commercial construction

Top 4 Design Tips for Restaurant Owners in 2019

Finding premium restaurant space in Toronto, can be difficult depending on your budget. Since commercial real estate is becoming increasingly harder to find, Restaurants are having to use smaller, more compact commercial units.

While renovating smaller units in Toronto can be stressful at first – with some planning, ambition and creativity you can organize and streamline your project to make construction as efficient as possible.

With the skill of design and organization, you can maximize the available commercial space to best suit your needs. The following tips can be used to help you improve your potential design and boost customer satisfaction:

Front / Entrance:

The front entrance of your restaurant should be one of the final areas of your design plan. As many restaurant owners make the mistake of running out of kitchen space in the planning stage, leaving the front entrance for the final area to design this will make sure your main priorities are covered.

However, this isn’t a way of saying the front entrance is any less important! In our opinion, the front entrance is one of the most important areas to design as it is the best way to impress your customers. This area should clearly represent your restaurant’s brand, your front entrance and main waiting area should be able to impress your customers with a warm, memorable and welcoming area.

Main Dining / Bar Area:

Standard design rules usually have the main dining area as 60-65% of your restaurant’s whole floor plan.

This area of your new restaurant should mainly focus on providing your customers with comfortable, inviting seating layout with large walking areas in between for your staff to safely transport food and beverages to the customers table.

As mixed seating options can help make the most of your given space, adding a variety of trendy counter-top tables around the perimeter will provide plenty of seating accommodation. This will also free up a lot of centre space for additional tables and/or booth options.

The Kitchen / Food Prep Area:

While your main dining area of your restaurant should be approximately 60% of your floor plan, the remaining 30-40% is best used for the “engine” of your restaurant – the kitchen! The kitchen is one of the most important areas of your restaurant as the food is ultimately what your customers are there for.

Designing your kitchen to be spacious with all of the necessary food equipment allows your chefs/cooks to work their magic – providing your customers with a memorable and delicious experience. Designing your kitchen well also helps reduce the risk of accidents or injuries as your staff is not running into each other while they prepare food. This helps your kitchen staff to navigate the food preparation area without the risk of injuries.

Commercial Washroom Area:

Helpful things to keep in mind when planning your commercial washroom space is:

The current location of plumbing fixtures and hardware
The comfort level of your customers

Firstly, when you place your commercial washrooms near your kitchen, you will save yourself a lot of hassle and unnecessary expenses when it comes to setting up your commercial plumbing and drainage system. Also, you should begin ordering your Toilet partitions and washroom accessories at this time to ensure that they are ready to be installed once construction has completed on your restroom. Our friends over at Specialty Product Hardware (SPH) are Toronto’s commercial washroom experts and can supply, deliver and install all styles of toilet partitions including powder coated metal, plastic laminate, phenolic, solid plastic and stainless steel. They also can provide all washroom accessories such as hand dryers, baby change tables, dispensers, and much more.

Secondly, having a commercial restroom that opens directly into your dining room area might make your customers a little bit uncomfortable and lead to less repeat business. Planning your restrooms in a way that are accessible but not visible from the dining area will ensure that your customers have a pleasant and memorable experience at your new restaurant.

Need more information about your new restaurant? Or maybe you’re looking to start construction? Give us a call at (647) 341-1030 to speak to a Toronto commercial construction specialist in your area.

Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Toronto Commercial Contractor

Five Questions to Ask Your Toronto Commercial Contractor

Starting Toronto commercial construction projects in the city can be a very irritating process to any small business owner. On top of running your business you must coordinate with a commercial construction company regarding the future look or location of your business. The business that you created – your pride and joy! At the end of the day, the last thing you need is more headaches which is why we have a created a list of questions you should ask your potential commercial contractor before you say – Yes!

Background / Experience

What is the commercial contractors background and experience? How long have they been in operations? Do they have experience in the specific type of commercial construction you need?

This is one of the most obvious questions you can ask, so don’t be shy about asking your contractor, how long they have been working in commercial construction.
Everyone has different ways of working, however, you don’t want your project to be their first “real” job. You want someone who has experience as a commercial contractor in Toronto and can fix any issue that may arise.
Choosing a Commercial Retail Contractor , if you’re looking for help with your retail renovation as you need specialized service if you need your retail space similar to other franchise locations in Toronto.

Insurance / Liability

Are they licensed? Do they have proof? Does the company have liability insurance?

This is one of the most important questions you should ask your commercial contractor. Making sure your contractor is insured and licensed ensures that your chosen commercial contractors are knowledgable and able to do the work correctly.
If your commercial contractor is uninsured, they should not be working on your property -period. Also, just because they are licensed does not mean they are insured.
Never “take their word for it”. You may be a very trusting person but all it takes is one incident. For your personal protection make sure your Toronto commercial contractor is insured by requesting a copy of their insurance certificates and license.

