Your organization is unique, and so are its commercial flooring requirements. The best floors for you depend on the nature of your activities, the amount of foot traffic you anticipate, and your budget. To help you quickly narrow down the options, here are the most popular flooring choices for healthcare, retail, education or office locations.
Healthcare
Healthcare centers such as medical clinics, hospitals, dental offices and doctor’s offices, all must maintain the highest standards of hygiene. In this environment, it’s best to choose a surface that is non-absorbent, durable and highly resistant to harmful molds and bacteria.
Luxury Vinyl – An ideal choice for waiting rooms and public areas, luxury vinyl flooring provides a distinctive wood look that is more reminiscent of home than health care. It is an attractive, low-maintenance, durable flooring solution that makes a statement.
Rubber – Rubber flooring provides a safe, cushioned surface that reduces patient falls and injuries. It offers excellent slip resistance, and reduces the spread of germs since it is naturally resistant to bacteria and fungi. Rubber also absorbs ambient noise to create a more calming environment – potentially reducing patient stress.
Vinyl – Vinyl sheet flooring is a popular choice – providing great value for money and easy upkeep. The smooth surface is easy to clean, and limiting the number of seams leaves germs with nowhere to hide. Vinyl is practical for highly sterile environments such as operating rooms, as well as high traffic areas and corridors.
Retail
When it comes to retail flooring, appearance and functionality are of equal importance. Retail space planning demands the right look for the decor and branding of your store, but heavy foot traffic and use will require durability and low maintenance.
Tile – Ceramic tile is a durable flooring product that doesn’t absorb water. It’s sanitary, easy to clean, and has a long lifespan. Tile is particularly well-suited to food courts – where spills will be a problem – public corridors and restroom areas.
Carpet – Carpeting a retail location makes if feel warmer and more inviting. This makes it an ideal choice for retail locations that want customers to “feel at home.” Furniture stores, boutiques, and bookstores often carpet large sections of their retail space. Retail stores have discovered that carpet also results in fewer injuries from trips and falls than other types of flooring.
Vinyl – Vinyl can mimic the appearance of timber, stone, marble of other surfaces. This design flexibility makes it easy to match to your retail brand and space. Whether you have a superstore or a small boutique, you will have many style choices available.
Education
School flooring – from preschools to universities – endure some of the harshest conditions and most wear. They are subjected to soiling, heavy traffic, and maintenance challenges.
Carpet – Carpet cushions the impact of slips and falls, lessening the risk of injury. It allows young children to expand their learning space onto the floor, and carpet is extremely effective at curtailing background noise. A high-traffic carpet that’s durable and stain resistant is best.
Rubber – Ideally suited to the demands of elementary, middle, and high schools, rubber flooring is in a class by itself. It is resilient, comfortable, slip resistant, durable, and easy to maintain. Simply sweep, vacuum, or wet mop as needed.
Vinyl – One of the most widely-used options for schools, vinyl doesn’t allow soil and spills to soak in – preventing health concerns and affecting the appearance of the floor.
Office
Every office needs durable, long-lasting flooring capable of withstanding a high level of foot traffic while maintaining a professional appearance.
Luxury Vinyl – It’s low maintenance, easy to clean, and durable. Luxury vinyl flooring offers rich design and color choices – with a lower price point and greater lifespan than other surface options.
Hardwood – Classic and timeless, hardwood flooring has long been a popular choice in many offices, and one it will never go out of style. It’s durable, easy to clean, and is a great office flooring option for high traffic areas.
Carpet – Many of today’s offices have an open floor plan. This leads to ambient noise in phone calls, meetings and conversations which can be distracting. A durable carpet sets a warmer tone and serves to reduce ambient noise. Padding under the carpet can further reduce noise levels.
The right flooring choice will create the right atmosphere and serve you well for years to come. Professional installation by the expert staff at Eastman’s Carpet and Flooring will help you get the most out of your commercial flooring choice.