When you find premises for your new business the chances are that the thing on the top of your list of things to do will not be the flooring, but that doesn’t mean that it is not an important consideration. Although somewhat mundane, different flooring has different qualities and is therefore fit for different purposes. The last thing you want is to open the doors of your premises only to find that the type of flooring you have chosen is not suitable.

From hardwood to lino and carpet to luxury vinyl tiles; decisions will need to be made. So here are a few things that you are going to need to take into consideration.

Durability –

Depending on the type of business you are opening there is either going to be a lot of people walking all over your floor on a daily basis or hardly anybody, but you need to make arrangements to suit this.

If it is a restaurant which is likely to see a high number of feet every day then something durable such as a wooden floor may be a good option, but then you have to decide whether you can put up with the noise it makes when people walk on it. Conversely if it is just a small office that is only likely to be frequented by yourself then a carpet might be a better option.

Hygiene –

Hygiene is obviously very important when it comes to flooring because it can begin to look rather tired and worn if it’s not looked after in the right way. Hygiene is something that the medical industry has to be very careful about when they are choosing flooring due to the fact that it needs to be easy to clean and not harbour harmful bacteria.

This is also something you will need to be aware of in the hospitality trade or any other industry where regular cleaning is a legal requirement and therefore lino or hardwood floor might be the best choice.

Style –

Obviously your flooring choice needs to be more than just practical and so you should make sure it fits in with the rest of the aesthetics. For example if you are opening a warm and friendly boutique fashion shop it wouldn’t be wise to include a cold looking floor that would go completely against the atmosphere you’re attempting to create. Also you might want to choose an option that allows for personalisation to represent the personality of your business.

Safety –

The safety of your flooring is definitely something that needs to be thought about as this could cause you problems in the future. The first priority should be children and so if you are opening a kids clothing shop the floor shouldn’t be too slippery or have any other obvious dangers.

If your business is even more child focussed such as indoor play areas where children will come to play you need to ensure that the flooring is suitably able to prevent injuries. Other safety considerations will include how easily the floor could become damaged and how comfortable it is to walk on.

Chris Mayhew is writing on behalf of N and S flooring who privide quality domestic and commercial flooring in Bristol