How to plan commercial floor fitting out of hours

Shops, offices, clinics and restaurants can't close for a week while their floor is replaced, so commercial vinyl jobs can be planned at night, at weekends or in phases. Work out with the client which zones can be closed and when, how long preparation, adhesive and any levelling need before people walk on the floor, and who handles access, alarms, furniture and equipment. Agree a handover time before opening and stick to it: a business judges you on the morning it reopens its doors to staff and customers.

A levelling compound, an adhesive and a welded seam each need time before foot traffic, trolleys or heavy furniture. Check product data before you promise a reopening time, and choose fast-curing products where the window is short. Leave a margin: a floor that's walked on too early can mark, shift or lose adhesion.

Agree who lets you in, who holds the keys, how the alarm is set and unset, and who to call at night if something goes wrong. Check delivery access for rolls and materials outside opening hours, parking for the van, lifts and their weight limits, and building rules on noise and working hours in shared premises.

Shelving, desks, medical couches, chairs and display units must be emptied and moved. Agree in writing what the client's staff clear before you arrive and what you move, and where things are stored during the work. Photograph the layout before moving anything so it can be put back the same way.

Removing old floors and grinding adhesive is noisy and dusty; some adhesives have a smell while they cure. Plan the noisiest tasks when neighbours and other tenants are absent, use extraction, and ventilate before staff and customers come back. In clinics and food businesses, ask about hygiene requirements and cleaning before reopening.

In a phased job, staff and customers walk past the work. Close the zone with solid barriers and signs, keep cables and tools out of walkways, and agree a clear route for people around the area. Tell the manager which doors and fire exits are affected, and keep exits clear at all times.

Order all the material for a phased job at once, from the same batch, and store it on site if possible. A second order weeks later can differ slightly in colour, and the join between phases will show.

Night and weekend work costs more in time and energy. Price it clearly as a separate rate or a supplement, and include any extra visits needed to fit around phases. A client who chose out-of-hours work to stay open will understand the reason if you explain it upfront, before the dates are fixed.

On Book, each service has a name, a price and an optional description shown on your public page. Create a "Commercial site survey" service that business owners can book online, and services for "Night fitting" and "Weekend fitting". Once the plan is agreed, open slots for each phase at the agreed times and book the client into them yourself from your calendar, with the zone, the access contact and the alarm details in the booking note. Your bookings show in Google, iPhone or Mac calendars, so every phase is in one place.

Durations and prices are examples: set your own. If a phase must move, reschedule it from your bookings list and tell the client yourself, since Book doesn't email clients about changes. Book costs €5/month, everything included: unlimited services and bookings, no commission, no contract.