March 2023 | E&M Services

Floors are an important part of any commercial space. While they may often get overlooked, your choice of flooring can have a significant impact on the aesthetics. Choosing a new floor that can benefit your business is not an easy decision. That’s why we’ve answered the most common questions on commercial flooring. Commercial flooring What is commercial flooring? Commercial flooring is designed and tailored with commercial environments in mind. Unlike residential flooring, commercial flooring is usually much more durable and designed to accommodate the heavy footfall these floors are exposed to. Some examples of popular commercial flooring include: Vinyl Sheet carpet Carpet tiles rubber barrier flooring Commercial flooring: choose the best for your business When choosing the best commercial flooring for your business, there are several questions you should consider: Does the floor offer noise-reducing/soundproofing quality? How much foot traffic and pressure will the floor be exposed to? Does the floor match your business image? How easy is it to clean and maintain the floor? Any health and safety considerations, such as slip-resistance Flooring contractors What is the best flooring option for commercial places? The best choice of flooring options for a commercial place will depend on the usage and requirements of that particular space. Different commercial environments will be suited to different flooring options. For example, busy office spaces will require flooring that is durable but soft underfoot, such as carpet tiles or luxury vinyl, often referred to as LVT. This includes products such as Ambiance and Karndean flooring. Healthcare environments require sterile floors that clean easily, are hardwearing and mitigate infection risks. Hospitality requires luxury design flooring such as carpets and LVT. Sports and gym premises require hardwearing flooring options to withstand increased usage, such as rubber or sports vinyl flooring. What are commercial flooring installation services? Commercial flooring installation services are provided by a professional and experienced contractor who undertakes a range of expert flooring services. Commercial flooring installation services, such as us at E&M Services, supply and install floors for a range of commercial premises to the needs and expectations of their clients. Such contractors have the knowledge and expertise to rectify subfloor issues and imperfections. These include the removal of the existing flooring, the application of smoothing compounds or the installation of a new ply subfloor if required for example. What are the benefits of hiring a flooring specialist? There are several benefits to hiring a flooring specialist: More efficient and better-quality installations Experience and expertise Complete projects to a budget and schedule Access to the necessary tools and equipment Adhere to health and safety regulations/guidelines Guarantee for the work carried out Specialist knowledge for repairs to the subfloor Flooring options What are the cheapest flooring options? If you are limited on budget, you may decide to opt for a cheaper flooring option. Cheap flooring options to consider include vinyl (including sheet and plank vinyl) and carpet tiles (sometimes known as carpet squares). Both vinyl and carpet (carpet tiles) come in a broad range of qualities. Not all products are the same and there is normally a product available in most price ranges. Remember that when choosing your flooring, you get what you pay for. Choosing a cheaper option may cost more in the long term due to the lower quality. If your budget allows, it is recommended to invest in a quality flooring choice. The quality of the subfloor will also have an impact. We can work with you to advise the best flooring to choose that is within your budget requirements. What kind of flooring is used in a commercial kitchen? Commercial kitchen floors are a speciality of ours. Commercial kitchens are heavy traffic, heavy wear, and dangerous environments. Hot oils, fats and liquids can make incorrectly chosen floors lethal. If you do not have specialist flooring in your kitchen, you risk serious slips, trips and falls. Kitchen equipment is heavy and can cause major damage to an incorrectly chosen floor, often resulting in pits, holes and tears appearing on the floor which are hazardous and unhygienic. E&M Services has been installing commercial flooring in kitchens for over 30 years. We have the knowledge to provide durable subfloors and to install the correct rated safety flooring in a kitchen. Our installations are quick and effective due to the amount of experience we have in this area. What are some good flooring options for a restaurant? Restaurants are destinations that provide great food and social environments. Their floors have to withstand a lot and it is vital that they