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Yes! Vinyl flooring has many benefits that make it great for your commercial spaces. Thanks to these benefits, it has become a very popular choice for commercial flooring and is often chosen over alternatives like wooden flooring, carpet, and laminate.�
Commercial vinyl flooring is made from a combination of natural and synthetic polymer materials. It is durable and aesthetically pleasing, and can be found in lots of commercial settings from hotel lobbies and office foyers to schools and hospitals. Vinyl flooring has many qualities that people look for when searching for flooring for their commercial environment and, when installed correctly, can look amazing!�
Benefits of Commercial Vinyl Flooring
Choice of Design and Type�
Since vinyl was first used for flooring, the designs and manufacturing processes have come a long way. It is a modern variation of old linoleum that now allows for texture in your flooring. The design advances allow vinyl flooring to create patterns, or provide a more natural look mimicking hardwood planks, all whilst being easy to install. It can be installed in one or two solid unbroken pieces providing a better barrier against moisture.�
Aesthetics
Its wide variety of design options also means that the aesthetics of commercial vinyl flooring represent a major selling point. The photo film layer can mimic almost any ceramic, wood or stone flooring and makes it difficult to tell the difference between the vinyl flooring and the real thing.�
Scratch Resistant
Most flooring options today will offer some level of scratch resistance. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are the hardest but if something heavy is dropped on them, they are likely to chip or crack. Other flooring options such as solid hardwood and engineered hardwoods are also more susceptible to scratches from sharp objects. However, high-quality vinyl flooring is manufactured with a layer that resists dents, scratches and stains much better than wood or ceramic flooring. This is another reason as to why vinyl flooring is a great choice for commercial settings.�
Cost Effective�
Vinyl flooring is an excellent choice for anyone seeking an attractive flooring for their commercial environment without having to spend a fortune. The installation process of the flooring means that if one plank is damaged, you can re-lay this plank rather than the entire flooring. Also, the installation process is quick and straightforward meaning you do not need to stay out of business long whilst the flooring is being laid.�
Durability and Sustainability�
Vinyl flooring is extremely durable, able to withstand wear and tear but maintain its beautiful appearance. This is essential in commercial settings due to high foot traffic. This is another advantage over other types of flooring such as wooden floors, which will fade after a while. Vinyl flooring is also a more sustainable option as it usually contains a high percentage of recycled material.�
Easy Maintenance and Moisture Resistant
Vinyl flooring is much easier to clean than fabric flooring. Dust and dirt is easily cleaned off vinyl flooring, which again makes it a great choice for commercial environments where high hygiene standards are very important. �No matter the style of vinyl flooring you choose – sheets, tiles or planks – it is fully waterproof. Any spillages or drops are able to be mopped up quickly and won’t sink into the material.
Other advantages to vinyl flooring in commercial settings include impressive acoustic qualities, anti-slip properties, and their ability to be easily removed.�
Types of Vinyl Flooring
- Vinyl Sheet Flooring�
- Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT)
- Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
All three of these types of vinyl flooring are well suited for commercial areas of high traffic. However, they all differ when it comes to maintenance, lifetime price, and design versatility::�
- Vinyl Sheet Flooring�
Vinyl sheet flooring is a continuous sheet of polymer materials. It is durable and normally used for unique designs that require larger sheets without visible seams. This makes it ideal for commercial areas like hospitals where a minimal number of seams can help with fall prevention. However, the lack of seams can make it more difficult to maintain. If one section is damaged, the whole section will need to be replaced rather than just swapping a tile. It is more costly than VCT but less than LVT. If you are looking for enhanced durability, it is worth paying more for LVT.�
- Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT)
VCT is a combination of natural limestone, filler materials, thermoplastic binder and colour pigments. Whilst VCT does tend to be the cheapest initially, it requires regular stripping, waxing and polishing which over time increases its costs. This means its lifetime cost can exceed vinyl sheet flooring or luxury vinyl tile costs. . Vinyl sheet flooring and luxury vinyl tile have minimal maintenance requirements, only needing routine sweeping and mopping. Whereas VCT has a porous surface, meaning it is not easy to maintain. However, VCT is functional and durable, making it a commercial flooring option still worth considering. It used to be standard for high traffic commercial areas before LVT and VCT were introduced. In the last 10 years it is not used as much but you will still find it in many healthcare and educational applications because of its low upfront cost and durability.�
- Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
LVT is made of a predominantly limestone-based material mixed with composites. A digital graphic film that sits on top can create any look. This type of vinyl floor is the most expensive of the three initially, but its lifetime costs tend to be lower. This is because LVT has superior durability and minimal maintenance requirements. LVT also has superior design capabilities over VCT. The production of LVT in the last 10 years has increased and it is now available in lots of different sizes and shapes. This means that innovative and new designs are possible. As the designs have developed, the quality of composites and wear layers have too. This means that the material is more durable and can withstand heavy duty settings.�
LVT does tend to have the greatest design options, have the low maintenance and the greatest durability. It arguably provides the greatest long term value of the three options.
FW Direct
Here at FW Direct, we have over 40 years combined working within the flooring industry. If you’re after more advice on vinyl flooring then please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 03333 660119.Additionally, you can fill out our easy online enquiry form where a member of our expert team will be in contact shortly.
