Do you own a business like a retail store, bakery, or medical facility? No matter what type of business you own, it’s likely you’ll have to look into replacing the flooring at some point. As a building ages, maintenance and repair costs, likeliness of work-related injuries and remodeling needs can all start to increase. A practical, aesthetically pleasing flooring solution that is going to last can make all of the difference. Cost, return-to-service time, functionality, etc. are all important to business owners when deciding on flooring for their space.
Concrete coatings, polished concrete, hardwood, vinyl, carpet, and laminates are just a few of the endless flooring options for commercial spaces. With there being so many options to choose from, it can make it difficult to make a decision. Let’s explore all of the commercial flooring options and weigh out their pros and cons. Use this information as a guide to decide what the best commercial flooring option is the best for you and your needs.
Polyurea and Polyaspartic Coatings
One of the fastest growing flooring options for commercial spaces is polyurea and polyaspartic coatings. They are affordable at the time of installation and due to their longevity, they will save you money over time. The biggest way polyurea and polyaspartic coatings can save business owners money is their installation time which is typically one day. With businesses being able to go back to full service after just 24 hours of installation and the installation process only taking one day, this helps to save a remarkable amount of money.
Restaurants and hospitals favor these coatings due to their antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Polyurea and polyaspartic coatings not only look clean, but they’re easy to clean and prohibit mold and bacteria growth. Mechanics garages love these coatings as they are resistant to oils and chemicals up to battery acid. When these coatings are applied they create a 100% seal, making them a superior choice for car washes as well. Not only do they last for 15+ years, but they stand up to all of the elements (even outdoors).
Epoxy Coatings
Epoxy Coatings are one of the most popular options when it comes to concrete flooring options. They are very popular in settings such as mechanic garages, hospitals, restaurants and public bathrooms. This is because epoxy coatings are durable and serve as a very easy to clean surface. Epoxy coatings take 3-5 days to install, typically, and they are relatively inexpensive. They are being used less nowadays due to the popularity of polyurea and polyaspartic coatings and their benefits over epoxy. Epoxy takes much longer to install (3-5x as long) and tends to crack, chip and peel much faster than polyurea and polyaspartic coatings.
Polished Concrete
When you’re in a warehouse, supermarket or retail space and look down at the floor, it’s common to see polished concrete. Polished concrete has become a favorite for business owners for many reasons. First being it is extremely durable and provides a clean and contemporary look. Not only does polished concrete look clean, but it is easy to clean and serves as a cleaner surface as it does not harbor dirt, mold and other debris. It is not only affordable at the time of install, but it has lower maintenance costs than most flooring options. Utility costs can also be reduced due to light reflectivity; which can serve as a huge savings in some industries.
Stained Concrete
When you stain concrete you can achieve an endless amount of looks and styles. You can stain concrete to look like natural stone, marble, and even wood. Patterns and stencils can be used to help achieve your desired look and even mimic more expensive materials. Just like polished concrete, it is extremely durable, long lasting and easy to clean. Since stained concrete won’t fade, crack, chip or peel it makes it an ideal option for outdoor spaces like patios. It is also a very cost effective option as installation and cost of maintenance are considerably low.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is a fully synthetic polymer. It’s designed to provide you with the look of a hardwood or stone floor without the cost or upkeep. It comes in a variety of options from vinyl composition tile, luxury vinyl tile and even vinyl sheet flooring. Vinyl flooring is water resistant, relatively durable, and easy to install. Even though vinyl flooring is less expensive than other options, it has numerous downfalls. While it is relatively durable, it can easily be dented or punctured. Vinyl flooring also isn’t a good option for areas exposed to sunlight as it will cause the vinyl to fade. Last but not least, toxic chemicals are released during its production process which has a negative impact on the environment.
Carpet
Carpet used to be of the most popular flooring choices as it provides a warm, comforting feel and absorbs sound waves. But now that we have discovered how difficult carpet is to properly clean and how it harbors dirt and allergens, many people are opting out of this option. Carpets can also easily become stained and depending on what caused the stain, it can be impossible to remove. It is also not a good option for basements as it needs to be removed if it is exposed to excess moisture before mold and mildew can grow. Another downfall of carpet is that it is not very durable and is easily destroyed by pets and heavy traffic.
Hardwood
Hardwood flooring is a great option for inside your home as it lasts a very long time and provides a very aesthetically pleasing appearance.
It is also very easy to clean as dust and dirt can be easily swept and mopped away. It is not, however, a great option for commercial settings as it is very expensive and has a lengthy installation time. Just like carpet, hardwood floors are susceptible to moisture issues as well. Moisture and high humidity can cause your wood floors to crown, crack, buckle and grow mold/mildew.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is designed to be easy to clean, long lasting and durable. They are typically waterproof which adds to its durability and is less likely to be damaged than vinyl flooring. Unfortunately, when laminate flooring is damaged, it is very difficult to repair. Due to its cost of installation and repair once damaged, laminate flooring is not a very popular option in commercial settings.
Conclusion
Facilities like warehouses and manufacturing plants see heavy traffic and have different flooring requirements than a doctors office. Luckily, now that you have read the information above, you can weigh out your options and make an educated decision on what type of flooring will best suit your space. If concrete coatings sound like it is going to be the best option for your project, give us a call today!
Here at TAGG Concrete Coatings we offer the best concrete coatings available and strive for customer satisfaction. When you hire us, you can rest assured you are receiving premium products installed by our professionally trained technicians. Give us a call or fill out our simple online form today to schedule your free estimate!
