Install Luxury Vinyl Tile for Low-Maintenance Flooring Material
Flooring is one of the first things clients notice about a commercial space. It doesn't matter if you have tile, carpet, hardwood or an engineered material, Ted Birmingham Floor Sanding and Finishing Co., LLC will make your damaged floors look good as new. We replace pieces or make necessary repairs that will blend seamlessly with your floor design.
With so many available products on the market, it’s easier to choose the right commercial flooring option for a project. The project, use, location, and other factors can determine which option is the best. However, this list of commercial flooring options which showcases some of the best options on the market can help you get started.
Laminate wood flooring is a popular choice. It’s very easy to install and maintain, especially when compared to hardwood floors. Laminate commercial flooring is commonly found in LEED certified buildings.
The wood in laminate commercial flooring is made from composite wood with an overlaying hardwood image. It also tends to be less expensive than hardwood flooring and other options. It has the added benefits of being very hygienic and durable.
The one con of laminate wood flooring is repairing. It isn’t easy to repair at all, sometimes boards can be replaced but early types would involve the entire floor being replaced.
Engineered hardwood flooring is becoming more popular in commercial flooring. This is found more often in higher end office buildings. Since it uses less wood than traditional solid wood flooring, it is a more environmentally friendly commercial flooring option.
The benefits of engineered hardwood flooring are ease of installation and lower cost. Since it is a small slice of hardwood over high quality plywood, it’s cheaper than solid wood but it’s more expensive than most other flooring options.
It does have fewer choices in colors and styles, but it is very durable and easy to install.
Solid wood flooring isn’t common commercial flooring, except in converted spaces. Places where there will be a lot of potential moisture, like entrances or bathrooms. However, that doesn’t make it a good option for some commercial spaces.
It can take a while to install traditional wood flooring; however, it is more durable than most other types of commercial flooring. These factors must be weighed when considering which choice is best for the project.
The problem with solid wood flooring is the installation process. Solid wood flooring is also hard to install and can be expensive.
Vinyl composite tile is commonly used as commercial flooring due to its value durability. VCT is also easily replaceable which allows damaged tiles to be replaced quickly and easily.
One of the downsides of VCT commercial flooring is that the glue on tiles can come loose. When the glue comes loose the tiles can lift off around the corners. And the surface does eventually wear down which causes issues for cleaning and color deterioration.
However, between the cost and the ease of installation, it can be a great choice for businesses.
Luxury vinyl tile is vinyl tile that looks more luxurious. The tile commercial flooring tends to have the look of natural materials such as wood or marble. It is, in fact, a hard surface flooring that uses 100% vinyl compared to VCT.
Luxury vinyl tile has a clear layer over the top which helps to keep the print on the tile. Unlike VCT, luxury vinyl tile actually costs less to maintain. Since it has the protective layer, luxury vinyl tile doesn’t need a sealant to be reapplied or stripped away. This is why luxury vinyl tile is a great commercial flooring choice.
For those interested in carpet for commercial flooring, there are a couple of options. Some choose broadloom carpet, while others choose modular carpet tiles. Modular carpet tiles offer more options in commercial flooring. Since they are tiles, the installation is easier and it offers consumers the ability to choose patterns and styles that fit their commercial flooring needs.
Modular carpet tiles use vinyl backing which makes them harder to unravel. And the adhesive currently used help the tiles stay in place longer, making them a better commercial flooring option than broadloom carpet. However, it’s very easy to tell if the carpet tiles were installed incorrectly.