GUIDE · DOWNTIME

HOW LONG IS THE SHOP CLOSED?

For a business, the most important number in a floor quote is often the number of days you can't trade. Downtime depends on the floor, the system and the planning. Here is how to plan it.

What drives downtime

Size of the floor and how much preparation and repair it needs
Removal of old flooring or coatings
The coating system and its cure times at the room's temperature
Whether work can be phased by zone
Access for equipment, and ventilation

Settle these before the first day

Which zones are done in which order, and which stay open
Furniture, equipment and stock: who moves it, and where it goes
Deliveries, garbage pickup and staff entrances during the work
Ventilation, odour and any neighbours or upstairs tenants to notify
When staff can walk on the floor and when full operation resumes
Landlord or property manager rules for contractors and working hours

Get the schedule in writing

Ask for the on-site days and the return-to-service times in the written quote, for each zone if the work is phased. If a contractor won't commit to a schedule range, ask why.

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