Whilst the function of a washroom is always the same, regardless of where it is located, needless to say, when it comes to choosing flooring materials for commercial washrooms, the requirements are very different to a washroom in a private home. Firstly, commercial washroom flooring has to be able to withstand a large amount of footfall each day, whilst also remaining pleasing to the eye and consistent with the decorative style in the rest of the commercial environment.
Consider the factors that must be considered for choosing commercial washroom flooring.
Easy maintenance
As commercial washrooms experience high levels of foot traffic, the floors can get dirty extremely quickly, especially in wet weather conditions. As a result, it’s important to choose flooring solutions that can be cleaned quickly and with ease, not only keeping the washroom looking its best, but helping to extend the life of the flooring material and reduce maintenance costs in the long term.
Durable flooring
The more footfall a washroom sees, the more wear and tear the floor will experience. It’s important to choose durable flooring that is resistant to scratches, colour fading, breaking and cracking when faced with high foot traffic. Durable flooring materials mean lower repair costs and less frequent floor replacement.
Water resistance
Special consideration must be given to washroom flooring due to the humidity of the environment. Not only is the use of water key to a washroom’s function, it’s important to remember that moisture can also be walked into the room on a wet day, through wet shoes and dripping clothing as people come inside to dry off and use the washroom facilities.
Washroom flooring should be non-permeable, as porous or permeable flooring allows for moisture to penetrate beyond the flooring material, leading to the growth of mould and other bacteria. Flooring that will require regular sealing to ensure it stays non-permeable should also be avoided, as this will have higher maintenance costs.
Hygienic flooring
Harder, non-permeable and easy to clean flooring solutions are more sanitary, helping to prevent the growth of germs and bacteria that can lead to illness. Flooring solutions with antimicrobial properties should also be considered as they are designed to help kill off such microorganisms.
Aesthetics
Even when flooring ticks all of the above boxes, in a commercial environment, it’s important that it also fits with the design of the rest of the washroom and commercial property as a whole. First impressions count, so a washroom environment should be as inviting as possible.
Popular Flooring Materials for Commercial Washrooms
When you consider the factors above, there are a number of different popular choices for commercial washroom flooring.
Porcelain: Porcelain flooring tiles are well suited for commercial use as they are easy to clean and maintain, non-porous and water resistant, and able to withstand the constant wear and tear associated with foot traffic in a commercial property.
Ceramic: Ceramic flooring tiles are highly durable and are often treated with a porcelain glaze to make them more resistant to water and stains. Another benefit of ceramic flooring is that it can be printed to look like other materials, such as wood, helping to provide a stylish look.
Concrete: Concrete is an easy to maintain and cost effective flooring solution for commercial washrooms. Whilst concrete is simple to clean (a mop and warm water will do the job), it’s important to remember that concrete floors require regular sealing to prevent water ingress and staining.
Stone: Stone floors are hard wearing and durable, and provide a truly eye-catching aesthetic to make a great impression on visitors. Whilst there are many benefits to stone flooring, it should be considered that stone is naturally porous and some stones are more permeable than others. Stone flooring will require resealing every six months to a year.
Composite: Composite flooring is durable, non-porous and highly water resistant, making it an affordable and effective choice for washroom flooring.
Non-slip: A key consideration for commercial facilities is health and safety. In an environment that can be quite humid, non-slip washroom flooring is effective in presenting slips and injuries that a commercial enterprise could be liable for, thus potentially saving a lot of money.
Commercial Flooring Contractors
If you are seeking commercial flooring contractors in Hampshire or the South of England, Universal Contracting are specialists in commercial washroom refurbishment and flooring installation.