Whether you're renovating or furnishing an office for the first time, decisions have to be made about how it's going to look.
What kind of lights will you choose to illuminate the office space for years to come? Are the walls going to be plain white, or do you go for a more muted gray? And what type of office flooring will work best?
As it turns out, not all types of floors work best for all work environments. Some are more suitable for high traffic, while others hold up better than others to humidity or clean better.
Here are some of your best options for commercial office flooring.
Carpet Office Flooring
One of the most common types of flooring you'll see is a carpet for offices. It's consistently the most sold product in the industry.
This type of flooring is great for businesses that want some kind of noise isolation. Carpet absorbs excess noise, such as from the floor below, and helps to provide a quieter environment.
Commercial carpet, specifically, is designed to handle heavy traffic and resist wear and tear. It's made with stronger fiber and higher density construction than the type you'd use in your home.
One downside to using carpet is that it can get easily stained and is much more difficult to clean than other flooring options. Instead of a mop and bucket, you'd have to rent out a carpet cleaner that may not completely remove stains.
If your carpet does get ruined by water damage or develops mold, replacing it can be a challenge as well. That is unless you use carpet tiles.
Carpet tiles provide more flexibility because they can be removed individually without needing to cut up the entire floor. They also come in different styles and patterns.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl is one of the cheapest options for flooring and widely available. It also offers long-lasting performance. This type of flooring offers resistance to indentation and scratches and can be used in all high-traffic areas.
Luxury vinyl is available in a large number of colors and patterns, and they're much easier to clean than carpet. No need for any special equipment to get out liquids or dirt.
One advantage of vinyl flooring is how versatile its appearance can be. You can buy vinyl that looks like hardwood if you don't want to pay for the real thing. There are also ceramic and stone patterns for a more classic look.
It's also easier to install than carpet if you use vinyl planks because they snap together edge-to-edge.
Hardwood Floors
Hardwood flooring is classy. It can lend sophistication to your commercial space and a warm, comforting vibe. It's also one of the more expensive options on this list.
Not only does it cost more than other options, but you'll likely want to pay extra for installation. That is unless you're particularly handy around the house and willing to try installing it yourself.
On the plus size, hardwood flooring has one of the longest lifespans in flooring and is durable. You can choose between a variety of different grain patterns and stains.
One thing to keep in mind is that hardwood floors are susceptible to moisture damage. Choose a pre-finished floor to avoid that issue.
Laminate Floors
Laminate flooring is another very cost-effective option. While it's affordable like vinyl, unlike vinyl it requires a subfloor material. That'll cost you a little extra.
Usually, it comes either in the form of planks or a roll-on material. As such, it's easy to install and easy to replace if it gets damaged. Laminate doesn't scratch or dent easily, and you can actually buy some designed to look like hardwood flooring.
The main difference between laminate and vinyl flooring is how they're constructed. Vinyl flooring is completely synthetic and printed and embossed with a surface layer print. This allows it to better resemble whatever material it's mimicking. Laminate flooring is a combination of wood byproducts and resins. The top surface is a hard, transparent plastic layer that isn't embossed.
Tiles
When considering office flooring ideas, tiles are a viable option and make your space look high-class. The only downside is the cost. For a classier ceramic tile, you'll have to pay a bit more for the materials alone.
However, tile flooring includes many of the other material types, such as vinyl or laminate. If you want something easily replaced and cleaned, tile is the best way to go.
Additionally, tiles allow you to really customize your space how you see fit and make renovation easy.
Eco-Friendly Material
Anyone looking for eco-friendly office flooring ideas should think about finding an eco-friendly material, such as bamboo or cork.
While cork flooring may not be the most diverse or visually appealing option, it's fire-resistant, mold-resistant, and durable. More importantly, it has little negative impact on the environment.
Likewise, bamboo flooring is eco-friendly and provides an affordable alternative to hardwood flooring.
Starting From the Bottom Up
Even though it's just office flooring, whatever you decide on will be with you for a while. It's one of the many ways you present your business to everyone else.
Do you aim for practicality, or does sophistication lend more to your ideals? And what kind of budget are you working with?
If you need any help with making a decision and installing commercial flooring, give us a call.
