5 Things to Consider When Choosing Your Office Flooring
There are many factors that most of us overlook when it comes to choosing the right flooring for offices. It’s not uncommon for workplaces to replace carpets constantly in places that go through heavy traffic.
Since flooring bears all the hard work, it must be resilient and long-lasting. More than that, factors like noise, feel, and visual impact are also equally important.
Therefore, choosing the right flooring for your workspace will depend on the amount of foot traffic, space you want to cover, overall interior design, and lastly your budget.
Thankfully, there are a variety of flooring options available now. So, we’ve put together a list of tips for you to keep in mind. Without further delay, let’s get straight to it!
1. The Layout of Your Office
Nowadays, open-plan offices are the trendiest in workplace design. And this is one trend that can make a massive impact on every possible area of your office.
In the instance of open office space, the flooring has the power to give different space definitions around the office. Like, using different styles or colors to denote spaces like collaborative spaces and lounges.
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2. Sound Control
When partitions and walls are taken out of the equation, it becomes easy for sound to be carried. And so, it’s crucial to find ways to keep the noise level under control.
This is where flooring plays a big role since carpeting can help to absorb noise and hard floors allow sound to bounce off something. This makes it a superb option for open offices.
If you’re not a fan of carpets, then going for cork flooring is a good choice. They are also excellent for absorbing noise. Meanwhile, hard flooring like luxury vinyl or laminate comes with an option where a noise-reducing layer is added underneath to help control sound.
3. Purpose of a Space
How you use a space can have a huge impact on which type of flooring is right for the area. In the case of adjustable or standing-height desks, carpets are a great choice.
It’ll be comfortable to stand on, or you can just go for anti-fatigue mats if people are standing on a hard floor. Similarly, for cafeterias, vinyl or ceramic tiles are the most popular choice.
Not only are those floors damage proof from spilled food or drinks, but they won’t stain, either.
As you may have guessed, areas that are for entries will need durable flooring and a walk-off carpet as well. This is to help reduce snow and water from being tracked all through your office.
4. Heavy Foot Traffic Areas
Now, there’s no point installing new flooring if your office is going to wear out quickly from the heavy foot traffic it gets.
This can happen if the flooring you chose is not suitable, to begin with. For commercial applications, real hardwood floors can be a bad choice. High heels are its kryptonite! Experts don’t recommend it.
Concrete, tile, laminate, and stone are most suitable and durable for areas that are prone to heavy foot traffic. There are bound to be accidents, but you can just replace it with attic stock if there’s a stubborn stain.
Common carpets like the broadloom are an inexpensive option used quite often. Heavy foot traffic can wear these out quickly than it’s capable of handling, therefore check out the manufacturer recommendation. Otherwise a good carpet cleaning can help restore it to a like-new condition.
5. Luxury Vinyl Tiles
Also known as LVT, luxury vinyl tiles are just magnificent. Sleek and modern, they offer a spectrum of design. From marble, karndean to natural tiles, there’s a tile for everybody’s taste.
It’s not famous for just its looks, luxury vinyl tiles come with superb soundproofing qualities too. They offer better acoustics than linoleum, hardwood, and thinner carpet tiles.
These tiles are easy to clean, maintain, and exceptionally durable. However, there is one downside, and it’s all in the name – it’s expensive. If price isn’t a factor for you, then these are the tiles for you.
Even if you’re on a budget, imagine replacing carpets constantly. These tiles will do you justice and will last longer (you’ll save up on maintenance costs too!). Besides, the price is reasonable, and it will be a worthwhile investment.
Maintenance and Care
Before you choose your flooring, ask yourself how much money, time, and effort you’re willing to put into caring for it. This brings us to our last point – maintenance.
For instance, stone flooring is a favorite amongst many, but nobody pays much attention to maintaining it. If you’re looking for something that requires less care and maintenance, then we’d recommend going for faux stone flooring. They’re stunning, and you’ll find beautiful materials on the market quite easily.
There’s also stone flooring you can consider. There are engineered ceramic tiles available now that don’t even require sealing like the real ones.
So, do your research before you dive into selecting a flooring you’re not ready to maintain properly!
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, there’s always the option to use the same flooring for an entire workspace, giving it a visual continuity. However, if you choose to use different materials, it can help to designate different areas according to their ambiance and different uses.
Whichever way you choose to go, always do your research first and make sure you know what you want. Talk to manufacturers, shop owners, sometimes they can give you good advice too.
We hope our carefully picked list of tips comes in handy for you, and you apply them to your use. Don’t forget to share it with your peers, spread the word!
Lastly, if you’re looking to move into a new work space with newly installed flooring, be sure to look for a reputable moving company. One that is licensed, experienced and insured is always the best way to avoid rogue movers. They will also have good Google and BBB review. Be sure to research wisely!