Choice of flooring when refurbishing your office
Wednesday, 16 March 2011 7:23 PM
For many people, choosing a floor is not just about what to lay down in the kitchen, living room or bathroom. While all of these are important choices and each has to suit the needs of those using it, the same is true when making choices for an office floor.
There are a range of considerations that may be taken into account. For example, the size of the office may be small or large. The level of foot traffic may vary, depending on how much people are out of their seats and the number of visitors. Issues of aesthetics, the environment and cost may also be factors.
Vinyl flooring offers one good choice, as it is a hard-wearing, long-lasting material that is easy to clean and can come in a wide range of colours and designs, the latter possibly including shades that match corporate colours.
The kind of vinyl flooring that will ideally be used for an office will be a tougher variety, such as one with an anti-microbial polyurethane layer that will toughen the floor and also help ward off germs.
Cork flooring is an option that could be particularly appealing for those who want a green office, with the material being an organic substance that is replenished every few years. While some woods can only be sourced by chopping down a tree and thus killing it, cork comes from the bark of the tree and so it grows back again in a few years.
Apart from being green, cork is also soundproof - which may be handy in noisy premises - and its softness makes it easy on the feet, which could be good news if people are standing up a lot. On the other hand, this might be a disadvantage if heavy furniture tends to be move around a lot, as this could scratch and damage the surface.
Carpet is another interesting choice. It may be attractive and can of course come in different designs and colours, which could include the company corporate colours or even have logos incorporated. A pleasant colour might also brighten up the working environment.
If a carpet is chosen, however, it may be a wise move to ensure it is a hard-wearing, long-lasting item that will not wear out quickly, both for visual and cost reasons. Also, it may be easier to clean.
