Kitchen fabrication · Tarrison
Standard or custom stainless fabrication: choosing for a BC commercial kitchen
Compare the work, site constraints and approval process before choosing a standard or custom piece.
A work table, sink or servery counter can look straightforward in a catalogue while carrying a long list of project requirements. It needs to fit the space, support the task and coordinate with everything around it. The choice between standard and custom stainless starts with those requirements.
Apex represents Tarrison stainless in British Columbia. Tarrison describes both its stainless product range and in-house customization, supported by its Tarrison 360 design platform. That provides two routes to consider; custom work is not automatically the better answer, and standard equipment is not automatically a compromise.
Define the work before choosing the dimensions
Write down the task the piece supports. Will staff prepare food, land racks, sort dishes, hold small equipment or serve customers? Note what must go underneath or alongside it and whether workers need access from one side or several. Draw the surrounding work area, not just the outline of the new piece.
Identify any connections or fixed points: walls, columns, plumbing, equipment openings and neighbouring counters. A measured sketch with photographs gives the supplier something concrete to assess. It also helps distinguish a genuine fabrication requirement from a preference that a standard option might already meet.
Compare standard configurations first
A published model can be a practical choice when its dimensions, construction and options suit the job. Check the actual specification for the proposed table, sink or shelving rather than relying on a category name. Confirm the height, storage arrangement, backsplash and any required accessories.
Ask how the piece will be delivered and assembled, and what the installer must provide. Compare the complete quotations and confirmed timing; avoid assuming that one route must always cost less or arrive sooner. A standard product that needs substantial alteration on site may not be the most straightforward solution.
Identify what custom fabrication must solve
Custom work becomes worth assessing when a specific constraint remains unresolved. That might be a fixed gap, an unusual counter arrangement or an interface with another piece of equipment. Describe the constraint and the required result before asking for a drawing.
Tarrison explains that Tarrison 360 supports creating and previewing customized stainless designs and generating product information and files. Use those tools to make the proposal clearer, while confirming which configurations and fabrication details are feasible for the particular order. A visual preview does not replace final site verification.
Coordinate the details that are easy to miss
Confirm dimensions from finished surfaces, including allowances the installer needs. Have the appropriate trades review plumbing and electrical interfaces before cut-outs or connection points are finalized. Ask who supplies taps, fittings, supports and any equipment incorporated into the assembly.
Check the delivery route as carefully as the final location. Doorways, stairs, corners and lift access can affect whether a piece can enter in its proposed form. Raise cleaning access and the surrounding workflow during design review, when the team can still evaluate alternatives.
Approve one final drawing
Decide who checks measurements and who approves the final specification. Include the dealer, project team and operator as appropriate. Mark the approved revision clearly and route subsequent changes through the same process, so fabrication and site preparation follow the same information.
For a BC stainless project, send Apex the task, dimensions, photographs and any consultant drawings. We can help compare Tarrison options, identify the remaining questions and coordinate a suitable enquiry. Explore the range below, then contact us about the space you need to equip.
Choose the route that meets the verified task and site constraints. Clear measurements, coordinated interfaces and an approved drawing matter for either option.
Manufacturer references
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See the products discussed in this article on Apex Hospitality.
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