Flooring for healthcare facilities has a multifaceted job to improve safety, reduce stress, facilitate patient satisfaction, and provide a solid return on investment (ROI). In terms of healthcare design, flooring needs to excel in all these areas:
- Slip resistance: You need flooring to be stable and slip-resistant. Changes in flooring should be smooth without edges or height differences to trip over.
- Sanitization: Flooring should be spill-resistant and sealed to prevent microbes and germs from spreading. Ease of maintenance is also critical.
- Noise absorbtion: Where patients are trying to sleep and staff is trying to concentrate, a floor can’t echo the sound of every footfall. The flooring should absorb noise effectively.
- Give: For healthcare design, flooring should have some give to guard against falls. Whether through material choice or underlay, the flooring shouldn’t be too hard. A bit of give can make the difference between a bruise and a broken bone.
- Cushioning: Cushioned flooring makes it easier to walk. This is important for patients with trouble walking and for staff who are rushing around placing stress on their feet, ankles and knees.
- Aesthetic: The right flooring for healthcare facilities welcomes people. Patients and families want to feel calmed and reassured. It must also communicate professionalism and cleanliness. Staff need to enjoy working in the area. Color is important, as is the floor’s ability to reflect and amplify lighting – especially where natural light shines in.
- ROI: You need the floor to fall within a certain installation and maintenance budget, and it has to last. This means enduring heavy foot traffic, as well as equipment carts and patient transport rolling across it regularly.
Healthcare & Hospital Flooring Options
- Sheet rubber flooring is as a fantastic choice when it comes to what flooring is used in hospitals and healthcare facilities. It’s durable, sanitary, easy to seal, impact- and noise-absorbing, and available in a wide array of styles.
- Sheet vinyl flooring is another superb choice. Sheet vinyl floors allow for antimicrobial barriers and can accurately emulate many natural looks that are reassuring and calming – including wood and stone. Plus they’re very spill-resistant, durable, and easy to maintain.
Need more help? When faced with healthcare design flooring decisions, consult a flooring contractor in South Florida – like East Coast Flooring & Interiors – with expertise in installing flooring for healthcare facilities.
