A General Contractor’s Guide to Setting Realistic Restaurant Construction Timelines

Timely delivery of a restaurant project is essential for success. General contractors must work with clients to create realistic timelines and stay on track with the project.

Key Takeaways:

• Today’s labor and material landscape are having unprecedented scheduling impact on restaurant construction
• General Contractors and clients must collaborate to ensure realistic timelines
• Plan for regulatory requirements, site specifications, weather conditions, material availability, and labor availability
• Flexibility, communication, and documentation are mission-critical
• Contractors and subcontractors must be willing to work extra hours to overcome project delays and bring a site in on schedule

Building a restaurant requires careful planning, precision execution, and an experienced General Contractor to ensure the project is completed on time and within budget. 

However, with the current labor shortages and skyrocketing material prices, completing a restaurant construction project on time is becoming increasingly difficult. Delays can lead to higher project costs, unhappy customers, and a damaged reputation.

General Contractors and clients must unite to create a team that can make the best of a difficult situation. Amidst the chaos, a General Contractor must remain proactive and create a realistic restaurant construction schedule that includes all stakeholders, timeline milestones, and potential delays. 

The team must be willing to work extra hours and remain flexible to ensure timely delivery. So what are the main factors influencing restaurant construction timelines? Here’s a comprehensive General Contractor’s guide to setting realistic restaurant construction timelines. 

What is a standard timeline for restaurant construction?

A restaurant construction timeline ranges from 2 to 6 months, depending on the size, complexity, and overall project management. The restaurant’s style will also significantly impact the timeline, as finer details take longer to complete. 

A basic take-out style restaurant will take around two months (8 weeks) from planning, design, and construction to installing materials and opening the doors. A full-service fine dining restaurant with multiple seating areas, high-end finishes, and extras, such as patios and bars, can take up to 6 months (24 weeks) to complete.

The kitchen is the same across all restaurant types. However, its layout, design, finishes, and style may differ. Basic restaurants have smaller, efficient kitchens to streamline the cooking process and eliminate unnecessary steps. 

Larger, more upscale restaurants require huge kitchens with multiple specialized cooking equipment, elaborate ventilation systems, and plenty of storage space. It is not uncommon for a General Contractor to dedicate up to 2 months (8 weeks) to complete the kitchen design and construction alone. 

Factors that affect a restaurant construction timeline

While the General Contractor is responsible for completing the project on time, several factors can influence the timeline. These include:

1. Restaurant design and layout

The design and plans for the restaurant must be finalized before construction can begin. This includes deciding on the layout, materials, finishes, lighting, and custom features. The General Contractor must ensure that the design is realistic and accurately reflects the client’s vision for the restaurant. You don’t want to find out too late that the kitchen is too small or the bar isn’t big enough.

2. Permits, approvals, and inspections

Local building codes and regulations must be followed to ensure everyone’s safety. This involves obtaining permits for construction, inspections to verify that all safety standards are met, and approvals from local authorities. 

Depending on the complexity of the project and regulations in your area, these can take anywhere from a few weeks to up to 4 months. Start in advance to avoid any delays in the timeline. You can print these documents in advance and ensure they are ready for the General Contractor to follow. 

3. Site specifications

Restaurant construction must consider any special site specifications, as they can significantly impact the timeline. This includes accessibility, parking, noise levels, utilities, and drainage. Discuss these with the General Contractor from the beginning and ensure you have a realistic plan to address any potential issues. 

4. Weather conditions

Rain, snow, and intense temperatures can put a major damper on the timeline. Working in extreme weather conditions can be dangerous and require additional safety precautions. 

Wind and other environmental factors can also delay the process. Anticipating these conditions will help General Contractors to plan and remain flexible to ensure the timeline is not impacted. 

5. Material availability

Material shortages are a major concern in the construction industry. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant rise in material costs and delays due to the global demand for goods. Restaurant fixtures, including lighting, flooring, and furniture, may take longer to source and install. 

High-end finishes such as marble countertops are also hard to come by and may require longer lead times, depending on availability. Ordering materials early on will help avoid any delays in the timeline.

6. Labor availability

Labor shortages are an ongoing problem in the construction industry. With the older generation of skilled workers retiring and Gen Z-ers not taking up the trade, General Contractors are struggling to find qualified workers. This can result in slower construction and higher labor costs. 

General Contractors will need to be flexible and consider alternative solutions, such as off-site prefabrication, to keep the timeline on track. They can also train new workers to fill the gap in skilled resources. 

7. The complexity of the project

Detail-oriented projects with extras like bars, patios, and sophisticated kitchen designs take longer than basic projects. Specialized equipment, custom features, and intricate plumbing or electrical requirements can add to the timeline. 

You should be aware of the project’s complexity and discuss this with General Contractor to ensure they have enough time to complete the job. Proceed with someone experienced enough to handle the complexities of the restaurant construction. 

Setting realistic restaurant construction timelines is a collaborative effort between General Contractors and clients. It requires careful planning, an understanding of regulatory requirements, and a flexible approach to address potential delays. Remember the multiple factors affecting restaurant construction timelines, and be prepared to remain flexible in case of weather delays or material shortages. 

Partner with the right General Contractor for timely project delivery

RPC General Contractors is a highly qualified General Contractor with years of experience in restaurant construction. With our diverse portfolio, we can handle restaurant projects of all sizes and complexities, from project planning and design to construction and completion. 

We understand the importance of realistic timelines and are committed to delivering quality work on time and within budget. Our team is well-versed in safety regulations and has your best interests at heart. Hop on a quick strategy call with us today for a free estimate.