What Type Of Floor Is Suitable For Industrial Building?

Flooring material is critical to get right in any type of building, but particularly in industrial ones. This is because of the need for safe, durable, practical surfaces that workers can easily use. Flooring isn’t just an essential add-on for new builds either, old building floors are frequently being updated and improved due to aging and improvement in technology and quality of materials. Having the right type of floor for an industrial building is vital for companies that want to avoid work-related injuries, a productive workday, and save money in the long run on maintenance and repair expenses. This blog will be all about what type of floor is suitable for an industrial building.

BAVAP is a leading industrial floor coating company. With over 40 years of experience, we are experts at delivering safe, quality floors to our clients. We know the best type of floors to suit your business needs, and we work to the highest standards.

What Type of Floor Solutions Are There For Industrial Buildings?

There are a number of different floor types available for industrial buildings, which we will go on to list in this paragraph. Each flooring type has its own distinct qualities, so choosing the right material is vital according to your own specific industry and company needs. The floor solutions available for industrial buildings include:

• Polished concrete
• Epoxy coating
• Stained concrete
• Carpet
• Hardwood
• Laminate
• Rubber

Polished Concrete

Polished concrete is a classic building material that is both durable and practical as well as looking stylish enough to be seen in a commercial setting. It is used in a variety of industries, from shopping centres through to corporate office space. The polished concrete material is popular due to its affordable price, minimal wear and tear costs, and also because of its contemporary look. Suppose you’re looking for a flooring material that has minimal wear and tear costs. In that case, polished concrete will likely be a favourable choice for your business over other types of flooring materials. An additional benefit to polished concrete is the environmentally friendly impact: there are far fewer materials involved with the initial installation and ongoing maintenance of polished concrete, making it favourable for companies who want to lower their carbon and waste impact.

Epoxy Flooring

Epoxy has become one of the most popular materials in flooring solutions for industrial companies. It’s a favourable option for many different types of companies and industries, which means you’ll likely see it in a huge range of different settings. These include hospitals, oil and gas manufacturing plants, schools, airports, colleges, parking facilities, automotive companies, and food and beverage plants. Epoxy is such a popular material because it is able to be tailored to suit the space and is highly resistant to common wear and tear. Not only this, but it’s also an insulating material and is resistant to many types of chemicals and sources of heat. When combined with other materials, the properties created in epoxy flooring can be suited to a huge range of dangerous industries, and this is what makes it such a good choice for high-risk environments.

Stained Concrete

Stained concrete is a popular choice because it won’t fade, crack, or even chip, which makes it the perfect choice for outdoor settings due to its durable and hard-wearing properties. It’s a super easy to clean surface that is also highly customisable. This means that you can create the look of much more expensive material, like natural stone or marble, by simply using stencils and decorative elements to enhance the stained concrete. This makes it an obvious choice for places where an aesthetic look is necessary: perhaps a customer-facing building like a restaurant, cafe, retail store, or bar.

Carpet

Carpet is a fantastic choice for adding warmth and colour to a space. It’s a popular option for office spaces, due to the wide range of colours available, and the properties that come with carpet. These include insulation for the room and noise absorption. But it’s important to remember that carpet can stain, and, depending on the material type, it can be difficult to remove these stains. They require regular upkeep such as vacuuming, cleaning, and steaming. It’s important to note too that if you have carpet on lower level ground, be aware of any added moisture from outside and below – the carpet is susceptible to mould because of the fibres trapping any water. While carpet is not as durable as the other choices listed in this blog, it is still a popular option for corporate office spaces.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a fantastic option for companies that want the look and feel of perhaps a more expensive material, but without the extra cost and upkeep that installing it would involve. If you want a material like hardwood or natural stone, then perhaps vinyl is the best option for your industrial space. Vinyl also has a lot of desirable qualities, like being moisture resistant, for example. However, it is important to bear in mind that while this material is low cost and can come in various prints, colours, and textures, it does have some downsides. The material can fade, and removing the material is expensive and difficult. Vinyl also has more environmental impact because it is made with harsh and volatile chemicals.

Hardwood

Hardwood is a great choice for businesses that want a high-end look and feel to their space. It’s elegant in appearance and can be stained with different hues and varnishes. However, it is an expensive material and can be subject to mould due to the material absorbing moisture. It should be noted that hardwood is an expensive material, so it might not be the best choice for an industrial floor setting. However, this entirely depends on your budget needs.

Laminate

Laminate flooring is designed to be durable, easy to maintain, and hygienic. An additional benefit to this type of flooring material is that it’s normally waterproof, making it ideal for industries that might need this for their floor surface. Laminate is relatively inexpensive to install but can be difficult to repair if they are damaged, which would add to the overall cost over time. It’s important to bear this in mind when deciding on the ideal floor material for your industrial space.

Rubber

Rubber is a great option for many types of industries. You’ll likely see this floor covering in hospitals, gyms, and schools to just name a few. It’s in these types of industries due to it being able to provide cushioning in case of any injury – perfect for those tricky PE lessons, or running about at lunchtime! Rubber is also slip-resistant, easy to maintain, and sound absorbent. It’s a great choice for ensuring safety at all times.

What Floor Choice Should I Go For?

There is no right or wrong answer to the type of flooring you should use in your industrial building. It entirely depends on your needs, business type, and your budget. We will say that the most common type of flooring for a demanding industrial environment is an epoxy coating on a concrete surface. This is because it is extremely durable and long-lasting, and will be resistant to both heat and chemicals, therefore providing a safe work environment to your staff. However, if your building doesn’t require such a durable material, then you have a plethora of options to choose from.

With BAVAP, you can have professional floor coatings for your business. We thrive on working closely with our clients from the first moment of an enquiry to completion. Whether it is a new build or a refurbishment, we work methodically to deliver a stress-free process, finding the right solution for you to meet any deadlines.