Radiance

My business partner and I are as far as we can go without making the cash outlay for the beds. Let me first say that we are not newbies when it comes to running a business as we both have had our own GNC's and other types prior to this venture. We are however new to this industry and signed a lease for a great location prior to really knowing what the electrical and HVAC requirement would need to be for a 20-25 bed salon.

We haven't moved in and they have been great not asking for the initial deposit as they wait for our drawings over the last two months We have not given them up yet because we are now aware of what the electrical and HVAC requirements will need to be.

It's a new building in which there are two 6 ton roof top units supplied along with two 200 amp 3 phase panels. My understanding in speaking with several people is that we need two additional HVAC units on top and a minimum of 800 amps of service.

My question(s)... Are these calculations correct for 20-25 beds in a 3200 sq ft space? Does anyone have a letter that they've wriiten to their landlord to ask for these requirements prior to or after taking the space that they wouls be willing to share with me? I wish now that we knew a couple months ago what we know now because we wouldn't have had signed the lease yet without negotiating these items.

Thanks

navigatin1

Depends on the equipment you are using.

Figure 1/2 ton per 20 min base bed.
1 ton for each of the bigger beds, like VHR units.
And 1 1/2 to 2 tons for an HP bed.

Plus A/C needed for common areas of the salon.

excusemesir

Sounds about right. I have only 6 beds, 1 booth, plus spray tan in 1200 sq. ft. The space came with 200 amp/3 phase and 5 tons a/c. I negotiated the landlord to 600 amp/3 phase electrical and 25 tons of a/c. Everything was negotiated prior to signing the lease. 4 of the 7 pieces of UV equipment falls in the VHR category (160 watt plus lamps). In my case 25 tons of A/C is over-kill, but it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Good luck getting the landlord to help. If you can get him to split it 50/50 jump on it and be very happy. Either way, if that's what you need you'd be wise to put it in even if you have to foot the entire bill. Rework your marketing plan and plan on passing the cost along to your customers when you open.

navigatin1

25 tons in 1200 sq feet????? Holy sh*t!!! Whata ya storing slabs of meat in there!

excusemesir

LOL...that's what the engineers said when they saw the drawings. I have 18 foot ceilings and wanted to be sure I had plenty. I was lucky to have a couple of different locations to play against each other. I told them each that the first one to say yes to 600 amp/3 phase and 25 tons a/c got the contract. I about fainted when one of them said okay. Cost him an additional 35K! Had to put in additional service from the street!! I don't know what he'll ever put in here if and when I leave, unless it is a meat locker.

irene

thats great for you.... but the landlord is an iddiot.... nice to hear that a tennant wins for once...

engfant

Gawd dam. You need to invest in ice cream with all that A/C.

Hey, ALASKA CALLED THEY WANT THEIR COLD AIR BACK!

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sunsally

As you get into the bigger VHR beds and standups, many will recommend up to 1.5 tons for VHR

And for HP - I normally see and recommend 3 tons.


Also -- when figuring HVAC, people need to keep in mind windows and sun exposure. A salon that faces North might have almost no exterior heat. A salon that faces West can have QUITE A BIT of extra heat coming through the front and need to plan accordingly (may even want to consider different window shades).


For Electrical -

VHR beds are generally 3 phase and will usually take 40-60A each (3 phase). Some smaller beds only run on single phase, but generally 20-40A. HP will be 60-100A 3 phase. Plus the electrical needed to run the HVAC units.


Always tough to negotiate after the fact but can try one of the following:

1. Start looking around at OTHER space and see if you can find another landlord to give it to you - use this to bargain

2. Call a broker and ask them what is "standard" for your area re. TI (Tenant Improvement) money and argue for this (generally $10-20/s.f or $32000-64000 for your size space)

3. Offer to build it in to higher rent (e.g. if it costs 60K and you have a 5 year lease, add an extra $1000/month to the rent in exchange for him fronting the $60K)

4. Try to combine all 3 above - e.g. threaten you have other options, tell them you realize they are offering below market accommodations for your type business, and offer to split it in the form of the landlord picking up half (some/most) the costs and you picking up the reminder over time in the rent.

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Din-Canada

Navigatin is correct on his numbers. I'd even go as much as 3tons for each HP.

I have 12.5 tons in my 1200sqft salon designed for 8units.

I would drop the 20-25 bed layout and maybe start with 12-15 beds at first and take the money you would have spent on the other 10beds and spend on your electrical and a/c.

You have to figure also that in busy season, expect to run ALL the beds at the same time.

Yes you can open 20-25bed salon with 200amps...but that doesn't mean that they can all run at the same. If you want all the beds working at once (in other words...making you money) then you will definitely need 800amps+

I have 600amps, only because our plan was for 2HP, 2Super VHR like Sungates, 200Wstandup and 2 base beds and a spray.

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irene

Exhaust is equally important and cheap compared to AC.