Each type of carpet and flooring comes with its own set of benefits as well as drawbacks. Painting the walls, replacing the old furniture with brand new can give a fancy look to your office, but would you be able to replace the entire floor on a limited budget? This is why it becomes ideal to choose the flooring for your new office space with thorough research. The factors that you should consider while selecting this are:- the flow of traffic, ease of maintenance, recycling and reusing capacity of products, service life, and the lifestyle costs.
Find out more about the pros and cons of these most commonly used flooring options for offices –
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood has been popular for several reasons – easy to clean, long-life, and super easy to install. However, wood can shrink and swell with temperature changes, shouldn’t be exposed to moisture for longer durations, needs to be refinished to maintain looks, and should be ideally placed at areas with lesser traffic flow.
Laminate
Laminate is seen as an inexpensive alternative to hardwood, tiles, and stone, as it is capable of mimicking their look at a cheaper price. It is easy to install over existing floors, requires negligible maintenance, and is easy to clean. However, it can become slippery when wet.
Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are of four types – glazed, quarry, terracotta, and porcelain. These are very popular due to the extensive variety of colors and patterns. With the advancement of printing technology, these can be made into any pattern you admire. Out of these, porcelain is considered the most durable due to its resistance to scratches, dents, and easy to clean properties and hence would be an ideal choice for areas with heavy traffic flow.
Rubber Flooring
Rubber flooring is considered an ideal choice for commercial interiors prone to high-traffic such as airports and restaurants. It is slip-resistant, soundproof, durable, and provides resistance to water as well as heat. It comes in a variety of shades and textures.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl, made from PVC, is considered inexpensive and durable as it keeps moisture at bay. It can be personalized to look like wood or even stone. It can be the best choice for baths, basements, and mudrooms. However, it is made up of materials that are not eco-friendly.
Linoleum
Linoleum can be considered as an eco-friendly alternative to vinyl flooring. It is made from natural, renewable materials and comes with a protective coating. If appropriately maintained, it lasts for more than thirty years. However, it is vulnerable to denting from sharp objects and high heels.
Carpet Flooring
Carpet is famous for its wide range of colors, textures, density, and materials such as acrylic, wool, nylon, and polyester. It is sound absorbent, anti-slip, feels softer and warmer, and is easy to install. However, it is vulnerable to staining, is difficult to clean, not advised if anyone is allergic, and is expensive as compared to traditional hardwood flooring. A good alternative to traditional carpets is carpet tiles, which can be replaced individually and are environment friendly.
