What makes for a good office floor?
These are no longer the days of office floors being unimaginative and boring.
The modern office demands aesthetically pleasing and ergonomically planned interiors – and that includes the flooring.
So,
- What are your options in office flooring materials?
- What are the considerations that go into choosing between workplace flooring options?
- And finally, are there any differences between different office rooms? Should you have different kinds of floors in the different rooms in your workplace?
These are the questions we shall attempt to answer in this blog post.
What are the various types of flooring that are suitable for an office interior?
According to most designers, the materials most suitable for office floors are:
- Laminate
- Vinyl
- Rubber
- Carpet
- Tile (Ceramic Tiles)
- Wood
- Stone
Let us now take a look at the pros and cons of each type.
Laminate
Laminate is one of the most versatile flooring materials, looks-wise.
In other words, it can give your floors the look of premium materials such as stone, tile, and wood while being much more affordable and easier to maintain than any of them.
You can procure laminates that are made up of layers and designed to resist moisture warping.
If you want to protect against scratches, go for a thick coating.
While laminate flooring is low-maintenance, it will still require regular cleaning.
Did you know? Laminate is a unique material as it offers high UV resistance.
Laminate is also a very good kitchen countertop material. Here are a few other good materials for your kitchen countertop.
Vinyl
Vinyl is known for its resilience. This is with respect to being durable, water-resistant and lower-maintenance.
It’s especially good for high-traffic areas.
Nowadays, you have a lot of choices as to designs and colours when buying vinyl floor materials.
Rubber
Rubber is slip, water and heat (to an extent) resistant. It will resist being dented or warped from heavy loads.
It holds up well in high-traffic places over long time periods.
On the other hand, it’s comfortable to stand and walk on, on a daily basis.
Pro tip: Rubber can be particularly suitable for open concept workplaces.
Carpet
The soft and cushioned surface of a carpet floor makes it slip-resistant and capable of absorbing sounds and shocks.
So, if your workspace requires noise insulation, you know which flooring type to go for.
If your staff has to stand a lot (putting pressure on their feet) – in this also carpet can help as it will reduce the pressure.
Carpets are available in a range of colours and textures, at various price points.
On the other hand, carpet floors require regular vacuuming and cleaning to keep them stain-free and looking appealing.
Thinking of adding wallpapers and wall covers to your workplace? Here are the different kinds of wallpapers and wallcoverings.
Tile (Ceramic Tiles)
Tile has a quality that makes it stand out among flooring options – it is stain resistant.
Tile floors can handle most messes you can expect in a modern workplace without getting stained. And even if it does get some stains, those can be easily removed by professionals.
Tile floors are also beautiful, durable and warm.
They are a good fit for high-traffic areas.
Wood
Wood flooring can be surprisingly durable.
You also have numerous options: from eco-friendly bamboo to luxurious oak.
Wood adds elegance, style, and warmth to any workplace interior.
Pro tip: There is some potential for wood to get damaged by stains and scratches. To avoid that, you can ask your interior designer about sanding and refinishing your floors.
Designer’s insight: Wood floors are relatively easier to clean and less likely to be damaged. This shrinks your expenditure on cleaning and repair over time.
Wood is also a good furniture material. Want to get furniture designed for your office? Contact Bangladesh’s leading custom furniture designer!
Stone
I think you know that stone flooring is extremely durable and can resist everything from spills to high traffic and heavy loads; and also moisture and stains.
The biggest pro of stone flooring is its luxurious look and distinctive appearance. It is a high-end material that will add a certain character to your office, impressing potential clients.
Stone flooring does require regular cleaning and maintenance.
Designer’s insight: There is a trade-off in using stone as your flooring material. The initial costs are high, but it lasts a lot more than carpet, rubber or vinyl flooring.
Pro tip: Ask the installer to apply a protective sealer, as stone can catch stains.
Wanna learn about flooring types for a living room? Here are your best options for living room flooring.
What are the factors to consider when selecting materials for your workplace floor?
The most important things to consider about your workplace floor material are:
- Flexibility: Can the material be installed in almost any space? Does the difficulty of installation vary from room to room?
- Health & wellness: The health and wellness of employees is a concern of modern offices. Flooring can play a role in helping employees maintain their health.
- Aesthetics: A luxurious interior (including the floor) will certainly help the company appear successful, making a good impression on clients and investors.
- Cleaning & maintenance: You’d want your workplace to be easily cleaned and maintained, right?
- Resistance & durability: Workplace floors should be durable (last over the long term) and resistant to various factors like traffic, stains, moisture and so on.
- Initial cost: How expensive is the material itself? How difficult is it to install? Can an average handyman/janitor install it?
BONUS: Which materials are the best for which room/kind of room (room-by-room guide)?
We are dividing your workplace into four main areas (functionally): lobby & reception, general workfloor and break rooms, conference rooms and kitchen and pantry area.
Lobby and reception
What is the first thing visitors, clients and investors will see when they enter your office? The lobby and/or the reception, right?
So, you can guess that design is a key factor in these rooms.
One more angle to think from: Almost everyone entering the office passes through the lobby and reception. So, the flooring will have to be able to handle traffic and loads, and also be durable.
From all these considerations, we can say that wood, stone and tiles are the best options for your lobby and reception floors.
General work spaces and break rooms
Every office has a particular aesthetic, in keeping with the brand image.
And the open spaces and break room interiors must match with that image.
Moreover, they should be able to absorb higher foot traffic and noise.
Durability and maintenance are two other important issues, especially in the break rooms.
With those in mind, we can say that carpet and vinyl flooring are the most suitable for your general office workfloor and break rooms.
Conference rooms
Conference rooms function mainly for meeting with high value clients and investors.
Clearly, design and aesthetics are the major factor in the flooring.
Other factors such as durability and maintenance are not so important as the conference room can be expected to be occupied and used a lot less than other rooms.
So, the best flooring materials for your conference rooms are carpet, vinyl, and wood.
Kitchen and pantry
You know what happens in kitchens and pantries. Food preparation and handling.
Which means splashes, stains, and water.
So kitchen and pantry floor materials must be resistant to slipping, and also to stain and water damage. They must also be easy to clean.
With those in mind, here are the best floor types for workplace kitchens and pantries: tile and vinyl.
Are you designing an office space in Bangladesh?
Get in touch with Bangladesh’s best office interior designer to get started!
