26 October 2022

5 reasons a new floor could offer commercial benefits

When you walk into a room for the very first time, what do you notice? You’ll no doubt take in the people, the décor, and the general vibe of a room, but your eyes tend to divert to the floor. It’s the first point of physical contact when we enter a new place, and commercial flooring can change our perception of a business within the first few seconds.

So while you may be uber-focused on tidiness and how your employees present themselves, don’t forget the presentation of your space does a lot of the talking for you. And the flooring you choose can greatly impact how visitors view your business.

Plus, aside from simply looking good, there are an array of commercial benefits that come with investing in new flooring.

1. Improve productivity

Happy people work harder. Taking pride in your workplace by making it a clean, well-presented and pleasant environment for your employees is likely to make them feel much more comfortable at work and, in turn, better focused and able to remain on task.

The commercial floor in your workplace shouldn’t be neglected when it comes to design choice – it takes up the entire footprint of the building, so it can make a huge difference in how the room is perceived and how people feel there. A dirty, damaged, faded, or simply outdated floor can turn an otherwise modern workplace into an uninviting mess.

You also need to ensure the flooring type matches the job required. If it’s an office or school, a durable but attractive carpet could be ideal as it is comfy to walk on and minimises noise. If it’s a restaurant, retail store, shopping centre, or hotel, you may prefer to opt for a hard floor cover that can handle high traffic, is easy to maintain, and is less susceptible to stains.

2. Reduce cleaning and maintenance costs

The last thing you need when you have a business to run is a high-maintenance commercial floor. If your carpets are old and tired, they’ll collect dirt faster, and you’ll need to shell out for regular carpet cleaning.

Something like laminate or vinyl is much easier and quicker to clean – simply give it a sweep at the end of the day and run a damp mop over it to wash away any grime and dirt.

Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) are made from PVC (which is waterproof) and the transparent wear layer coating protects the flooring design, so you won’t need to invest in any special cleaning equipment – any type of mop will suffice.

Real hardwood floors are extremely durable and can hide dirt well, but they will need re-coating and possibly even sanding every few years (or more frequently, depending on footfall), which makes them a slightly more expensive option to maintain.

3. Increase efficiency

You may already be utilising energy-efficient lighting and appliances in your business, but have you considered how upgrading your commercial flooring can also save energy?

With high-quality commercial flooring, you have the benefits of added insulation which retains heat in the room and, in turn, lowers the energy costs for heating the building. Saving money on energy costs is always a win, especially with the drastic price increases this year – a little saving goes a long way.

Carpet is great for making a room feel warmer. It adds insulation, reduces noise and makes any room feel cosier and more comfortable. You can double up the effects by laying down a thick underlay, which will trap heat and keep the room at a warmer temperature for longer.

Laminate flooring doesn’t have the highest efficiency on its own, but adding a high-quality underlay can add thickness and greatly increase efficiency.

On the other hand, some vinyl products, such as Rigid Core LVT comes with built-in backing which acts like an underlay, which increases insulation. Plus, it’s hard-wearing and long-lasting, making it a great choice for busy commercial areas where people constantly come in and out.

4. Reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls

It is paramount that workspaces meet safety standards and are constantly being improved to avoid accidents. And minimising the risk of falls and accidents in the workplace is something all employers need to consider.

One of the most common injuries in the workplace comes from people falling over and hurting themselves. If a commercial floor is slippery, uneven, or broken, it poses serious risks to employees and any customers or visitors. Chipped and missing tiles or torn and ripped carpets can be hazardous.

Workplace accidents cost employers money either in compensation payments or through covering staff sick pay while injured employees have time off to recover. And accidents can also seriously damage a company’s reputation. That’s a whole lot of mess you don’t want to be dealing with when you’re trying to run a successful business.

So safety should be at the forefront of your mind when choosing commercial flooring. Anti-slip flooring should be considered for workspaces with a fast pace and high traffic, such as kitchens, shops, airports, and hotel lobbies.

Softer floors are a good option for spaces such as care homes and nurseries, as elderly people and children are more prone to slips and falls. A softer floor will absorb shock, so if someone does fall, there will be less impact and hopefully reduced injury.

If you opt for smoother commercial flooring such as vinyl, stone, marble, or laminate, ensure it doesn’t get wet and clean it out of hours to reduce the risk of accidents.

5. Improve customer perception

The way customers view your premises can be the difference between becoming a regular or never returning. It can be the turning point between a great review and a terrible one. And it can change the way they speak about your company to other people.

You want your business to be inviting. A place where people enjoy coming and want to return. And humans are visual creatures who can be easily put off by somewhere that is dark, or dirty, or badly designed and furnished.

There are endless ways you can improve your business premises to make it more appealing, and the flooring should not be ignored when you’re refurbishing your space.

Opt for light and natural colours to open up the space, making it feel bigger and more enticing to customers. Ensure your flooring is kept clear and clean so it doesn’t distract from all the great things your business has to offer.

Commercial flooring from Beyond Flooring

There are hundreds of flooring manufacturers, suppliers and installers, so it can be hard to know where to turn.

At Beyond Flooring, our mission is to enhance your business with expertly fitted carpets and flooring. We only use quality products and are fully insured and qualified to fit parquet, wood, LVT, laminate, vinyl and carpet.

If you want to upgrade your commercial flooring and enhance your business, get in touch with our expert team.