A high-traffic commercial design requires both a balance of aesthetics and functionality. While hardwood floors look stunning, they are often impractical for high-traffic areas and are prone to damage from excessive moisture.
Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is a durable flooring option for high traffic store and shop floors that offers countless design possibilities, product thicknesses, and constructions to suit the specific needs of your business. The right flooring can also increase comfort and acoustic properties of your space while providing resistance to stains, scratches, water, and general wear and tear.
A popular retail clothing chain learned the hard way that you should never skimp when it comes to your shop and store’s flooring. When they went with an across-the-board residential flooring solution instead of selecting high-traffic vinyl specifically for their most high-traffic areas, the result was an expensive and unnecessarily difficult to maintain retail floor.
This particular retailer chose a 2mm residential flooring product with a 10mm wear layer for all of their stores, which was far too thin for the high-traffic and e-commerce-focused spaces they were utilizing. They were not prepared for the level of foot traffic they would experience, and as a result, their new floor was prone to premature deterioration and required a costly and extensive repair budget.
Commercial vinyl can withstand heavy traffic, high-moisture environments, and harsh chemicals, making it an ideal choice for most commercial applications. The only areas that are typically not suitable for vinyl are heavy-duty industrial kitchens and heavy-duty or high-impact areas such as warehouses, gyms, or gymnasiums. In these situations, quarry tile or epoxy flooring may be more appropriate.
If you’re considering commercial vinyl for your shop or store, you’ll want to make sure to select a quality product with an enhanced urethane finish and a thicker backing to provide long-term performance characteristics. A urethane wear layer offers standard protection and is the best flooring material for high-traffic areas. You should also be sure to take into account the total square footage of your space, as this will impact the performance characteristics of your vinyl and the overall cost.
Sheet vinyl is the most common form of commercial vinyl, and it’s available in a wide range of colors and patterns to match the look of your brand or business. These products are easy to maintain as they do not require a floor finish and are stain, scratch, and water resistant. Floating LVT and clic vinyl are also popular options for light commercial spaces. Typical light commercial spaces include small retail shops like art galleries, specialty boutiques, and photography studios, as well as professional offices for doctors, lawyers, and accountants. Vending and non-cooking kitchen areas are also considered light commercial spaces.
Luxury vinyl is a versatile flooring option for any high-traffic area of your business. In addition to durability, it is also comfortable underfoot and easy to clean. To keep your vinyl looking its best, sweep regularly to remove dirt and debris and wipe up spills promptly to prevent stains. You can also use doormats at all entrances to help reduce the amount of dirt and grit that will scratch your vinyl, and place felt pads under furniture legs to protect your vinyl from scratches. If you need a hand in installing commercial vinyl floor for your business make sure you look for a reputable Tampa commercial vinyl floor contractor or a licensed flooring company in Tampa.
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