How to Choose Commercial Flooring

Are you wondering how to choose commercial flooring for an upcoming project?

Before you decide, take time to learn more about:

• The Unique Needs of the Business
• Flooring Recommendations by Industry
• The Best Materials for Commercial Flooring
• The Benefits of Choosing Eco-Friendly Flooring for Commercial Spaces
• Selecting the Best Eco-Friendly Flooring for Your Commercial Space
• How to Choose the Right Commercial Flooring Provider

The Unique Needs of the Business

First, what kind of business needs flooring? Understanding the location will help you make the most informed flooring choices.

Salon and spa flooring should create a relaxing atmosphere.

If the flooring is for an assisted living facility, you’ll want flooring that is inviting, but also practical.

Manufacturing facilities and hospitals require strong, durable, and easy-to-clean flooring.

Libraries, schools, and daycare centers will need flooring with bright hues to engage children and families.

Inserting Personality with Unique Flooring Solutions: The Henrietta Public Library

Design Questions to Answer

You’ll also want to answer design questions such as:

• What is the purpose and function of each room?
• Is there a flooring color scheme or pattern that could help create an ambiance you want to portray?
• What are the plans for building layout? Will the building be all carpeted, or will some areas need laminate, vinyl, or hardwood flooring?
• Are there rooms that need to be kept sterile?
• Will you need very durable flooring to withstand high traffic?
• Are you dealing with an environment that needs to be regularly disinfected with harsh chemicals?

These are all things Surface Design Solutionss’ team of experts can help you determine.

Flooring Recommendations by Industry

As you gather your information, you’ll realize that different industries have different needs. The right type of commercial grade flooring can make things run more smoothly. Most businesses need commercial flooring for high traffic areas.

At Surface Design Solutions, we work with you to make the best decisions about flooring materials for commercial construction and more. Here are some of our recommendations by industry.

Medical Practices

Medical building flooring gets a lot of foot traffic and wear from routine transfers of heavy medical equipment. Providers and patients prefer smooth, durable floors, such as linoleum flooring, that make rolling transport effortless.

There are also strict sanitation requirements to help avoid the spread of disease. Things can get dirty pretty quickly in a doctor’s office or hospital. Medical building managers need to make sanitation a cinch with easy-to-clean flooring.

Schools and Educational Institutions

Durability is a key component of a good material for floors used in elementary schools, secondary schools, colleges, and universities. Budget also matters for flooring options, since many educational institutions are funded by public taxes.

The floors in these buildings go through a lot, with thousands of students and teachers using them each day. Carpet tiles, porcelain, broadloom, and linoleum are all popular choices for educational buildings. They should also be easy-to-clean.

Retail Centers

In the retail industry, flooring can vary depending on the type of company, its visual branding standards, and its corporate identity. High-end stores that focus on fashion may have a sophisticated aesthetic with a product such as hardwood floors.

More budget conscious retail centers may require a more durable floor choice, such as vinyl. Carpet tile is another popular choice for businesses that need a softer style inside of their stores.

Office Buildings

Office workplaces have a large variation in purpose, and the flooring should reflect the company’s brand.

Additionally, flooring may be used to designate different types of rooms within a large corporation or small business. For example, a company break room could be equipped with durable flooring, such as ceramic tile, and a corporate boardroom may look better with something more upscale, such as hardwood or a luxurious carpet.

Salons and Spas

Commercial flooring for salons and spas should be both durable and stylish. The material needs to withstand spillover from washing stations and heavy foot traffic. It should be comfortable for workers that are on their feet all day. For these reasons, vinyl commercial flooring is often a top choice for salons and spas.

Restaurants

What flooring is best for restaurants? While the look of a restaurant’s floor is important, it must be durable, safe, and easy-to-clean. Tile, cork, hardwood, laminate and vinyl are often good restaurant flooring choices.

For an upscale restaurant, carpet may be a good choice in terms of aesthetic and its ability to minimize noise.

Commercial Flooring Options: The Best Materials for Commercial Flooring

As the commercial flooring experts, Surface Design Solutions specializes in superior commercial flooring options for a wide range of industries. We have extensive knowledge of commercial flooring, construction, and installation.

Plus, with the latest flooring technology, there’s no need to compromise when it comes to looks and functionality. Let’s go through the many commercial flooring types we offer.

Hardwood

It’s nearly impossible to go wrong with hardwood flooring. One of the best things about cost-effective hardwood floors is their general durability.

