Even though there are at least a dozen good flooring options for commercial businesses, many business owners now prefer materials that are also eco-friendly and leave no carbon footprint behind. Sustainability of the environment is a big concern these days, and many responsible businesses want to do their part to prevent more harm to the planet. Choosing sustainable commercial flooring can help.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIAL FLOORING?
While sustainable flooring is a desirable feature, business owners also need to consider other factors before they select a flooring material.
Durability: For a commercial business, you likely want flooring that is durable and lasts many decades. Replacing flooring every few years is time-consuming, expensive, and a problematic to keeping the business open and operating. A desirable sustainable commercial flooring will last a long time and require only minimum maintenance. When flooring lasts a long time, not only does it save you money, but it also preserves the environment because old flooring does not end up as often in landfills, causing less waste.
Cost: Cost is also a factor when purchasing commercial sustainable flooring. In addition, there is also the cost of installation. In general, rubber and hardwood flooring tend to be more expensive than luxury vinyl, laminate, and carpet. But, in return, they have a much longer life expectancy.
Safety: Safety is another major factor that must be considered. If a customer or an employee slips and falls due to inadequate flooring, this may lead to litigation. Hence, it is important to consider wetness, oil spills, and the weather, all factors that increase the risk of slips and falls.
Aesthetics: No matter what type of commercial business you own, the aesthetics of the flooring is important. Clients and customers think highly of a business with flooring that is clean and has good cosmesis. At the same time, you need to select flooring that reflects your business.
Type of flooring: it is important to know that not all flooring is suitable for commercial businesses. Carpets do have good aesthetics but may not be ideal if you are running a garage or a construction office. Hardwood flooring immediately elevates the interior look and is easy to clean but is not recommended if there is constant moisture o wetness, such as in a commercial kitchen.
Amount of foot traffic: A very important factor when selecting sustainable commercial flooring is the degree of foot traffic. If you expect a heavy amount of foot traffic, you will want the flooring to stand up to everyday wear and tear. In such scenarios, you may want to select hardwood, bamboo, tiles, or rubber. But, if the traffic expected is light, you may want to consider linoleum, carpet, or vinyl.
Resistant to moisture: Moisture resistance is another consideration for commercial sustainable flooring. Water spills can quickly damage flooring and cause rot in no time. Hence, if you want flooring for a commercial restaurant, you need to select water-resistant flooring. Options include rubber or tiles – both these flooring materials are durable and will last many decades. In addition, both rubber and tiles are stain and scratch resistant, which makes it easier to maintain their aesthetics.
Foot comfort: For most commercial businesses, it is important to have flooring that is comfortable on the feet. If the staff is standing all day or constantly on the go, like in a restaurant, you preferably want flooring that will not cause foot aches and pain. Therefore, you need to select soft floorings like rubber, cork, or laminate.
Germ protection: If you have a busy kitchen area that is always wet, you need to get flooring that has germ protection to prevent the growth of mold. Flooring materials with antibacterial properties include cork, rubber, and bamboo.
Noise reduction: When running a commercial business, it is important to ensure that the noise level is at a minimum. One of the biggest complaints by customers today is that many commercial businesses are very noisy. Therefore, if you are running a restaurant, it is important to have flooring that can absorb sound, which results in less noise and distraction for the customer. Floorings like rubber and cork have excellent sound absorbency.
Once you have considered the factors that will influence the selection of your eco-friendly, sustainable commercial flooring options, what flooring should you select?
- Bamboo
Bamboo is rapidly gaining popularity in North America because it is one of the most eco-friendly flooring options. It grows very rapidly and is a great renewable resource. Bamboo is also very hard and durable, with natural resistance to mildew, water, and insects. Because bamboo is not sensitive to fluctuations in temperature, it is ideal for businesses. Plus, bamboo is available in many shades, grains, and textures. If well maintained, bamboo flooring can easily last four decades or more.
Is bamboo eco-friendly? Most definitely. Not only does the plant thrive without the use of fertilizers and pesticides, it is naturally antibacterial. Because it is extremely durable, there will be fewer bamboo plants cut down to make new flooring.
- Hardwood flooring
Hardwood flooring stands at the top of the ladder when it comes to aesthetics. Its natural beauty makes it timeless and appealing. Today, there are endless options to customize hardwood flooring for any type of commercial business. But it is important to know that not all hardwood is eco-friendly; hence, it is vital to work with a reputable flooring dealership. The key is to select hardwood with FSC certification or one which has been refurbished and/or recycled. This approach ensures that the wood comes from responsibly managed forestland.
Further, hardwood is exceptionally strong and will last more than five decades if well maintained. This ensures that no unnecessary trees will need to be cut down to make more flooring. At the end of its useful life, hardwood can be recycled to make engineered wood or another item. However, it is important to note that hardwood is not meant for all commercial businesses because it is not totally water resistant.
- Cork
Over the past decade, the popularity of cork has steadily been growing in North America. Besides being one of the most eco-friendly materials, cork has many great features which make it ideal for sustainable commercial flooring. Cork is obtained from the bark of the cork tree. The tree itself is never sacrificed, thus making it a sustainable resource. Cork can even be recycled and made into other items, like stoppers for wine bottles and furniture.
When used as flooring, cork is very comfortable to walk on. It has great sound absorbency, is fire resistant, easy to maintain, possesses natural antibacterial properties, and is durable. Cork can be finished in a variety of stains and paints to suit the needs of the business. The one downside to cork is that it is not 100% moisture-proof, and all spills should be promptly cleaned up. Cork is the ideal commercial sustainable flooring for businesses like gyms, sports arenas, hospitals, garages, airports, and some business offices.
- Carpet
First, it is important to know that most of the older carpets are not sustainable, but today there are some great sustainable commercial flooring products. One can select carpets made from natural fibers, like wool, jute sisal, cotton, and seagrass. In addition, a number of carpets are made from recycled materials with no chemical treatment.
Carpets are widely used in all types of commercial businesses because they can absorb sound, feel comfortable on the feet, and have excellent aesthetics. But carpets also have several downsides, including their ability to quickly get dirty, stained, and matted. In addition, carpets need enormous care to maintain their aesthetics, and they are not moisture resistant. For business uses, carpets are best installed in offices, corridors, and high-end commercial buildings. As far as Eco friendliness is concerned, it is important to select carpets made from natural fibers, with low VOCs and minimal use of toxic dyes.
- Luxury Vinyl Tile
Most people would agree that luxury vinyl is a synthetic product and not eco-friendly at all. However, it is important to remember that the latest luxury vinyl is made using low-VOC products and a minimal amount of adhesives and glue. The advantages of luxury vinyl are numerous.
It is a top-rate flooring material that has a high-end look of ceramic, marble, and hardwood. At the same time, luxury vinyl is easy to clean and maintain and will easily last many decades. Compared to other floorings, luxury vinyl is very versatile and can be installed almost anywhere. When selecting luxury vinyl for a commercial business, it is important to make sure that the material used for the commercial sustainable flooring has been certified as a low emitter of VOCs.
- Rubber
Rubber flooring can be a very environmentally friendly choice for some types of businesses as it is made from recycled tires. Rubber is comfortable on feet for walking or standing. It is also slip-resistant. However, for high traffic businesses or those with a lot of moisture or humidity in the atmosphere, it could cause curl on the corners and need repair. However, it is easy to clean and maintain as a general rule.
CONCLUSION
With such a variety of sustainable commercial flooring choices businesses, it is important to work with a reputable flooring contractor who can guide you in selecting the one that suits your needs best. Contact East Coast Flooring & Interiors today to learn more or stop by their showroom to speak with a professional flooring expert.