Selecting flooring for a commercial restaurant should never be an emergency. Commercial restaurant flooring sees all types of stress, from heavy foot and roller traffic to constant spills of water and food. It is important, therefore, to take time out and determine first why you want the flooring and what type of issues your flooring will face.
While there are several good flooring options for commercial kitchens, none is perfect, and you may have to sacrifice some aesthetics for functionality. In addition, you need to consider durability because replacing flooring every few years in a commercial kitchen is a big and expensive headache.
As well, installing flooring in a commercial restaurant means you will most likely have to close the restaurant for a few days, which is not good for any business. Before you rush to the nearest flooring dealer, there are a few things you should know.
1. Durability:
Commercial kitchens provide the ultimate test for flooring materials. With heavy traffic 24/7, the flooring has to be durable and be able to withstand the everyday foot and roller traffic. In addition, the flooring material must be immune to spills from food, water, alcohol and soda beverages, and all types of footwear. You preferably want a flooring material that will last more than two decades.
2. Resistant to Stains and Heat:
Ideally, the best restaurant flooring material should be resistant to stains and be able to tolerate heat and heavy pounding regularly. As well, commercial kitchens are notorious for creating a humidified atmosphere; hence, the flooring must be moisture resistant.
Finally, you want the flooring to have impact resistance and not be easily damaged from the pressure of furniture or falling chairs and/or stools. Some of your choices include the newer generation of nylon carpets, luxury vinyl, rubber flooring, and laminate.
3. Hygiene:
Another important feature of the best restaurant flooring is hygiene. In almost all restaurants, there are constant spills of food, water, and grease. If these items are not removed promptly, it can lead to the growth of bacteria, which can quickly spread to other parts of the restaurant. You want flooring, therefore, that is easy to clean and maintain. You also want flooring that can be cleaned with the usual cleaning products and tools.
To avoid food and moisture from seeping underneath, you also want sealed flooring with minimal seams that are waterproof and non-porous. Some of the flooring materials that meet these criteria include luxury vinyl, laminate, and rubber.
4. Safety:
There is no question when operating a commercial restaurant that it is vital to consider safety as a priority when installing flooring. The last thing you want is your employees or customers slipping on a wet floor and then suing you for a broken leg or arm.
There are some floorings that are notorious for being slippery when wet, but, thankfully, today you can also get flooring with a surface anti-slip layer that significantly lowers the risk of slipping.
At the same time, you have to clean up all oil and liquid spills as soon as possible, and place signs in areas that might be slippery. Flooring materials with an anti-slip surface include laminate, tile, and luxury vinyl.
5. Easy to Install:
Operating a successful commercial restaurant is a hard job that is time-consuming. The last thing you want is to have to close the restaurant for a few days to install flooring. You want flooring, therefore, that is easy to install and allows you to open the restaurant right away.
While most flooring materials can be installed in a day or two, the key is to select the right flooring installer who is trustworthy and reliable. Luxury vinyl is available in planks and it is one option that can be quick to install and can be used right away.
6. Ease of Cleaning and Low Maintenance:
Once your flooring is installed, you also want it to be able to be cleaned without any hassles. Simply sweeping and vacuuming should do the trick. You don’t want flooring that will require exotic solutions and fancy cleaning machines to keep it clean. You want easy maintenance and having watertight seamless flooring is beneficial.
7. Aesthetics:
In a business that caters to customers, aesthetics is also important. You will want to choose flooring that is inviting, warm, soundproof, easy to walk on, comfortable, and has pleasant aesthetics. You want the flooring to keep an appearance like new for many years.
Remember today it is not unusual for customers to walk into the kitchen to speak to the chef or see the layout of your kitchen. The key is to select nice flooring without compromising functionality.
DIFFERENT FLOORING FOR DIFFERENT SPACES
Choosing the best restaurant flooring can be a challenge. Restaurant flooring needs to be able to hold up well under heavy foot traffic and roller (carts, kitchen equipment, etc.) traffic. The flooring material also needs to provide a certain amount of grip so that neither customers nor employees are in danger of slipping or falling.
- Carpet or carpet tile can be a great flooring choice for greeting guests in a lobby. Both Broadloom and Axminster carpets offer a slip-resistant and high-quality flooring material with an aesthetically pleasing experience. Carpet also helps absorb sound.
- Vinyl plank flooring also works nicely in a lobby, but also can be a wonderful choice for dining rooms, kitchens, bar areas, and restrooms. It is water-resistant, durable, and comfortable on the feet for walking or standing. With today’s technology, it can also be constructed to simulate the look of hardwood, ceramic, or stone.
- Natural stone offers a beautiful accent as a floor covering for a lobby, dining rooms, and restrooms. It is stain-resistant and easy to maintain.
- Porcelain tile provides great benefits for dining rooms, bars, kitchen areas, restrooms, and lobbies, as well. It is beautiful, luxurious, scratch-resistant, low maintenance, and durable. It holds up well in high-traffic areas.
- Laminate can be a versatile choice for dining rooms, bars, a lobby, and/or restrooms. It, too, like luxury vinyl plank flooring, can be customized to look very similar to stone, ceramic, or hardwood, for a lower cost.
- Concrete is a choice of many because not only is it durable, but it is affordable as well. It must be sealed to keep anything from getting under the flooring where access is limited or nonexistent. It is easy to clean, and designs can easily be added to create a unique look. The concrete should be textured to ensure a slip-resistant finish.
CONCLUSION
The most important decision you can make with regard to choosing the best restaurant flooring material for your restaurant flooring is to speak with an expert. East Coast Flooring & Interiors has decades of experience helping owners and entrepreneurs choose just the right flooring material for the needs of their restaurant or business.
Call East Coast today at 1-954-773-9575 or stop by their showroom and visit with them. They will be happy to help!