With thousands of products on the market today, it can be difficult for building owners to know where to begin with material selection.
But there are a couple of tried-and-true materials that provide good upfront and long-term value for a multitude of commercial applications. Although far from a comprehensive list of high-value flooring products, these products should be considered by commercial facility managers based on price, durability and function.
Commercial Carpeting
Carpeting is one of the most versatile commercial flooring products available. It offers virtually limitless design and the emergence of stain-resistant tiles and broadlooms eliminates concerns about soiling and spills.
In terms of upfront cost, broadlooms (carpets that come in 12-foot rolls) are cheaper up front. But carpet tiles (carpet that comes in 2×2 tiles) are easier to install and replace, bringing down the life cycle cost. Generally speaking, carpet tiles are the better choice for high-traffic commercial applications. For buildings with little traffic, or where you don’t plan on staying for an extended period of time, broadlooms are a cost-effective alternative.
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
LVT can be used for practically every application, except for high-impact industrial buildings and commercial kitchens. It’s everything you’d want out of a commercial flooring material — it’s durable, quick to install, low maintenance and aesthetically versatile. Plus, LVT is a resilient and cost-effective alternative to more expensive products like marble, wood and ceramic tiles as it can be made to mimic the look of almost any material.
Aesthetically pleasing, LVT flooring can look like marble, wood, ceramic tiles and more
Terrazzo
Terrazzo is one of the pricier flooring options in terms of upfront costs. But its extreme durability —it’s about as close to a forever decision as you can get in flooring— brings its life cycle cost down tremendously. Terrazzo is best-suited for upscale entranceways, showrooms or any building where you’re looking to impress.
Terrazzo flooring is extremely decorative and durable, ideal for commercial areas
Quartz Flooring
Quartz flooring is a cost-effective, all natural flooring solution comprised of a combination of quartz sand and calcium carbonate. As one of the naturally hardest materials on Earth, quartz is a perfect flooring solution for commercial spaces that receive heavy amounts of foot traffic and daily wear and tear.
Although saving money on a flooring installation isn’t as simple as choosing the lowest bid, there are proven ways to deliver quality flooring systems within even the tightest budgets. You just need to be intentional with your product and flooring contractor selection, and by engineering value into your project from the beginning.
