When investing in or renovating a commercial space, one of your priorities is to keep it looking as good as it can for as long as possible. A durable choice of flooring will not only look newer for longer but likely save you money over time, needing to be replaced less frequently.
Flooring that can withstand wear and tear is crucial for high-traffic applications such as restaurants, hospitals, schools, and universities. This is especially true for busy areas like hallways and stairwells.
What makes flooring suitable for high-traffic areas?
Flooring that can withstand high foot traffic with minimal wear and tear usually has a surface with good scratch and scuff resistance. Remember, you’re looking for something that doesn’t stain easily, is low-maintenance, and can bear weight.
Depending on where you’re fitting it and for what kind of business, you’ll likely have other requirements too, such as being waterproof, or resilient to temperature fluctuations.
The best carpet for high-traffic areas?
Nylon carpets tend to be the best choice for high-traffic applications. As well as being long-lasting and durable, they’re stain-resistant and easy to clean too. Possibly most important of all, though, they offer good crush resistance.
On the other hand, other materials such as polyester and polypropylene offer lower crush resistance and might be best reserved for the less frequented areas of your premises.
What’s the best vinyl flooring for high-traffic areas?
Luxury vinyl flooring has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, providing a realistic wood look and feel at a low cost. This resilient material is durable enough for high-traffic areas but still attractive enough for upmarket restaurants and sleek commercial offices.
Luxury vinyl plank and tile is probably the best choice for high-activity areas. It’s easy to maintain and clean and offers good wear and scratch resistance, depending on the thickness of the wear layer. It’s also easy to repair if it does get damaged, as you don’t have to replace the entire section.
Conversely, while budget-friendly and easy to maintain, Vinyl sheet flooring can rip, tear and dent.
What is the most durable hardwood flooring?
When it comes to hard surface flooring, each type has different elements that make it more or less suited to busy areas.
Solid wood or hardwood flooring has a long lifespan, is easy to repair and refinish if damaged, requires minimal maintenance, and is extremely durable. It can be expensive, but you get what you pay for.
Engineered hardwood flooring is more dimensionally stable than wood due to its construction. However (with a few exceptions), it’s not usually possible to refinish most engineered floors due to thin hardwood veneers.
Laminate flooring is easy to clean and maintain and scratch-resistant too.
All types can be damaged by prolonged contact with water though, which is important to note in areas prone to flooding.
What are the best flooring tiles for high-traffic areas?
As well as luxury vinyl tiles, porcelain can be an excellent choice for commercial spaces. It’s more dense and durable than other types of ceramic tile, due to being fired at a higher temperature. Robust and waterproof, porcelain tiles are scratch-resistant, low-maintenance, and easy to clean. It can crack or break, but it is also easy to replace broken tiles.
With a variety of products at every price point and design, it’s possible to choose the best flooring for high-traffic areas, whilst still achieving the look you desire. The key is to do your research and look for durability.