DIY Restaurant Tables: The True Cost

Read Time: 8 minutes

Designing and furnishing a restaurant is a major investment, and it can be tempting to cut costs by building your own tables. After all, tables seem straightforward—a flat surface and some legs. How hard could it be? While a DIY approach may save on upfront labor costs, it’s important to understand the hidden expenses, risks, and limitations that come with creating restaurant tables yourself. At TimeWorn, we’ve spent years perfecting our craft to ensure every table we build not only meets but exceeds the demands of high-traffic dining spaces. Here’s why DIY restaurant tables often fall short and why investing in expertly crafted tables is the smarter, more cost-effective choice in the long run.

1. Material Quality Matters

The foundation of any great table is the wood. At TimeWorn, we source high-quality, American-sourced lumber and check the moisture content of every single board. We never use wood with more than 8% moisture content, as higher levels lead to warping, cracking, and instability. For reclaimed lumber, we go a step further, drying it in-house to a precise 5% moisture level to ensure stability and durability.

DIYers typically lack the tools to verify moisture content. The $500 professional-grade moisture detector we use is essential for this process, but it’s not practical for one-time use. Without properly dried wood, your tables will likely buckle or crack after just a few months, costing you more in repairs or replacements. Additionally, improperly treated wood can harbor insects that emerge over time—a disaster for any restaurant environment.

2. Specialized Equipment Is Key

Creating durable, visually appealing tables requires more than basic tools. At TimeWorn, we use industrial-grade equipment like large clamp carriers and CNC machines to produce precise, consistent table tops and unique shapes. These machines allow us to craft oversized tables, irregular shapes, and custom edge profiles that are impossible to achieve with DIY methods.

Investing in professional equipment is prohibitively expensive for a one-off project. A kiln for drying wood alone costs at least $50,000. Add in CNC machines and high-capacity clamping systems, and the price skyrockets to well over $500,000. Without these tools, DIY tables will be limited in size, shape, and overall quality.

3. Finish That Lasts

Restaurant tables endure constant use and cleaning, making the finish one of the most critical aspects of their durability. At TimeWorn, we apply acrylic polyurethane—a restaurant-grade finish that creates a fully sealed, smooth surface resistant to damage from cleaning chemicals, spills, and heavy use. Applying this finish requires months of training and specialized spraying equipment.

DIY alternatives, like off-the-shelf finishes, may look acceptable at first but often break down quickly under the rigors of a commercial environment. Worse, they may not meet health code standards, leading to rejection by food inspectors. A failed inspection or peeling finish will cost far more than you save by going the DIY route.

4. The Expertise Factor

Building restaurant tables isn’t just about craftsmanship—it’s about understanding the unique demands of the industry. At TimeWorn, we’ve worked with literally thousands of restaurant owners and designers, honing our skills to address every detail. From ensuring tables are perfectly level to creating custom bolt-down bases for stability, our expertise ensures every table we build performs flawlessly for years.

DIYers often overlook critical factors like table stability, edge profiles, and food-safe finishes. Even with the best intentions, the lack of experience can lead to costly mistakes. By trusting experts like us, you gain peace of mind knowing your tables are built to last, so you can focus on what you do best—running your restaurant.

5. The True Cost of DIY Tables

While DIY tables may seem cheaper initially, the hidden costs add up quickly. Here’s what you’re really paying for:

  • Materials: High-quality lumber is expensive, and without bulk purchasing power, you’ll pay a premium.
  • Equipment: Tools like moisture detectors, kilns, spray booths and CNC machines are prohibitively expensive for one-time use.
  • Time: Crafting tables takes significant time and effort, pulling you away from other critical aspects of your business.
  • Durability: Poorly built tables won’t last, leading to frequent repairs or replacements.
  • Health Risks: Improperly finished tables can fail inspections, costing you time, money, and potentially your reputation.

Why Trust TimeWorn?

At TimeWorn, we’ve perfected the art of crafting restaurant tables that are as functional as they are beautiful. We handle every detail, from moisture control to custom finishes, ensuring our tables meet the highest standards of quality and durability. Our processes and equipment allow us to create unique, custom pieces that DIY methods simply can’t replicate. And most importantly, we stand behind our work, giving you the confidence that your investment will pay off for years to come.

Conclusion

In the end, while DIY restaurant tables may seem appealing, the risks, costs, and time involved often outweigh the benefits. By partnering with experts like TimeWorn, you’re investing in quality, reliability, and peace of mind—allowing you to focus on delivering exceptional dining experiences for your guests. Let us help bring your vision to life with tables that are built to last and designed to impress.

FAQ

Can I save money by building my own restaurant tables?

While it seems cheaper at first, DIY tables often cost more in the long run. One customer shared, “I thought I could save $5,000 by making my tables, but after materials, failed attempts, and repairs, I spent almost double what I would’ve paid a professional.”

Wood with high moisture content will warp, crack, or even attract insects over time. One DIYer shared, “I didn’t check the moisture content, and after a few months, my tables buckled and split. I had to replace all of them.”

A moisture detector ensures your wood is properly dried. Without it, you’re taking a costly gamble. A customer admitted, “I used air-dried wood because I didn’t have a detector. The tables looked fine initially, but they warped so badly I had to throw them out.”

Yes, but it needs to be properly kiln-dried to remove excess moisture and bugs. One DIYer shared, “I didn’t dry my reclaimed wood, and after a few months, I found bugs crawling out of the tables. It was a nightmare.”

You need access to a kiln to dry wood to around 5% moisture. A customer explained, “I didn’t have a kiln, so I used wood straight from the yard. Half my tables cracked, and the rest warped beyond repair.”

Not easily. Commercial finishes like acrylic polyurethane require months of training and specialized spraying equipment. One DIYer admitted, “I used a hardware store finish, and it started peeling after a few weeks of cleaning. The inspector even flagged it as unsanitary.”

If your tables don’t have a smooth, sealed surface, food and germs can get trapped, leading to health code violations. A customer said, “I didn’t realize my finish wasn’t food-safe until the inspector told me I had to replace all my tables. It was a costly mistake.”

It’s challenging without the right tools. Our CNC machine allows us to make large or irregular shapes that DIYers struggle to achieve. A DIYer shared, “I couldn’t make tables larger than 6 feet because I didn’t have the clamps or equipment. It really limited my design options.”

DIY finishes often break down under constant cleaning and wear. A customer shared, “I used a DIY polyurethane, but the cleaning chemicals ate through it in less than two months. I had to refinish every table.”

Uneven tables ruin the dining experience. A customer explained, “My DIY tables were slightly uneven, and customers kept complaining about their drinks spilling.” There’s nothing worse than a 1 star review with a statement that’s 100% true.

Yes, without proper drying and finishing, warping is almost guaranteed. One customer shared, “I didn’t think about wood movement, and all my tables warped after the first humid summer.”

At TimeWorn, we use industry-grade tools, materials, and techniques to craft tables that last for years. As one customer said, “After my DIY disaster, I went with TimeWorn, and the difference is night and day. Their tables are beautiful, durable, and worth every penny!”