Our latest fitout at Wentworth Point in Sydney has been featured in the current issue of Australasian Dental Practice Magazine. It’s a great looking modern fitout. We enjoyed this project very much. The client was great to deal with and the end result is fantastic.
New project supervisor at Commodore Dental & Medical Fitouts
This is Max. Max is our new project manager for our Dental & Medical fitouts in Sydney and surrounding areas. Max is very experienced, being 8 weeks old, and insists on the best quality work from our trades team at all times. He supervises all our commercial fitouts, dental fitouts, medical centre fitouts and all our design work in Sydney.
Dental and Medical Fitouts in Castle Hill, Beecroft, Norwest and Hills District
Max has been at projects in Castle Hill, Beecroft, Norwest and other areas in the Hills District this week. Max is very friendly and efficient and looks forward to assisting you with your dental or medical fitout project soon.
Latest Equipment for Dental Fitouts in Australia
I always enjoy going back to our dental fitouts around Sydney a couple of weeks after we have finished our fitout. The big difference is that the dental equipment has then been installed. We work closely with the dental equipment companies and always need to build a number of components into the fit out to facilitate the installation of particular chairs and equipment.
In recent years we have noticed a marked increase of the number of dental fitouts where we install an OPG from the outset. 5 to 10 years ago we would only put an OPG in about 25% of our new dental fit outs. Nowadays about 80% have an OPG. You can now buy a good quality OPG for around $30,000, whereas in the past they might have cost double that. We are also asked to make provision for 3D (hybrid) x-ray machines more often nowadays.
Many more dentists are doing their x-rays, 3D imaging and even milling of crowns etc in-house. The equipment is far more affordable and safer than it used to be. The dentists are aiming for a better patient experience and are hoping to increase revenue along the way. A win-win for dentists and patients.
Many general dentists are now carrying out orthodontic work. This also calls for different x-ray equipment that needs to be able to create digital impressions on site where possible.
Many of the equipment manufacturers now have joint promotions with finance companies to allow dentists to start using new equipment for up to 12 months before having to make payments or pay any interest.
We have good working relationships with most of the major equipment manufacturers and distributors in Australia. If you would like some unbiased, objective advice on equipment please feel free to contact us for a chat, and we can put you in contact with good, reliable people in the dental equipment business.
For the avoidance of any doubt, we have no financial arrangement with any dental equipment suppliers (or any other suppliers for that matter). We just deal with the good reliable people and are happy to put you in touch with them also.
Expand or improve your surgery fitout with your $30,000 instant asset write off
I noticed in the budget last night that ‘small business’ can now instantly write off assets valued at up to $30,000. That made me think, what could a dentist or doctor get for $30,000. Here is what I came up with:
Fit out that second treatment room. Many practitioners start off with one room fitted out and the other ready for when they get big enough. For $30,000 we can fit out a treatment room with cabinetry, flooring, painting, and some electrical fit off. I’m not an expert but I’m pretty sure you can buy an oral X-Ray for under $30,000 also (you can claim the asset write off on as many individual items as you wish).
You could fully refurbish your reception and waiting area of the practice. This could include new reception counter, feature walls, feature lighting, flooring etc. Imagine how happy your staff and patients would be in a brand new reception area, all of which can be written off this year.
April and May are very busy for us but at this stage we have a little bit of time in June, before the end of the financial year, when we could do some work for you. So please don’t hesitate to give me a call and let me know of your requirements.
Have a good day!
Another reason why you should choose Commodore Fitouts
This is the owner of Commodore Dental & Medical Fitouts, Craig Exley, in his work gear, happily painting. We don’t see this everyday.
But when this dental fitout project in Castle Hill absolutely and definitely had to be finished on time for a client to open, then Craig was there late into the evening in his work gear helping the painters.
That is one of the differences about Commodore. It’s owned and run by Craig, utilising a team of very dedicated and proud tradespeople. We all care very much about the outcome for our clients, and all strive to have a great name for our company. Every project is important, and we aim for every client to become our next ‘word of mouth’ advertiser.
So if you want to deal with the builder, not just the builder’s salesman or the latest project manager, then Commodore is the company for you. It doesn’t matter if you are a one chair start-up or a 2,000 square metre medical centre, we will deal with you personally and do everything in our power to get you the right workspace, at the right price, finished on time!
