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Commercial Flooring 101

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Different commercial settings have different needs. Is the workspace purely functional and needs to stand up to a lot of traffic? Or is the space home to a creative workforce and clientele, requiring a more fashionable style and color? Is the office prone to spills or constantly crushed by work boots?

Whatever the use of the space, there is now a commercial solution to fit your needs. We can help you decide which products will give you the best protection will fitting with your style and budget.

Commercial Carpet

Some factors to take into consideration when selecting commercial carpet include: the type of fiber and backings used, the construction of carpet (tiles or broadloom), and the manufacturer’s warranties.

Classic Carpet & Flooring offers free on-site estimates and can show you all the different options.

If your business has modular workspace stations (cubicles) we can utilize a patented lift system in conjunction with new carpet tiles which allows our installers to lift the cubicles without disrupting the employee’s space. This system saves you money by dramatically reducing disruption to your staff, and can eliminate the need to disconnect your phone / computer system. We can also schedule off-hours installation to further ease the installation process.

Commercial carpet is constructed of either nylon or olefin fibers. Olefin’s main advantages are its colorfastness and inexpensiveness. Nylon, on the other hand, stands up better to foot traffic and for most customers is a better value in the long run.

Carpet Tiles

Many businesses will find that carpet tiles are the perfect solution for their spaces. For starters, carpet tile can be installed without disrupting your business’ modular office space (cubicles), as they can be cut in to your spaces without disassembling your cubicles.

Another advantage to using carpet tiles is that they can easily be removed and replaced if damage ever occurs to them in certain areas. As far as wear and care goes, carpet tiles are all warranted against edge ravel (long strings of running rows when a loop is pulled by traffic or by a vacuum cleaner) and they all have backings that prevent wicking (wicking occurs when liquid spills get underneath carpet and pool, only to later “wick” up the fiber like a sponge and reappear).

Carpet tiles come in every variation, from basic colors intended for industrial uses to more designer variations, which use the most fashion-forward styles and colors. Some tiles come in patterns or are designed in specifically random patterns in order to break up any sort of monotony.

The bottom line is that carpet tiles can add functionality, style and easy replace-ability without destroying your flooring budget’s bottom line. Have your decorator consultant explain how carpet tiles can work as an advantage to your work space.

Backings

Upgrading the backing of a carpet can give you several advantages. The warranties and capabilities of the carpet increase if you spend the money for a better backing. Amongst the advantages of a better backing are:

Moisture-resistant barrier eliminates reoccurring stains (by inhibiting spills from penetrating into the backing).
Guarantees against delamination (the separation of the primary and secondary backings – usually manifesting in bubbles and ripples).
Anti-microbial treatments minimize mold growth.
High tuft bind warranties.
Warranties against seam edge ravel and zippering.
Warranties against pilling and fuzzing.

We offer carpets with the Shaw EcoWorx backing. It is a sustainable alternative to the traditional PVC that is superior in durability and value. Ecoworx also contains 40% recycled content. Backed by the industry's only environmental guarantee for carpet backing—at the end of its useful life, Shaw Industries will pick up your EcoWorx (at no additional cost) so it can keep on working. What that means is your carpet tile doesn't end up in a landfill—it gets cycled back into the manufacturing process to make more EcoWorx, again and again.

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Commercial Tile & Sheet Vinyl

For more industrial workspaces or areas that have other maintenance issues, vinyl composition tile (VCT) might be the right answer. VCT is relatively cheap to install and is very easy to maintain as long as the proper waxing is applied.

You are probably familiar with VCT in schools, churches and governments buildings. If the commercial wax begins to yellow or to show scratches, it is easily stripped up and a new wax coat is applied. In this way, you can keep a VCT floor functional and looking good for decades.

Sheet vinyl comes in residential grades, which is great for employee kitchen and dining areas, as well as commercial grades. Commercial grade sheet vinyl is great for high-traffic or wet areas.

Ceramic Tiles.

An excellent option for entrances or conference rooms where you meet and greet clients, ceramic tile has a classic look and style that makes a nice presentation to your visitors. Extremely durable, ceramic is an install-and-forget type of floor as it will require minimal maintenance and is difficult to ever damage or wear out.

Commercial Laminate.

While it requires little maintenance, commercial laminate is a great option if you’d like to have a wood or ceramic look in your workspace but don’t want the cost associated with natural products. Plus, laminates are very forgiving when presented with an active work force. Your common areas and passageways will retain their good looks no matter how many people are using them on a daily basis.