Finding the right flooring for your commercial business can be a tough choice with the range of floor surfaces available today.
Consider these 5 points:
- Cost
- Suitability for your type of business
- Durability
- Cleaning & maintenance specifications and cost
- Appearance
A careful, informed decision now can save you in repair, maintenance and replacement costs in the future.
Read on to find out the key considerations when choosing your type of flooring.
Laminate Flooring
As a cheaper flooring solution, laminate can be printed to mimic the style, design, colour and even texture of more expensive floor types. This makes it one of the most versatile flooring solutions available. Make sure you check the AC rating of the laminate, which indicates its durability level and how much foot traffic it can handle.
PROS:
- Cost-effective
- Highly customisable
- Easy to install, clean and maintain
CONS:
- Poor acoustic profile, making it unsuitable for large spaces, including conference halls or locations where attendees can experience listener fatigue
- Prone to water damage
- Cannot be refinished (repaired) – any damage will need to be removed and the section replaced
- Can lower resale value of your premises
Tile Flooring
With the great variety in colours and shapes, and readily available non-slip options, tiles can be an efficient and cost-effective way to customise your flooring and also a good choice where the safety of patrons is of paramount concern.
PROS:
- Easy and cheap to maintain
- Cracks are easy to replace
- Water-resistant options
- Cost effective non-slip options readily available
- Easy to clean
- High durability
CONS:
- Doesn’t absorb heat, making it cold in cooler months
- Heavy, making it a potentially poor choice for upper-level installations
Carpet
A popular choice in floor covering, commercial carpets fall into two main categories: modular carpet tiles and broadloom carpet (wall-to-wall carpet).
While the former can be more costly, they generally have a cushion backing, making it more suited to long periods of standing than broadloom carpet.
With the correct cleaning and vacuuming methods used, a high-quality carpet can retain its appearance well over time, even with high foot traffic.
PROS:
- Good noise absorption
- Good longevity
- Waterproof options available
- Comfortable for long periods of standing
- Easy to install and replace
CONS:
- Prone to staining, which can be costly to remove for broadloom carpet
- Poor durability for low-quality carpet
- Doesn’t reflect light well, which can darken the space
Polished Concrete
Concrete has become a modern and sophisticated floor surface for offices and workspaces in recent years. When choosing concrete flooring, it is important to consider the suitability of the surface for your business and employees, particularly if they will be standing all day.
PROS:
- Tough and resilient – able to handle extensive weight and pressure from heavy equipment
- Easy to clean
- Hard to damage (water and stain proof)
- Cost effective non-slip options readily available
- Reflects light well, effectively making the space brighter
- Doesn’t trap heat, keeping the area cool in hot weather
CONS
- Not recommended for all-day standing, which may lead to WH&S issues down the track
- Unforgiving when it comes to accidents
- Prone to water damage if the surface has not been sealed properly
- Poor noise reduction – unlike carpet, concrete does not absorb noise
- Doesn’t absorb heat, making it cold in colder weather
When selecting the type of floor for your premises, it is important to carefully consider the pros and cons of each surface. Our friendly team can assist you with installations and advice. Contact us today!
