7 Tips to Help Your Stack Your Restaurant Chairs Safely

Stackable chairs are one of the most used chair types in commercial restaurants. They are used worldwide, including luxurious and non-luxurious restaurants due to their versatility, space management, ease of storage, and flexible arrangement. Besides, stackable chairs are a great inexpensive option for setting up your commercial dining room.

However, stacking of restaurant chairs must be handled appropriately to ensure safety and prevent damage to the chairs. Stacking these chairs in a safe and secured manner will ensure the durability of your products and ensure your safety, your workers, and your customers. Also, effective and safe stacking will enhance proper space management and eliminate clusters.

Stacking restaurant chairs is not rocket science; it is as simple as it appears. Nevertheless, a slight error or carelessness in this process can be costly. Do you wish to learn how to stack your restaurant chairs without any hassle safely? The tips below are all you need to aid your restaurant chairs’ easy and safe stacking.

1. Read and Follow the Manufacturer’s Instruction on Stacking

Most stackable chairs come with a manufacturer’s note containing all you need to know. They offer specific instructions on how to handle your chairs and stack them safely, and it often includes instructions on how many chairs you can stack in a single row and the maximum height to maintain for the chair. It is best to find out these numbers before starting to stack your chairs.

For instance, it is best to stack some chairs at only 10 per group while some can go as much as 40. There are several factors responsible for this number, and some of these factors include the weight of the chair, height, and flexibility. Regardless of your sentiment or perception, it is best to stick to the manufacturer’s recommendation on stacking.

2. Ensure the Chairs Are Clean Before Stacking

Stacking your chairs without proper cleaning can be likened to folding dirty clothes, and leaving dirt on them before stacking makes them vulnerable to even more damage. Besides making the stains harder to remove (and permanent in some cases), it can damage the seating and reduce durability.

Hence, it is best to clean your chairs before properly stacking them up for storage. It is best to use soft dry cloths to dust dirt off the surfaces for most materials. However, you might need to add water, detergent, and suitable cleansers for plastic, wooden, and metallic materials to remove tougher stains.

3. Do Not Drag Chairs After Stacking

It is expected that the weight and height of dining chairs will increase as you stack. Therefore, moving them to storage can be pretty challenging. But regardless of the challenges, dragging the chairs shouldn’t be an option. Dragging will damage your floor, and it will also damage the legs of your chair.

If you have to move your chairs into storage after stacking them, it is best to lift them off the floor. If it appears too heavy for a single individual, you can get two or more people to lift it. Alternatively, you can transport the chairs using a chair trolly for convenience and safety. For the best scenario, stack chairs in the storage space to eliminate the need to move them.

4. Avoid Stacking Chairs Too High

Keeping your chairs on a single stack row can be tempting because it helps to optimize space. However, it is best to resist this temptation because it will do more harm than good. Stacking chairs too high leaves them at the risk of falling off and leaving severe damage on the chairs and floor, and it can also pose a more significant challenge when you want to unstack them for arrangement.

It is best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation on the number of stacked chairs, even when you are tempted to go higher. If manufacturer information is missing, you can go for an average height, not higher than the person making the stack.

5. Avoid Stacking Different Types of Chairs

There are several types of restaurant chairs. While stacking these chairs, it is best to only keep similar chairs from the same manufacturer on a single stack. Keep only chairs with similar shape, weight, structure, and dimension together.

Stacking different chairs in a single row cause irregular arrangements that can damage the chairs. For instance, keeping chairs of higher weight on lower ones can cause them to crack or break. It will also initiate imbalance that can cause the chairs to fall off at the slightest contact with the littlest force.

6. Only Stack Chairs One After the Next

You don’t have to be in a rush to get your chairs all arranged. It is best to add chairs to the stack only one after the next. Simultaneously adding multiple chairs can cause imbalance leading to the chairs falling off and personal injury, and it can also lead to notable damage on the floor and the chairs.

The simple addition of one chair after the next makes the process easier, better, and relatively hassle-free. Take your time on the arrangement to ensure and prevent damage.

7. Teach Your Members of Staff and Employees How to Stack and Move Chairs Safely

One of the mistakes most restaurant owners make is not attaching importance to what their staff needs to know about stacking and arranging chairs. It is best to teach every member of your staff the safety practices and requirements for moving furniture, especially the stacked ones. This practice includes lifting the chairs with a straight back, bent knee, and head up.

You can also share other tips on this list with your staff to help them learn the proper stacking and handling of restaurant chairs. For customers, you can paste a clear message around your commercial dining room about customers not being allowed to stack or move chairs.

Conclusion

Stacking restaurant chairs might seem an easy practice but can go wrong when you skip the basics. The tips above will help you safely and efficiently stack restaurant chairs without much hassle. They will also enhance the durability of your chairs, prevent accidents, mitigate damage to the floor and other materials within your space.