4 Best Flooring Options for Commercial Spaces
When designing a residential space, flooring is often one of the first things that is considered and the rules are no different for commercial spaces. However, one unusual thing we see with commercial spaces is that flooring options that are common in residential spaces are used less in commercial spaces.
This isn’t because businesses are trying to cut costs, rather commercial spaces have different requirements than residential spaces due to their busy environments. So, as you read on, you can expect to encounter some interesting flooring options.
In this article, we’re going to look at 4 of the best flooring options for commercial spaces.
Important Considerations for Commercial Spaces
• Location
The term “commercial space” is a pretty broad term that can encompass various environments. All these spaces might be used for profit but can and do differ in their purpose. For example, the requirements of a mall are significantly different than an office's.
So it’s worth considering first—what is the location and intent of your commercial space and then buying flooring according to that.
• Durability
Durability is another vague term that has many meanings. However, with commercial spaces, we see a preference for strength-based durability over other forms such as waterproofness, unless you’re building a public pool or shower.
Even factors like lastingness are not given that much weight since businesses change location more often than homeowners and no longer require older flooring.
• Affordability
Affordability is one of those factors that is common between both—businesses and homeowners, because who doesn’t want to save more money whenever possible?
Expensive options, in general, don’t make much sense for most businesses. Unlike residential real estate, many companies rent spaces instead of buying the property, and so are not concerned with raising the property's resale value.
• Attractiveness
This is another common factor between homeowners and businesses, though we’ll admit, it’s definitely more important for homeowners. However, good-looking flooring should not be skipped for commercial spaces either.
After all, a lot of people are going to spend a huge chunk of their life working in that area. It pays to have an environment that at least looks attractive and keeps the morale up.
4 Flooring Options for Commercial Spaces
1. Wall-to-Wall Carpet
It might seem surprising to see a flooring option like carpet on this list. After all, it is common knowledge that carpets are prone to collecting dust and require active upkeep and maintenance. Why then is this flooring so common in commercial spaces?
One of the reasons for its popularity is its unmatched noise insulation. If you’re working in a typical 9 to 5 work environment, you most likely are exposed to a lot of noise in the office; whether that’s through various conversations taking place or an office party. Carpet absorbs a lot of these sounds and helps businesses adhere to noise-level rules in rented spaces.
Another reason why carpet is so widely used in commercial spaces is because of the cozy ambiance it creates in any given space. This is essential for corporate workspaces, which are usually quite stressful environments. By having comfortable and attractive flooring, the employees can feel a little more at ease, which can increase their work productivity as well.
2. Polished Concrete
We’ve previously spoken about how durability means different things to different people. However, its most common meaning refers to strength and impact resistance. And when it comes to these factors, there’s no better choice than polished concrete. Since commercial spaces see heavy foot traffic, investing in this flooring is a great decision.
People also love this flooring since it is super affordable in terms of its material and installation costs. One of its disadvantages, however, is that, unlike carpet flooring, it is not good at absorbing sound. This is fine in outdoor commercial spaces but could be problematic for areas that require noise levels to be low.
3. Rubber
Stepping into a bit of niche territory, we get rubber flooring. We say niche because compared to some of the other floorings on this list, rubber flooring is not that common to see—and so has fewer manufacturers as well. However, this does not mean it is not a good flooring option for commercial spaces, quite the opposite.
Just like carpet flooring, rubber flooring provides a soft and comfortable underfoot, making it a great ergonomic flooring option. This is essential for places like factories, where people have to spend a lot of hours standing.
The best benefit of this flooring is that it is slip resistant and can be cleaned fairly easily. That’s part of the reason why rubber flooring is often seen in gyms and exercise areas. It is, unfortunately, prone to developing a noticeable smell of rubber after a while, especially if natural rubber is used.
4. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Whenever flooring for a commercial space is being decided, a lot of businesses want to opt for authentic hardwood flooring because of its rustic charm. But that flooring comes at a big cost. Like literally; it is one of the most expensive flooring options. If you want the looks of hardwood flooring without breaking the bank, then allow us to introduce you to luxury vinyl flooring.
Luxury vinyl flooring is a type of synthetic flooring consisting of several layers of various materials that are made in two popular designs: Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and Luxury vinyl tile (LVT). While the former recreates the look and texture of hardwood flooring, the latter caters to recreating the look and feel of ceramic and stone tile.
If the word “luxury” makes you worry about the actual costs of this flooring then you’ll be happy to know that luxury vinyl flooring is one of the most affordable flooring options, which makes it great for commercial areas since they’re often bigger than most residential spaces and would require a bigger capital.
The only area where this flooring lacks is in strength-based durability. Luxury vinyl flooring can dent after extensive weight is applied to it, so it is not suitable for areas that will receive heavy foot traffic. You can still use it in offices that have fewer employees nonetheless.
Conclusion
Whether you’re creating a residential space or a commercial space, it’s important to always keep in mind, a good flooring lays down the foundation for all successful endeavors to take place.
To make sure you select a good flooring for your commercial space, think about all the requirements your business would need from the flooring, and then make your decision.
To recap, in this article, we’ve looked at 4 of the best flooring options for commercial spaces -\
1. Wall-to-Wall Carpet
2. Polished Concrete
3. Rubber Flooring
4. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Want to explore more flooring options for your commercial space? Floors2Day is here to help!
Reach out to us at Floors2Day by giving us a call at 877-356-6759 or booking an appointment online using this link. (If you book online, you say $150!) We offer our flooring services in Maryland, Delaware, Washington D.C., Virginia, Wisconsin, and Illinois!
Here at Floors2Day, we provide the best quality flooring products, coupled with excellent customer service, and quick and easy installation.
With over 20 years of experience in flooring, we have seen it all. Every client is unique, and our services are always custom to your needs! We also proudly offer 12-month 0% interest and 90-days deferred financing, learn more here! So, sit back and relax as our team provides you with an amazing, worry-free renovation experience.
To learn more about the flooring options we offer, click here.