keep looking amazing all the time. We have beautiful, luxurious carpets that are hardwearing, stylish, and provide fantastic noise-reducing characteristics. Carpets are often one of the best choices for a restaurant. There is nothing worse than being in an echoey or loud restaurant where acoustics have not been factored into the design. We often design floors which combine luxurious carpets with LVT flooring, installed in seamless ways. This provides durability, and style ensures the appropriate ambience. What is the best option for office flooring? There are several flooring options to consider for office spaces. The floor you choose may differ from room to room depending on the usage of each room. Floors, such as LVT and carpet tiles, are ideal choices for office spaces. They look great, are durable and are easy to keep clean. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) flooring What are the benefits of LVT flooring? LVT flooring is a great option for a whole range of environments. From commercial environments to homes, LVT is the future of flooring. Benefits include: Stylish Great layout and design options Durable and easy to maintain Comfortable underfoot Water-resistant and anti-slip Great value for money LVT is available in a broad range of colours and styles from wood effects to marble and stone styles. LVT is good value for money and provides a perfect floor for your needs. What is the best kind of flooring, vinyl or laminate? Vinyl and laminate have their own properties that make them suited for certain spaces. As a company, we have chosen to no longer sell or install laminate flooring as we prefer vinyl and LVT flooring. We deem LVT and vinyl to be a much more durable flooring choice compared to laminate. We find vinyl and LVT to have all the stylish benefits and durability without the negative noise issues, gaps and edging issues relating to laminate floors. Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) is a much more rigid form of vinyl flooring. Made with several layers, LVT is more durable, softer underfoot, and has a better design compared to its vinyl counterpart. Unlike vinyl (which can be sold in sheets of squares), LVT is sold in planks or tiles. In contrast to vinyl, LVT is made with several layers. These layers can include: A backing layer A stability layer Design layer Surface protection layer The layers will depend on the make and manufacturer (such as Ambiance) of the tiles. Why are vinyl flooring much thinner than laminate flooring? Laminate floors come with a thick substrate layer made from composite materials, such as fibrewood. The thickness of laminate floors helps to make them more resistant to dropped objects. The thicker the fibrewood, the greater protection it provides. Vinyl floors use very thin layers, including a transparent wear layer and a stability layer, that provides protection. Vinyl floors are made from a composite of different layers using different materials that are tightly ‘sandwiched’ together to provide protection. With LVT and vinyl, you do not need to cut doors and make alterations as often to allow a successful installation. It is always important to consider fire doors in commercial flooring installations. You need to ensure that your gap is correct to the underside of the fire door to keep them safe. Can vinyl plank flooring (LVT) be installed over concrete? Yes, LVT and sheet vinyl can be installed over concrete subfloors, and indeed timber floors. The key to a successful installation is in the subfloor preparation. Our fitters are experts in the field! We can take up and remove your existing flooring and build up the subfloor, as required, for the new installation. What can’t vinyl flooring go over? Vinyl flooring can be installed over most existing flooring surfaces. However, there are some requirements: The flooring must be level and smooth Floors must be free from damp A proper subfloor must be present Ensure there are no cracks or grout joins present Never place vinyl tiles on a surface that is damp or experiences high moisture content The good news is that whatever your subfloor issues, we can resolve them. We have specialist damp testing devices and experience in identifying and repairing subfloor faults. Is LVT flooring good? Luxury vinyl tiles can provide a high-quality flooring choice, both in terms of visual appearance and durability. LVT is becoming increasingly popular in commercial spaces, such as offices and restaurants. What is linoleum flooring? Linoleum is similar flooring to vinyl. The flooring was created after discovering how linseed oil (used for removing paint) developed a tough and solid film over paint. Blending this film with other materials led to the development of linoleum. Linoleum is also made entirely using recyclable materials, unlike vinyl. Although vinyl can be recycled. We always recycle where we can. Linoleum