When it comes to planning and executing painting and renovation projects, every industry has its own ideal timeline based on location, operations, and seasonal demands. This is especially true in the restaurant industry. Whether you’re managing a QSR or a full-service sit-down restaurant, your ideal renovation timeline can vary depending on several key factors.
Below, we’ve outlined suggested timelines and strategies tailored to your restaurant type.
Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs)
Like any industry, you’ll want to schedule work during your slower seasons. It’s important to identify when that is. Most restaurants experience a slower period from January through March. See the suggested timelines below for help!
Suggested Restaurants Painting and Renovation Timeline:
- Late Fall (Oct–Nov): Finalize your scope, work with a contractor, and finish budgeting.
- January–March: Interior work execution.
- March–April: Plan for patio/driveway/exterior projects.
- April–June: Execute patio/driveway/exterior projects.
Suggested Crew Hours:
- Closed Days: If you are only open 5 or 6 days a week, scheduling work on closed days can be more cost-effective. Pairing this with after-hours work keeps projects on time and within budget.
- After Hours: Renovation and painting work after closing and before opening is common in the restaurant world. We recommend Sunday–Thursday nights. These nights typically have earlier closing times and lighter traffic than Friday and Saturday.
- Drive-Thrus: If you have a drive-thru, you can begin overnight work in your dining room and bathrooms earlier in the evening. We suggest covering front counter openings with plastic to help keep dust and debris out of the kitchen while serving drive-thru customers.
- Closed Dining Rooms: Sometimes closing your dining room is necessary. By completing overnight work in kitchen areas and day work in the dining room, you can keep your drive-thru open and maintain cash flow.
- Exterior Work: For restaurants with a drive-thru, we suggest breaking exterior work into three parts: Dumpster Pad, Drive-Thru, and the Rest. Here’s why:
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- Drive-Thrus: You may not want to close your drive-thru, or can only do so briefly. Painting can be done after hours, but major renovations may require full closures for a few days.
- Dumpster Pad: Painting and minor updates can happen during the day with minimal disruption. If repaving is needed, move dumpsters the night before (after the dinner rush), lock them, and bring them back the morning after the work is done. This minimizes inconvenience for staff and taking up parking spots!
- The Rest of the Building: Break down work into manageable sections. Do some during business hours and some after hours. For high-traffic entry areas, like doors, after-hours work is best.
Full-Service Restaurants
With today’s technology, guests can order food from anywhere. Yet, full-service restaurants still see higher check averages for dine-in vs. take-out. Why? Drinks, appetizers, and desserts add up, especially when promoted by staff. Your ambiance matters, and so does keeping your space as fresh and welcoming as your service and food!
Suggested Restaurants Painting and Renovation Timeline:
Depending on your busy season, these suggestions may vary:
- 2–3 Months Before Slow Season: Begin scope and budget planning. Talk to a contractor.
- During Slow Season: Execute all interior work.
- Exterior Work: Target spring, summer, or fall, whichever is slowest for your location.
Suggested Crew Hours:
Refer to the QSR section above for general guidance. Here are a few full-service-specific adjustments:
- Take-Out Only: If closures are needed, stay open for take-out or catering to maintain some cash flow. Consider temporary closures on slow days to speed up renovations.
- Outdoor Seating: Whether it’s your main draw or a nice feature, update this space in early spring. You’ll be ready before summer and ahead of competitors.
- Bar Areas: Often the most profitable part of your restaurant. Full closures may not be feasible, so plan after-hours work. It may look different temporarily, but if it’s clean and clearly communicated, guests will understand.
- Dining Rooms: If you have multiple dining rooms, close one at a time while doing work after hours to avoid disturbing guests.
- Function Rooms: These can act as temporary dining or bar spaces. Renovate when bookings are low and aim to complete all work at once, ideally after hours. If your layout allows, some work may happen during open hours if the room is isolated.
Final Thoughts
We hope you find this restaurant painting and renovation timeline helpful! Repainting, remodeling, and refreshing your restaurant space is just as important as your food, drinks, and service. And don’t forget the back-of-house areas, keeping them up-to-date beyond just cleaning helps motivate employees and improves efficiency!
Ready to Refresh Your Restaurant?
Looking to refresh your QSR and/or full-service restaurant? With over 30 years of experience working with restaurants across the U.S., especially in New England and Central Florida, re:fab can help get your projects done on time, on budget, and with minimal disruption.