Successful fitout for Capstone Dental in Seven Hills
We recently completed a dental fitout for Dr Kenneth Chan of Capstone Dental in Seven Hills. Ken is a great dentist and a really nice man who we found to be a real pleasure to deal with. The fitout was featured in Australasian Dental Practice magazine. Here is the article.
You can see more photos of Ken’s surgery along with our other fitouts on the Gallery page.
Investing in a long lasting, valuable Dental or Medical Fitout
A new dental or medical practice needs to be built well to support a profitable business in the long term. Sometimes exclusive fittings can deteriorate quickly and lead to refurbishment costs earlier than they could have been experienced.
When you build and open a new practice it is common to start with one chair or treatment room and then open additional rooms or chairs as the patient base grows. Planning for the growth of your practice can save you significant money as it allows you to do the fitout in the most cost-effective way. There are a number of items that are much cheaper to install during the initial fitout rather than put them in later. Even though you are spending the money earlier, you will still save money in the longer run.
IT is an area where good planning can save you significantly. Running cabling and conduits when you first build is very inexpensive compared to doing it later once the practice is up and running. Utilising grid ceilings in the treatment room areas also helps you grow later without expensive cost or repainting ceilings.
Dental chairs and specialised dental joinery can be installed later with ease providing the provisions are in place ahead of time.
Dental cabinetry is a significant expense in the fitout process. Good cabinetry is an investment that can possibly last your whole working life. Check for construction with water resistant plinths and modules. A dental specific cable management system should also be incorporated within the cabinets to allow for easy installation of IT and electrical services both now and in the future. Laminate finishes for doors and benchtops are cost effective and last many years without deteriorating. The modern selection of finishes is almost unlimited and includes high gloss, metallic, satin, woodgrain and many others.
Your practice becomes an asset that can be sold in the future. Practices that are at full capacity will have less value than practices that have provisions in place for further growth and increased turnover.
Switchable glass in medical rooms helps to provide privacy and natural light
A nice new product we have come across for our dental and medical fitouts recently is switchable glass. It’s a product that used to be unaffordable in commercial premises but like many things has become less expensive in recent times.
The glass contains liquid crystals which make it opaque. It is available in a range of shades.
When the liquid crystals are powered with an electrical current they go clear making the glass transparent. It doesn’t actually go completely clear. There is a slight haze but it is still very impressive. In some models it is possible to have a ‘dimmer’ that adjusts the level of transparency of the glass.
The glass can be connected to a normal switch or remote control so that the specialist can press a button to switch between clear and private in the consulting room.
The switch glass can be ordered as full glass panels (higher quality) for about $2,000 per square metre, or as retrofit tinting (lower quality) that can be applied onto existing glass for about $1,000 per square metre. Also allow the cost of getting power to the glass. This varies depending on where they are, and obviously fixed panels are easier to get power to than doors.
Best ideas to save money in construction of your new dental or medical surgery
Here is my latest cost saving dental or medical fitout advice:
1. Ceilings – I suggest using mostly acoustic grid ceilings in the hallway and dental or doctor’s treatment rooms, and a nice painted set ceiling in the reception and waiting area. This is a cost-effective compromise.
2. Choose the right equipment early – There are many choices for quality dental equipment in Sydney. We are familiar with most brands including Sirona, A-Dec, Belmont, Cattani and others and receive good feedback from our dentists on most of them. The surgery fitout needs to be set up for your specific dental equipment. The plumbing connections, mounts and electrical fittings all need to be installed in the right part of the treatment room or OPG room at the beginning of the fitout.
3. Flooring – Worth spending a little bit more for a high-quality floor in your surgery. Find a quality product that can be replaced in strips later if damaged. And check the slip rating. It should be R9 or R10.
4. Joinery – We have designed our custom dental and medical joinery using 30 years’ of experience. Always use a specialised dental or medical joinery provider to ensure quality and ergonomics in the treatment room.
5. Read the Scope of Works carefully – In most cases we have many many conversations about different ideas with our dentist, doctor or practice manager clients. All these ideas eventually get sifted and sorted and we end up with a Scope of Works for the project. You need to read it carefully to understand the final version of what’s in and what’s out.
6. Make sure your builder stays on schedule – Time is money. If your project runs late it will cost you money up front and also in the future. Make sure your dental fitout company sticks to the timeframe and help them to do so by being available and organised with your decisions and selection.
Good luck with your exciting dental or medical fitout!