Today’s discerning visitors also consider the acoustic environment when choosing which establishment, they want to go to. A loud and noisy restaurant or café may receive a bad review from patrons simply because they didn’t address their acoustics. Using modern technologies to renovate restaurants and cafés can help owners to manage indoor acoustics effectively while at the same time improving the indoor air quality and achieving a greener profile.
Restaurant and café renovation
Running a successful restaurant or café is a challenging but rewarding experience. And most restauranteurs agree that patrons rate their visit on more than just what is coming out of the kitchen and how long it took. The surroundings, including the acoustics, are also important.
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Important considerations for renovating a restaurant or café
Restaurants and cafés are where people go to socialise, unwind, and recover from the stress of daily life. Customers expect a comfortable and enjoyable experience where they can appreciate the food in the company of family or friends. Owners can enhance the customer’s experience with a renovation project that uses modern technologies to accentuate every patron’s visit. Here are some of the major considerations that should be taken before remodelling a restaurant.
Managing noise levels
A buzz of activity in a restaurant is usually a good thing, but too much and it could negatively influence the guest experience. The negative effects of noise in restaurants and cafés could lead to:
- Higher levels of irritation, resulting in more complaints from guests.
- An unhealthy work environment for servers and kitchen staff.
- Reduced visitors if the experience is not enjoyable.
Research also shows that appeal increases for dishes in environments that maintain a noise level of between 45dB and 55dB. On the opposite end of the spectrum, any noise that exceeds 75dB in a restaurant can negatively influence the taste and perception of food. Ultimately, this means that optimised indoor acoustics can help increase sales by changing the perception of patrons who visit the establishment.
When starting a restaurant remodel project, owners and contractors need to consider the physical layout of the establishment and use acoustic insulation in their interior design. This is especially true when the business operates a separate bar area and dining room. Preventing boisterous noise from one area of impacting the dining experience is possible in multiple ways.
Firstly, using Rockfon acoustics ceiling tiles or wall panels is an easy way to reduce noise without breaking the bank. ROCKWOOL insulation could also be installed inside walls, floors, and ceilings to reduce noise travelling between rooms, while at the same time improving the indoor comfort and thermal performance.
Maintaining a comfortable environment
Every restaurant renovation project should also address the indoor comfort of guests. No one enjoys an uncomfortable indoor temperature, and especially not when they are eating. Establishing a thermal barrier to keep heat in or out will ensure visitors can enjoy their dining experience without suffering from high temperatures and humidity levels.
Improved thermal insulation can help restaurants to:
- Separate areas and contain heat from the kitchen to maintain a comfortable indoor environment.
- Reduce costs by improving the storage and retention of heat energy throughout the establishment.
- Absorb noises and improve the indoor acoustics of the restaurant or café.
High-quality insulation solutions can improve the management of the indoor climate of restaurants, cafés, and bars. It provides the added benefits of reducing energy costs to heat or cool specific areas and improves the indoor air quality of the environment.
The benefits of a restaurant or café remodelling project
Restaurant and café owners who focus on improving their indoor environment will reap additional benefits from their investments. Some of these include:
- Better reviews from customers and food critics by enhancing their experience and perceptions.
- Greater revenue per guest as patrons will spend more time at the venue.
- A healthier work environment for staff that will lead to more satisfied guests.
Reduced operating costs with improved energy efficiency while providing more comfortable indoor climates.
Additional considerations for remodelling your restaurant
Beyond the immediate benefits of renovation, there are some low-hanging fruits if you choose the right materials.
Fire resilience
Restaurants have high-risk areas with multiple potential sources of combustion spread throughout the facility. Owners can improve fire resilience and safety using stone wool insulation as a passive barrier. Adequate fire protection is a vital consideration for any restaurant owner and fire-resistant insulation can add a layer of safety to the building interior.
Sustainability
Renovating today will help achieve a greener profile. Not only is it a perfect opportunity to lower energy use and emissions but choosing circular materials will also help promote recyclability and elevate the restaurant’s sustainable brand.
Aesthetics
When the aesthetics of a restaurant or café are inspiring and beautiful, customers feel comfortable and enjoy spending more time there. Stone wool façade boards and ceiling tiles are not just high-performing solutions, but also work as a flexible and aesthetically versatile materials that can make beautiful spaces a reality for people everywhere.
How to renovate a restaurant
A wide variety of renovation solutions are available to improve customers’ experiences, enhance the aesthetics of the venue and create a more comfortable indoor environment for staff and customers alike. Some of the solutions restaurateurs should consider when looking for restaurant and café renovation ideas include:
1. Acoustic ceiling tiles, baffles and panels
Acoustics ceiling tiles, baffles and wall panels are effective and easy ways to reduce noise levels while improving the aesthetics and natural lighting of a restaurant or café. Made from sound-absorbing stone wool and specifically engineered to provide optimal acoustical comfort, these tiles and panels are a perfect way to improve the acoustics of your venue.
2. Think about what’s inside the walls
It makes sense to consider what is inside the walls. Acoustical products, such as ceiling tiles and baffles, are great at improving the acoustic environment inside a venue, but the insulation within the walls is key to reducing room-to-room noise. Used in partitioning walls, acoustic insulation can help keep the noise of a busy kitchen from spilling into the seating area.
Investing in high-quality insulation will help maintain a comfortable temperature in the seating area and reduce the cost of heating the venue.
3. Façade and exterior walls
If the restaurant is located on a busy street or battles with high energy costs, investing in renovating the exterior of the building with high-quality insulation can be a good idea. Renovations from the outside can be made using, for example, an ETIC system or a ventilated façade. This can revitalise the façade while avoiding any loss of interior space. If the existing façade should be preserved it is also an option could be to renovate from the inside or to use cavity wall insulation.
Stone wool insulation has excellent noise reducing and thermal properties making it perfect for use in every façade.
Why use stone wool when remodelling your restaurant or café
ROCKWOOL Group’s products use the natural properties of stone to improve the built environment for everyone. By increasing the thermal performance of structures, reducing the effects of noise pollution, and increasing the quality of indoor air, stone wool is an effective way to improve any building or structure. Stone is an abundant natural resource and highly recyclable, making it the perfect source for building sustainability into any restaurant or café.
To find out more about stone wool insulation and how it can help restaurant renovation projects, get in touch with ROCKWOOL Group today.
