Not all floor finishes will suit every location in an office. You should consider how many people will be working in a given space, how often you will be receiving visitors, whether there will be goods traffic, etc. High footfall through the office will need flooring that is robust enough to withstand the wear and tear. The standard requirement is that the flooring product will last at least 10 years without presenting problems.
Be sure to choose flooring that is easy to access should it require repair, with minimal inconvenience to staff and clients. Consider the cost of labour required to maintain the flooring over time versus the installation cost. The cost of your choice of flooring material should be weighed up against ease of maintenance and life expectancy; the cheapest is not necessarily the most cost-effective in the long run.
Office floors should be:
- Non-slip to avoid accidents.
- High acoustic absorption to attenuate footfall noise.
- Resistant not only, but especially in areas with high and constant traffic.
- Antistatic to absorb most of the electrostatic tensions of electrical installations.
- Hygienic, so it is easy to clean and maintain.
Carpet tiles pros and cons
In offices, one of the traditional options is carpet tiles as they are ideal for businesses that require noise insulation and they can help to keep the environment warm too. Tiles are more easily and cheaply replaced when damaged and can be more hard-wearing. However, carpet floors bring dust mites into the environment, so they require a very specific type of cleaning. In addition, when chemicals or oils fall on them, removing stains is complicated. To this, we must add its cost, which is usually higher than the floating or ceramic flooring.
Hardwood or laminate?
Hardwood flooring is stylish and gives an office a classic, executive feel. It’s also very durable although water can cause damage. The main drawback of hardwood flooring is that it is usually the most expensive flooring option.
On the other hand, laminate offers a cheaper alternative to hardwood or stone. It is one of the best choices for offices because of its ease of installation and its great soundproofing capacity. This type of flooring offers a wide variety of looks, colours and finishes, still does not require specific cleaning and maintenance, since you will not have to wax it to have a cared appearance. In addition, this type of floor can be laid over any type of surface, including ceramic, which makes future renovations easier.
Vinyl flooring graining ground
Vinyl flooring is gaining ground over other options at industrial levels due to its longevity and hard-wearing performance qualities. From a functional and/or maintenance point of view, vinyl floors are ideal for offices since they are durable and easy to clean. As they are made of impermeable materials, it is only necessary to use a mop and a floor-cleaning product that does not contain abrasives or solvents. Vinyl floors also prevent the accumulation of dust mites and bacteria, making them ideal for all types of office areas (offices, kitchens, bathrooms, meeting rooms, etc.).
Natural stone and ceramic tiles
Natural stone floors, such as marble or granite, are always a good choice in specific workspaces, as they exude quality and elegance. Although they are perhaps not the best choice for large offices because of their price and maintenance.
Ceramic tile is the other type of flooring that does not go out of fashion and can be a good option for some offices or common areas such as corridors, break rooms or meeting rooms. Although tiles are easy to clean and maintain, and they do last a long time, they can be problematic to replace should they become cracked, and they tend to lack the noise insulation properties of other flooring options. Tiles would be best suited to an office in a particularly warm building as they tend to lack the warming qualities of vinyl or carpeting.
Source: Duraflor, L’Antic Colonial
