towns around it
  • Written quotes · commercial remodeling, upfits and ground-up construction

Request a Quote

Tell us about the remodel, upfit, addition or new building and where it is. We look at the job and put the quote in writing.

Call (704) 286-6210