Labour / Workers

3. Will they be hiring sub-contractors for this project?

Most contractors do use sub-contractors to some extent. It is important for you to know how this will affect your overall project.
It’s important that you know which workers will be at your business during the renovation. You should know who they are – if the contractor will be there and any details about the team working on your commercial site.
Don’t hesitate to ask your contractor direct questions about who will be supervising the subcontractors on site and who you should call on a daily basis with any questions.

Building Permits

4. How many building permits have they obtained in this area in the last few years?

Some general contractors may not be familiar with your area and the specific codes related to businesses in the Toronto area.
While not a deal-breaker, it helps if your contractor is familiar with your local building code requirements and permitting process.

After Construction Support

5. What is there after service support?

A commercial construction project usually does not end with the crew leaving the site. Ask the Contractor whether they have checklists that you’ll go over together before you sign off. And make sure some kind of process is in place for resolving any items you feel are not up to acceptable standards.

Cleanliness

What is the clean up going to be like on the job site?

Are they going to clean up the site at the end of each day? You should both define what “clean up” means, because a contractor may have a very loose definition when compared with a homeowner.
And make sure there is an understanding of dirty work that must go on during the job. For example, if mudding and sanding are required on drywall, there is no getting around that fact that there is going to be a great deal of dust created. The question is, are they going to be prepping the site properly so that dust does not blow throughout your entire retail space. Will they temporarily seal off vents and cover doorways to limit the exposure of areas of the home that are not a part of the work site?

GTA General Contractors is the #1 General Contracting Firm in the Toronto Area. We specialize in everything Commercial Construction. This includes Custom Retail Fixturing, Commercial Washrooms, Retail Renovations, Franchise Construction, Complete Project Management, and Design & Permit Assistance. Call Today to speak with one of our sales staff to find out how we can help you make your retail dreams into reality.

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Things to Look for in a Retail Renovation Expert

Retail Renovations

Finding an experienced retail renovation team in Toronto can be difficult if you don’t know where to look. Searching your surrounding area on Google is a good place to start, but there are many other great resources to choose from. There are many other websites like Houzz and Homestars which can be a great way to find a retail renovation expert in your area.

GTA General Contractors is well known for on time, on budget, top quality work and amazing customer service. We have helped many small and big businesses build or renovate their retail space, delivering the highest quality work around Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.

With a wide range of commercial expertise and services, from retail and office space renovations to educational and medical / dental facilities, GTA General Contractors is the best choice for your next commercial renovation. GTA General Contractors has consistently been ranked as one of the best general and commercial contractors within Toronto and the surrounding GTA.

These are several reasons why GTA General Contractors is of the best commercial contractors in Toronto:

- - - 26+ years of experience
    - High quality standards
    - Multiple awards for the best customer service in Toronto
    - Timely Results
    - Specialize in commercial and retail renovations

Apart from quality home renovations, GTA General Contractors provides a wide range of retail renovation services to meet the growing needs of our customers. As a general contractor in Toronto, we specialize in commercial and medical renovations, and we focus on sustainable business practices to lower your businesses overall impact on the environment.

Our Commercial Renovations include:

- - - Restaurant renovations
    - Flooring installation
    - Commercial washroom renovations
    - Cabinets / millwork and countertops
    - Retail fit-ups, office renovation
    - Medical / dental renovations

The reason to renovate your new retail space are pretty obvious. Most commercial spaces offer very little in terms of electrical, plumbing, fixtures and walls – you basically begin with a shell. Most people believe that retail renovations are expensive and time-consuming, however, when properly planned and executed can be truly valuable to the life of your business.

GTA General Contractors is one of the highest rated general contractors in Toronto and GTA. We have over 26+ years of experience, have received many awards for top quality service and specialize in complete residential, commercial, retail, and medical renovations. We have worked with many different sizes of businesses and want to work with you on your next project.

Call today and find out how we can make your dreams into reality

How to Engage Shoppers with Custom Retail Fixtures

Looking for fresh and new strategies to attract and engage retail shoppers, building developers and interior designers are finding new ways to improve and enhance consumer experience with custom retail fixtures and displays.

The challenge of redefining the whole retail experience opens up many new opportunities for interior designers to team with industry-leading manufacturers in creating modern appealing custom fixtures, displays, signage and furniture, that will attract, engage and command consumers attention.

Custom Fixtures and Future Retail Trends

Retail is one of the fastest evolving industries today. With so many consumers shopping online, retailers must develop and improve the overall shopping experience to be both memorable and impactful. If you are interested in improving your stores appearance and attracting new shoppers, below are some excellent choices to make for custom retail fixtures:

Flexible Shelves:

Flexible store shelves and displays give retailers endless options for merchandisers. The greatest benefit- shelving can be adjusted to fit many different sizes of products which allow maximum functionality for store owners.

