Every commercial building’s interior design is extremely important since it can influence people’s first impressions. Although many factors impact the interior design of any commercial space, such as lighting, wall decor, comfortable or elegant furniture, and so on, nothing completes it like modern and sophisticated flooring.
In addition to appearance, when choosing commercial flooring it’s also important to consider durability, especially in high-traffic areas, maintenance, and similar factors. Although there are numerous flooring options available, one of the most popular is commercial vinyl plank flooring. But what makes it so popular and superior to other commercial flooring options? Let’s take a look.
What’s the Difference Between Vinyl Flooring and Other Options?
Before we get into why vinyl is one of the best options for commercial spaces, it’s important to understand how it differs from other flooring options, such as laminate or ceramic tiles. What makes it stand out is that it is made of plastic, specifically polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic.
That means it’s much more suitable for your commercial space than having all wood or ceramic flooring. Imagine a busy office where someone spills a drink on the wooden floor. That isn’t the best scenario because wood absorbs water and other liquids, which can stain it or cause it to cup. That said, having commercial vinyl plank flooring allows you to enjoy some of the advantages you wouldn’t have with only a wooden or ceramic floor.
The Advantages of Commercial Vinyl Flooring
It’s Versatile
Commercial vinyl flooring has never been so versatile. There are many designs, colours and patterns you can choose from that you will be spoiled for choice. It can mimic many wooden floor styles, stone and tiles. How? Well, this is achieved by using photos of their real counterparts and transferring them onto the vinyl flooring tiles or planks. This will create an aesthetically pleasing floor in no time. However, commercial vinyl is also comfortable and soft under your feet.
It Offers Unmatched Durability
Commercial spaces are usually high-traffic areas, and changing your floor often is going to hurt the budget. However, vinyl flooring is perfect in that regard since it can be very durable thanks to its wear layer on the top. The wear layer is the protective coat that goes over the top to make it more resistant to scratches.
That said, the thickness of the wear layer will determine how durable your vinyl floor will be over time, even in the busiest areas of your commercial space. On that note, you will see wear layer thickness of 6, 12 or 20-mil. Obviously, commercial spaces require a thicker wear layer due to higher traffic, so it’s best to opt for 20 and 40-mil of wear layer thickness. The 20-mil will last for more than ten years, while the 40-mil has warranty protection for more than 20 years.
Along with the thickness of the wear layer, you can choose different thicknesses of commercial vinyl flooring planks and find what fits your business best, such as 2 or 8 mm. The plank will be more stable if it is thicker, which is especially important in busy areas.
It’s Completely Waterproof
Vinyl flooring is unbeatable when it comes to waterproof qualities. You won’t need to worry if someone spilt water over it thanks to its plastic construction. Due to this feature, it’s entirely safe to use vinyl for the bathroom as well. However, unfortunately, the subfloor may not be waterproof, so in case of flooding, you need to check and let the subfloor dry and reinstall the vinyl planks or tiles.
Easy to Maintain
Vinyl flooring is low-maintenance. Seriously, you don’t need to use expensive or harsh cleaners, and it doesn’t require any specific maintenance, as opposed to the hardwood flooring.
All you need to do is vacuum or sweep it frequently. This is especially important for commercial spaces since many people walk in and out, bringing small rocks, leaves and dirt from the outside. Small rocks in high-traffic areas might cause scratches over time, so regular vacuuming is a must. Also, you can mop it with hot water and use dishwashing soap if you want.
A Cost-Efficient Investment
Okay, so all of these qualities mean that buying vinyl flooring is much more expensive, right? Quite the opposite. It is definitely less expensive than its real wood and stone counterparts. Real hardwood flooring can be really costly, depending on the space you want to cover; wood flooring material can cost between $3 and $7 per square meter, while for vinyl flooring it’s $1 to $3.
Super Easy to Install
Finally, vinyl flooring is easy to install. Of course, you can always hire professionals to do it for you. However, if you want to save some money, especially at the beginning of your business endeavour where every penny counts, you can do a little DIY project by yourself or call some friends or family members. You can glue down the vinyl planks or tiles, peel and stick them to the floor, or you have the loose-lay flooring option.
To sum up, commercial vinyl flooring offers numerous benefits such as appealing designs, waterproof qualities, scratch resistance, and others. It will transform your commercial space into a welcoming and comfortable place everyone wants to be in.
