When choosing flooring for a commercial space, both function and form should be your top-of-mind considerations.
Slips and trips are common incidents in commercial spaces.
In fact, in Australia, deaths from falls and slips are 5 times more prevalent than deaths due to a fire.
And according to a university study, in just 3 years, falls in commercial spaces increased by almost 15%.
Each year, slips, trips, and falls in commercial areas and public places cause thousands of preventable injuries.
The most obvious ones include dislocations, fractures, bruises, cuts, head trauma, and musculoskeletal injuries, but more serious injuries can also happen.
So, when deciding on what kind of flooring you should put in, there are two main factors to consider – foot traffic and Australian weather.
When it comes to a commercial space, whether an office with cubicles, conference rooms, event halls, commercial kitchens, cafeteria, public restrooms, a factory setting, or any high foot traffic area, each space will have a different function.
Therefore, a single flooring material isn’t going to work. For example, what works in a conference room will not necessarily work in a public restroom.
This post explores the best flooring options for a commercial space.
#1 Matting
Matting is a thick, strong material, usually made from materials such as rushes, straw, rope, rubber, or silicone, which is used as a floor covering.
Commercial entrance matting plays a key role in keeping people’s shoes clean, the floor dry, and preventing slipping.
This type of flooring is usually installed on the entranceway near the main door from where people walk into a building, such as a hospital, community building, corporate office, etc.
Hence, matting is the best option for an entrance to prevent slips and falls, especially if the area your office is located in receives heavy rainfall.
This is because matting helps in keeping the floor dry while sucking in all the dirt and debris from people’s shoes.
This ensures your facility remains clean and healthy while preventing slips and falls.
#2 Concrete
Concrete flooring may be old-school, but it is still in use in many commercial spaces for one reason – it gives proper foot traction.
Concrete flooring can handle heavy-duty industrial work while adding a modern, sophisticated approach to decorating your office space.
This type of flooring is ideal for factories, spaces where production happens, commercial kitchens where you can expect a lot of spills, hospitals, etc.
One of the reasons to go with concrete flooring is that it is inexpensive yet sturdy.
Most importantly, they come in a variety of finishes, colours, and textures.
Above all, regular maintenance is required, but you don’t have to go over the top.
Simple dusting, vacuuming, and mopping will give you a squeaky clean floor.
#3 Broadloom Carpet
Broadloom carpets are widely used in large corporate spaces and community spaces.
One of the advantages of this type of flooring is that it can quickly cover a large space, wall-to-wall, with one elaborate design.
So, they are ideal for conference rooms, audio rooms, play areas, restaurants, etc. Most importantly, they don’t have seams.
So, your chances of tripping and falling are minimized.
This is because they are cut to fit the size of the room.
They come with endless design possibilities and are softer as compared to carpet tiles, offering additional padding.
#4 Carpet Tiles
Carpet tiles are the most preferred flooring option in commercial offices because they are easy to install, are slip-resistant, and come in a variety of colors, designs, and patterns.
These are pre-cut pieces of carpet that can be directly installed onto the floor.
Their installation is somewhat similar to that of porcelain tiles but without the need for a subfloor.
Carpet tiles come with a built-in underlay, which eliminates the need for a separate pad to be installed.
Many manufacturers allow you to create your own unique style of carpet tiles based on how much foot traffic the area is going to receive.
They are highly customisable, and you can make one that is highly slip-resistant and compliments the colour of the room and the furniture as well.
#5 Natural Hardwood Flooring
If you are looking for a sophisticated feel for your commercial space, then you can never go wrong with natural hardwood flooring.
They are aesthetically pleasing when it comes to their appearance.
However, hardwood flooring is not suitable for every room in a commercial space. They are ideal for personal cabins and offices.
Moreover, they are ideal for commercial spaces like bars, restaurants, courts, etc., where you can expect high foot traffic.
While hardwood flooring is visually timeless, they are the most expensive as well.
You need to choose the flooring based on the type of operations performed in the commercial space as well as the foot traffic it receives.
The best flooring for commercial spaces offers excellent foot traction so that you don’t slip.