When it comes to a restaurant, tables are the highlights of its furniture and probably the first thing a customer touches. Therefore, it’s no surprise that every restaurant owner pays a lot of attention to keep the restaurant tables and chairs in a top-notch condition. While most of the restaurant owners focus on the tabletops, they often overlook the table bases.
Most commonly, the table bases in restaurants are metallic and consist of three parts – a top plate to hold the tabletop, a tube-like column, and a base plate in contact with the floor with levelers. Table bases support the tabletop and prevent the table from wobbling.
Right Shape of the Table Bases:
Round and Cross or ‘X’ are the most common shapes of the table bases for the restaurant. Although the choice of the table base depends on the tabletop’s shape in your restaurant, there are significant differences between a round and cross-shaped bases. The round table base comes with 5 levelers as against 4 levelers for the cross base. This extra leveler gives you more control over adjusting the level of the table to prevent wobbling. Additionally, round bases leave ample room for your customers to put their feet and sit comfortably as compared to the cross bases.
Weight of an Ideal Table Base:
Round table bases are generally heavier than the cross bases and sport an extra leveler. Logically, the weight of the table base depends on the tabletop’s material and weight. As a rule of thumb, most of the designs keep the base weight as two-third of the tabletop’s weight. However, outdoor table bases can weight even more to provide additional strength and resistance to winds.
How Crucial are the Parts of the Table Base:
When it comes to restaurant table bases or, quality parts and accessories are the deciding factors in their performance. Due to the lack of any standardization of dimensions in parts like nuts, threads, rods, columns, etc., assembly of the table base is seldom perfect. This mismatch in parts’ dimensions often results in leaning or wobbling bases. However, you can easily avoid these hassles by selecting an experienced and well-reputed vendor.
How to Maintain a Restaurant Table Bases:
Just like any other restaurant furniture item, proper upkeep of the table base requires practical knowledge, proper restaurant layout and persistent efforts. Here are a few handy tips to enhance the life of the table bases in your restaurant:
1. Buy a Quality Product:
In a restaurant, table bases, like other furniture items, go through rough handling. Therefore, investing in a quality product is your first line of defense in its trouble-free performance. Buying commercial-rated, durable and space saving furniture not only offer you peace of mind, but they also save you from the trouble of regularly repairing them and prove to be cost-effective in the longer run.
2. Clean Based on Material:
Although most of the restaurants use metal table bases made from cast iron or steel, some vintage ambiances still use wooden bases. Cleaning metal bases is simple, and you can use a soapy water solution with a clean cloth to wipe it down. However, since solid wood bases are susceptible to absorbing moisture, never use soap water directly on them. Instead, clean it using a wet cloth and dry it completely.
3. Perform Joint Checks:
In busy restaurants, it’s not always possible to inspect the joints of the table base periodically. If left unchecked, these joints might get loose and put additional strain on the base. As a result, the base becomes unstable and can cause damage to both sides of the table. To avoid this, check the joints once every quarter and ensure they are intact.
4. Don’t Ignore The Chips:
Chips can not only hamper the strength of the base, but they can also spoil its look. Ignoring the first signs of the chips on table bases can result in the build-up. To avoid this, use sandpaper to clean the chipped portion and repaint it immediately.
5. Pull Outdoor Tables Inside:
From hailstorms to rains, outdoor furniture has to bear the brunt of extreme weather conditions. Extended exposure to such harsh weather elements can accelerate the deterioration of your restaurant furniture. Although you cannot control the weather, the least you can do is to store the table bases inside during winter and rainy seasons to avoid oxidation and rust-formation.
Conclusion:
Table bases, although rarely noticed, forms a crucial element in the overall dining experience. This article discusses different aspects that you must consider while selecting the right table bases for your restaurant as well as some practical tips for their maintenance. Use these tips to maximize the life and performance of table bases in your restaurant to make the most of your investment. Hopefully, you will be able to use these insights to provide the best customer experience that maximizes your profits and builds a prospering restaurant business.