is available in sheets, planks, and tiles. What is the difference between linoleum and vinyl flooring? Both flooring options are very similar and can be easily maintained. However, linoleum is more susceptible to moisture damage compared to vinyl. Linoleum can last longer than vinyl provided it is well-maintained and sealed periodically. Vinyl and linoleum are very similar-looking products, but the styles and finishes can be quite different. Therefore, styles and tastes need to be considered. Carpets and carpet tiles Why do so many office buildings have carpet floors? Carpets (and in particular carpet tiles) are used in many office buildings due to the benefits this flooring provides for such environments, including: Durability Visually and aesthetically pleasing Reduces noise Cost-effective Great design versatility Find out more about the 7 wonders of carpet tiles Which is cheaper, carpet or vinyl flooring? Both carpet and vinyl are relatively low-cost flooring options. Saying exactly which is cheaper will depend on the specific job. Carpet tiles provide great value, particularly if the subfloor is solid as it won’t need as much subfloor preparation. However, if subfloor repairs are required, the prices can be similar. Subfloors What is the purpose of subflooring? A subfloor is a solid base on which floor coverings are installed. A subfloor provides stability for both your flooring and the walls, working alongside other support systems. Is it difficult to replace the subfloor? If a subfloor is water damaged or structurally unsound, it may need replacing. The extent of the damage to the subfloor will determine whether it needs replacing or repairing. We can provide both options and provide technical information as to how to carry out the repairs. With decades of experience in subfloor work, we are the company to help you here! How to fix a warped subfloor? If a subfloor has become warped, it will need levelling out to prevent any lasting damage to your floor coverings. A warped subfloor can usually be resolved using a levelling compound. This is especially the case when wide depressions and sags are present. Does a wet subfloor need to be replaced? If your subfloor is continually exposed to moisture, it will need to be replaced or dried out. Signs your subfloor may be exposed to moisture include large uneven or sunken areas of the floor, loud squeaking floorboards, a musty smell, or the floor feels as if it’s shifting. Depending on if the subfloor is timber or concrete will depend on what needs to be done. We have specialist machinery for drying out subfloors and bringing them up to a standard where they can be repaired. What is under the subfloor? The subfloor helps provide some structural support in a room. Under the subfloor is the joist, which provides a foundation for your floors (except for concrete). Do you have to cover subflooring? Covering a subfloor is not always required. A subfloor may sometimes need to be covered depending on the type of flooring being installed or room conditions. Does the subfloor have to be nailed to joists? A subfloor should be secured to the joists (timber floors) to make it secure and stable. Failing to properly secure a subfloor can lead to damage to your flooring installation. Cleaning and maintaining floors What do you use to clean vinyl flooring? Remove loose debris, dust, and dirt using a vacuum cleaner. Make sure you use a suitable hard floor vacuum cleaner or head. Wipe up any spillages as soon as possible to prevent damage Avoid using excessive quantities of water when mopping Use warm water and soap to regularly mop your vinyl floor (make sure to wring the mop out first) Check out some do’s and don’ts for cleaning luxury vinyl floors How do you get old yellow stains off vinyl flooring? Leaving spillages for too long on vinyl floors can lead to an unsightly stain. To remove a stain on vinyl flooring, consider: Using a dilute solution of bleach and water Oxalic acid on a cloth for rust stains Isopropyl alcohol for shoe scruffs Laundry detergent mixed into a paste with water Always refer to the cleaning and maintenance guidelines provided for your floor. How to make a floor less slippery? There are several reasons why a floor may become slippery, including moisture, wax, and grease. Regularly cleaning your floor with a suitable cleaner will help to reduce the slippiness and make it much safer. Coming to a decision for your commercial flooring is not easy. With so much to consider, including how your floor reflects on your business and employee performance, you’ll want to make sure you’re investing in the right choice. We hope that we answered any questions you have on commercial flooring and that it helps you to pick the right floor for your business. Don’t get hesitate to get in touch with us to find out more at 024 7665 9616

Your commercial flooring questions answered