Keep in mind, it’s important to take proper care of hardwood floors to ensure they last and function as long as possible.

Sheet Vinyl

Another flooring option that is both strong and durable, sheet vinyl is also one of the more visually appealing commercial flooring options.

Vinyl flooring comes in a number of pricing options, but the inexpensive options aren’t always the strongest or best looking.

Make sure you hire an experienced professional for installation, as they will know exactly how to install commercial vinyl flooring.

It’s also best to keep sheet vinyl well-swept and vacuumed to reduce the risk of scratches and other marks.

VCT (Vinyl Composite Tiles)

VCT, also known as vinyl composite tile, is one of the more common flooring options for commercial constructions. You don’t have to worry about VCT floors fading from the effects of the sun’s rays. They can even last 20 years or more with very little damage to show for it.

VCT floors can be made to be slip-resistant as well, and they come in a number of different designs to choose from.

Carpet

Carpet and carpet tiles are frequently used for corporate spaces. Today’s carpet choices offer a wide array of styles, textures, and colors.

With so many choices, carpet can be the most inexpensive flooring option for a commercial space.

Advancements in technology make broadloom carpet and carpet tiles very durable while offering luxury at an affordable price.

Vinyl vs Carpeting for Commercial Flooring

Laminate

If you or your clients desire an affordable flooring option that’s a bit more environmentally friendly than hardwood, laminate could be the perfect choice, mainly because it doesn’t have the same premium wood content as hardwood.

Areas that receive an abundance of humidity or fluctuating temperatures might be better suited for laminate floors. They are made to resist contracting and expanding in a variety of conditions.

Linoleum

Another green option includes linoleum flooring, which is resilient and can retain its shape, even with high foot traffic. Linoleum is created using mostly natural raw materials, such as linseed oil and recycled wood flour.

Often confused with vinyl flooring, the two materials are very different. There are pros and cons of linoleum flooring, so make sure you do your research first.

Other Eco-Friendly Options

Continuing with environmentally friendly floors, there are several more green flooring options. Cork, bamboo, concrete and rubber are all eco-friendly. Even hardwood flooring can be sustainably harvested.

The Benefits of Choosing Eco-Friendly Flooring for Commercial Spaces

On that note, you might be wondering what is eco-friendly flooring, and why should I consider it?

Typically, these are types of flooring that provide the smallest negative impact on the environment.

These products are created from environmentally-friendly materials and natural components that are sustainability-sourced. This flooring is produced using significantly less energy, and it can be safely disposed of. There are several factors that determine if flooring falls into the eco-friendly category, including:

• The material’s life cycle
• The flooring’s ability to be recycled as well as renewed
• Maintenance requirements
• Manufacturing methods that are considered responsible
• Toxicity to the environment from the material used
• Distance to transport the material

Why Non-Toxic Flooring Matters

A commercial building with sustainable flooring materials not only looks great, but has the added benefit of fewer harmful chemicals.

Many types of flooring are not eco-friendly. They can emit irritants and other allergens that may affect air quality. Individuals dealing with asthma and other allergies will appreciate a building with non-toxic flooring.

Can Eco-Friendly Flooring Be Stylish?

In the past, it was widely believed that this type of flooring would require a sacrifice on overall appearance.

This is not true. There have been many advancements in eco-friendly flooring materials and installation methods.

It is now possible to have beautiful commercial flooring that also helps the environment.

Eco-Friendly Flooring and Durability

Green flooring is far more durable than most people realize. Flooring made from natural materials is extremely tough. It has demonstrated the ability to last for a long time.

Selecting the Best Eco-Friendly Flooring for Your Commercial Space

Consider the following when determining the best type of eco-friendly flooring to purchase:

• The load-bearing requirements for a building’s flooring
• The level of traffic that will be experienced by the flooring
• Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Local building code requirements
• How the flooring reflects a company’s brand with finish, color, pattern and more

The earth has limited resources. Environmentally friendly flooring can help a business support a mission of sustainability and a positive community image.

How to Choose the Right Commercial Flooring Provider

Are you ready to begin your flooring project, but with so many available options, not sure where to start?

That’s where Surface Design Solutions comes in.

We have experience helping multiple industries with a wide variety of flooring projects. The right flooring can set a helpful foundation for the rest of your buildout decisions.

Surface Design Solutions offers a full range of flooring services, from pre-construction to flooring installation.

Ready to learn more about how we can help you complete your project? Surface Design Solutions can help you choose beautiful flooring that will stand up to use for years to come. Contact us today to get started.