Commercial Renovation vs New Fitout: Which Is Better?

Most Brisbane and Gold Coast businesses hit this decision every 5-7 years. Renovate what you have, or start with a fresh fitout? The right answer is almost always driven by four factors, not personal preference.

The four factors that decide it

1. Lease term remaining

Under 3 years remaining and no renewal? Renovate lightly. 5+ years locked in? A full fitout is almost always the better ROI.

2. Base building services age

If HVAC, hydraulic and electrical infrastructure are recent and in good condition, renovating over them is efficient. If they're end-of-life, you'll spend the saving twice fixing them.

3. Layout mismatch

If your current layout is 30%+ wrong for the way you work now, renovation is patchwork. Start again.

4. Business identity change

New brand, new leadership, new client experience? A refresh feels half-committed. A new fitout resets everything at once.

Cost comparison (Brisbane and Gold Coast)

• Cosmetic refresh: $450-$800 per m²
• Targeted renovation (rooms + joinery + finishes): $900-$1,600 per m²
• New Cat B fitout: $1,200-$2,600 per m²
• Premium head-office new fitout: $2,600-$3,800+ per m²

Disruption and downtime

Renovations can often be staged around occupation with minimal downtime. Full fitouts almost always require a decant to swing space or a short-term co-working arrangement for 6-14 weeks.

The hidden cost of doing too little

Under-scoping a renovation is the most common commercial fitout mistake we see. Two years later, the business grows, and you're back paying for another round of works and disruption. Do it once, properly.

The hidden cost of doing too much

A full head-office spec on a 3-year lease is capital destroyed at end of term. Match spec to lease horizon.