An African proverb says “It takes a village to raise a child”, and most parents out there would agree. Every parent wants the best for their babies, which is why finding a high-quality daycare centre is non-negotiable.
Daycare providers and owners know how big of a responsibility opening and running such an institution is. Safety, comfort, lots of entertainment options and highly-professional staff is what makes a daycare centre attractive for parents to enrol their kids. And while choosing the right furniture and educational tools like wooden puzzles that enhance children’s development is essential, one thing that shouldn’t be overlooked when opening a new daycare centre or remodelling an existing one is the flooring.
When looking for the ideal flooring for daycare, you need to make sure that it meets all safety and health aspects. It should be able to prevent bad “boo-boos” that may occur after a fall and cope well with all the spilled milk, juices, vomit and even urine. If these scenes are all too familiar, or if you foresee them in the future, you may want to look into the best types of daycare flooring.
Resilient Vinyl Flooring
Given the fact that daycare centres are areas where groups of children will regularly spend longer periods, you need to make sure that the flooring you choose is durable, resilient but still feels soft under feet. Vinyl flooring is known for its ability to offer child care facilities a blend between the best of vinyl composites and the look of other daycare flooring options. Vinyl flooring products are supremely versatile, capable of imitating any other flooring option.
High-performance vinyl sheets with polyurethane (PUR) surface treatment to assist ongoing maintenance are considered comfortable, durable and easy to clean flooring for daycare centres. This flooring option is resistant to virtually all staining agents, which is one of the key factors when choosing floors for kids. The ability to withstand spills like milk, juices and even urine without being damaged is what makes vinyl flooring the top choice for this type of commercial use. It can also resist rough play and furniture dents while retaining a necessary amount of softness.
The plethora of available options that vinyl, and luxury vinyl offers, allow you to create tonal, complementary or harmonious interior design schemes, through the availability of a broad spectrum of colours. And since the colours in a daycare centre should be bold, playful and motivational to the kids, these flooring options allow you to create a highly motivational and inviting environment.
Vinyl floorings are also known to be slip-resistant, which is another great quality that makes this flooring ideal for chid care areas. This feature is also important, given the fact that older kids will be running and plying around the place. Since vinyl flooring is relatively soft under feet, occasional falling might not be such big a deal. Vinyl sheets and tiles are also very easy to install and can be easily mounted above already existing floors. Since this type of flooring offers a wide range of visual or aesthetic choices, it prevents daycare owners from spending additional money on floor decor.
Colourful Linoleum
Another floor that shares many qualities of vinyl is linoleum. This flooring solution is quite stain-resistant, and when sealed with an acrylic sealer, it provides additional stain protection. It’s considered to be a durable option that can withstand normal wear and tear for many years.
Linoleum can be found in a variety of colours and patterns, allowing you to create an aesthetic flooring surface. This floor is naturally anti-bacterial, which makes it perfect for daycare centres where children love to play on the ground. However, unlike vinyl, linoleum is not suitable for bathrooms. Because of linoleum expanding and contracting properties, it can be damaged when installed in high moisture areas.
Carpet for Softness
Carpeting is a common choice for daycare centres, at least it used to be. Since it’s soft, safe and familiar, the plush surfaces of carpets invite kids to hop down on the floor to build a block palace or play fun card games. However, besides being very comfortable, it has a lot of disadvantages as a flooring solution for a daycare centre.
First off, it’s susceptible to damage from liquids. Stains are always a potential problem, especially if you choose a lighter colour. Another risk is that the moisture can penetrate down into the padding, where it can start to damage the subflooring below or promote the growth of mould or bacteria. This problem can be alleviated with special water-resistant carpet to some extent. Have in mind that carpets are widely considered a flooring material that can trap dust and allergens, so it may not be the best surface for children with notable allergies.
What Type of Flooring Is Easiest to Maintain?
Since kids are the biggest mess makers, the flooring solution for your daycare centre should be easy to clean and maintain, doesn’t hold water and can be mopped regularly. Carpet floors are very high-maintenance. You need to encourage proper spot cleaning, vacuum regularly and arrange for regular deep cleanings to keep the carpet free of stains and contaminants. Linoleum is relatively easy to clean, and it can be mopped and vacuumed regularly.
Vinyl floors are among the easiest floors to maintain. Every week, or more often if necessary, it’s enough to wipe the floor with a damp mop or a cloth moistened with warm water and a neutral detergent. This way, you can remove the dirt and keep the floor in top condition. Keep in mind that you don’t need a large amount of water to clean your floor. Additionally, you can try some fast fixes for vinyl flooring, if somehow it gets damaged and just patch the vinyl sheet or replace the damaged plank or tile.