Moveable Retail Fixtures:

Mobile store fixtures that can be moved to where you need it most: clothing racks, rolling bins and other mobile displays allow you to move product around much more easily which help you put focus on certain products.

Moveable Light Boxes:

Permanent light box displays can be a nuisance when you want to re-arrange your store front. Make life easier by choosing mobile light boxes that can be quickly and easily repurposed to changing consumer needs

Improved Shopping Experience:

Integrating technology into the retail space allows stores to give each shopper a personalized retail experience. Ex. Smart fitting rooms and interactive advertisements.

Advanced Lighting:

LED lighting is the most common and most sought after lighting system due to its energy efficiency. Upgrade from those outdated flickering fluorescent lights that can still be found in smaller, older retail spaces. LED lighting better brightens your store versus traditional fluorescent and also lasts much longer.

GTA General Contractors Ltd.

At GTA General Contractors, we have been providing residential and commercial construction services to families and business owners across the Toronto / GTA area for over 26 years. We have received numerous awards for our exceptional service over the years and are here to help your dreams come true. From Design / Permit Assistance to Complete Project Management, GTA General Contractors will do it all. For quality work at an honest price from Burlington to Oshawa and even up to Newmarket, GTA General Contractors is the call to make. We specialize in all aspects of construction from Commercial, Retail, Industrial and Residential and want to work with YOU on your next project.

Toilet Partition Installation in Toronto

Due to increased demand, GTA General Contractors Ltd. is now offering Toilet Partition Installation services to our valued customers. We will install all styles and materials of Toilet Partitions including Powder Coated, Solid Plastic, Phenolic, Stainless Steel, and Plastic Laminate. Toilet Partitions are able to be installed in four mounting styles such as Floor to Ceiling, Floor Mounted, Ceiling Hung, and Floor Mounted / Overhead Braced.

Powder Coated Steel Partitions

Overview: The most affordable partition available is powder coated steel. This partition is made up of durable cardboard surrounded by a thick sheet of steel than it is covered in a powder coat finish. This style of toilet partition is then run through an oven which bakes the powder coating on – giving it a very clean and durable finish.

Durability: This style is incredibly durable and is consider the best choice for budget conscious projects.

Advantages: Powder coated steel is one of the most common partitions around and is also one of the most recommended. It offers a strong and durable construction while promoting a high quality finish.

Plastic Laminate Partitions

Overview: Plastic laminate partitions are constructed by applying a thin layer of laminate to particle board. These can come in regular or Moisture-Guard finishes. Moisture-Guard has additional edging on the corners to prevent moisture penetration

Durability: Plastic laminate is another very durable toilet partition, however, this style should not be used in rooms with higher humidity like bathrooms with showers or saunas. This style is best used in only bathrooms.
Advantages: This style is very customizable. There are many different colours and styles to choose from including wood grains and solid patterns.

Solid Plastic Partitions

Overview: Solid plastic toilet partitions are one of the most durable partitions available. They are constructed of 1-inch thick solid plastic panels.

Durability: Solid plastic is very popular in schools and daycares as they can handle heavy foot traffic and still hold their value.
Advantages: This style of partitions is one of the most durable available. Although they are on the pricier side of partitions they do hold their value and last a lot longer than other styles.

Phenolic / Compact Laminate Partitions

Overview: Phenolic or Compact Laminate Partitions are made by layering sheets of kraft paper and compressing them together. After, they are submerged in specialized resin and heated to create one extremely durable panel.

Durability: Phenolic partitions are one of the most durable partition materials you will find. They are water-resistant, heat-resistant, anti-microbial, graffiti resistant, and are easy to clean. This option is an excellent choice for medical and educational projects or any bathroom with heavy foot traffic.

Advantages: This material is relatively new to the market and has quickly become one of the most popular partition materials you can buy today. This material is very versatile and is being used for many different applications such as toilet partitions, cabinetry, counter-tops, house and building siding / facade.

Stainless Steel Partitions

Overview: Stainless steel partitions are an excellent choice for higher end buildings. This style is available in several different patterns, such as textured, smooth and diamond patterns.

Durability: Since these are made of stainless steel they are very solid in construction. These are also waterproof which is another great perk for cleaning and maintenance.

Advantages: Stainless steel partitions have a very luxurious appearance. If you have the available budget and want a high quality appearance, then stainless steel is an excellent option.

Toilet Partition Installation

GTA General Contractors Ltd. has 25+ years of commercial construction experience. GTA General Contractors has been in the commercial industry for many years and know what building developers / architects / contractors are looking for in regards to commercial products and services. We are always to looking to improve upon our award-winning service and want to help you ensure your project is top quality. Call us today to get a quote or to receive pricing on your next Toilet Partition Installation.