Restaurant Flooring Tips And Options
The type, appearance, and functionality of flooring are one of the most essential parts of the interior of every business space, especially when it comes to commercial spaces like restaurants that are visited by so many people daily and appearance of the space is super important. This is why when you are considering an interior improvement project of your restaurant space, carefully considering the type, look, and overall functionality of the flooring is one of your main priorities. The type of flooring you are going to choose is so important it can determine the success of your business to an extent. After all, when we talk about restaurants, we envision the best and most successful ones of them to have a very cosy, professional, attractive, and appealing interior. It is said that people “eat” with their eyes first, this is why you don’t want to underestimate the impact the restaurant's interior has on your clients. It is not surprising that beautiful hardwood floors have captured the attention of many restaurant business owners due to their unbeatable beauty and great durability and functionality.
However, although it is easy to choose wood flooring for your restaurant just because of the fact how beautiful and attractive it is, this is not the only factor you want to consider. Choosing the right type of wood flooring for your restaurant space should not be determined by price only too. When we talk about real wood floor installed in a commercial space, it will help a lot if we consider its durability and strength. Hands down, real wood flooring is one of the most hard-wearing and long-lasting floor options you can find on the market worldwide. Still, there are some types of wood flooring and some wood species that can withstand the amount of daily use, high traffic, and potential wear and tear better than others, which is what you are going for when you are investing in a wood floor fitting project for your restaurant. Furthermore, the overall safety concerns are one more factor that will determine your final decision along with the ease of floor installation and maintenance.
In today’s article, we are going to discuss more the factors that can determine your decision whenever you are looking for purchasing a new wooden floor for your restaurant. We will provide you with additional information and professional tips on how to make the right choice and what you should know before investing your money. Finally, we will discuss some of the challenges of having a real wood floor in your restaurant and what is the best way to overcome these challenges.
Restaurant wood flooring – functionality and performance
Real wood flooring is a great choice for commercial spaces due to the durability of the materials and the ability to withstand wear and tear due to high traffic. Whenever it comes to choosing a real wood floor for a restaurant, there are two main options part of the dilemma – commercial-grade engineered wood and commercial grade solid wood flooring. To make the right choice, you should be aware of all the pros and cons of both options. Furthermore, you can choose different types of real wood flooring for different areas of the restaurant and you don’t have to stick to one option only.
What you should be aware of when considering both options is that engineered wood is built and designed to be stronger and more durable than the classic solid wood option. It is usually the best choice for the areas of the restaurant that are exposed to the highest traffic and heaviest footfall. Engineered wood is not that prone to scratches and dents. Furthermore, thanks to its specific construction made out of layers of softwood or plywood glued together crisscrossed and topped with a thick layer of hardwood, engineered wood floors are less prone to water and moisture damages compared to solid wood. It effectively resists temperature fluctuations too. Other areas of your restaurant where engineered wood will fit in perfectly are bar or refreshment space thanks to its resistance to moisture damages.
Solid wood flooring is also a very durable choice that can withstand high traffic and heavy footfall, which makes it a good option for hallways or the main dining area of the restaurant. However, due to the fact solid wood is more sensitive and prone to moisture and water damage, it is not a good option for areas where temperature fluctuations, moisture, and humidity can be present and cause problems. Depending on its finish, a solid wood floor can also easily get stained by food and drink spills, so make sure to not consider it first for the kitchen and bar areas of the restaurant. The best wood species that offer value for money and still look amazing are the classic oak, wenge, and the more exotic cumaru.
Whether you are going to invest in solid wood or engineered wood floor, keep in mind the finish you choose for the floor also plays a very crucial role. Always go for a commercial-grade finish with a very high level of protection, durability, and long-lasting power. Furthermore, we recommend you stay away from high gloss finishes. They look very beautiful and stylish, however, are not good at all at camouflaging scratches and dents. Semi-gloss, sateen, or even completely matt finishes are the better option for commercial spaces.
Restaurant wood flooring – care and maintenance
One of the main reasons why real wood flooring is such a great choice for commercial spaces and restaurants, in particular, is the fact it is easy to clean and maintain in good condition for long. However, make sure you have a regular and proper cleaning and maintenance routine as this will prolong the life of the hardwood floor significantly and can help it last for up to a whole century! Especially when it comes to a commercial setting where the wooden floor will be exposed to much more wear and tear and high traffic compare to domestic settings, maintaining the floor’s beauty and strength is essential.
The type of finish you are going to choose for the commercial wood flooring is as important as the type of floor itself. The finish is the protective barrier between bare wood and the environment and will preserve its colour and texture only when not worn and damaged. This is why regular sanding treatments are a great way to get rid of all imperfections such as scratches, dents, stains, the worn and tired overall look and prepare the bare wood for the application of fresh layers of long-lasting and hard-wearing finish.
Normally, lacquer finishes are the common choice for commercial floors due to their high resistance to imperfections and issues and the great protection they offer. Oil finishes, on another hand, are from the so-called penetration group, which means they are not only creating a protective barrier on the surface but also soaking into the porous wooden structure and ensuring resistance and strength from within. However, keep in mind that oil finishes are not as hard-wearing as lacquer ones and you have to consider refinishing and re-oiling a bit more often. Another great advantage of oil finishes is that they complement the natural beauty of wood perfectly, not simply allowing the natural colour and texture to peek through, but pretty much highlighting it. If you are going for a more natural, eco-friendly look for the interior of your restaurant, an oil-based finish s pretty much the perfect solution.
To maintain the immaculate look of the wooden floor, ensure an annual treatment of professional and in-depth sanding and refinishing. It may sound like a lot of job and commitment. However, thanks to the progress of the wood floor maintenance industry nowadays, professional services are no more hassle, mess, stress, and time-consuming. You can get an in-depth, professional, and very outstanding renovation and “refreshment” of your floor’s look and condition within a day or two and the results you will get make the whole process worth it every penny and every second spent. Furthermore, make sure to don’t save money on the products you are choosing for the cleaning and maintenance of the floor, because high-quality makes a major difference in this case. The best part is that wood floors are naturally hygienic and do not trap bacteria, allergens, and germs the way other flooring options do. An easy and quick, but regular cleaning routine is a must.
Restaurant wood flooring – design
Of course, the design of the floor is one of the most important aspects you will consider when planning the interior improvement of your restaurant. Generally, the classic oak wood floor is a popular choice because of the warm, inviting, and cosy atmosphere it creates that perfectly fits the concept of a family restaurant. You can easily further enhance the theme of your restaurant by additionally adding effects, playing around with different finishes, stains.
Starting with a solid, high-quality, and durable base of real wood flooring makes it easy to go further with your creativity and imagination, create something unique or classic, enjoy a look that represents different styles, from cutting-edge modern to a traditional farmhouse, and match it perfectly to the rest of the interior. When it comes to real wood flooring, you can create a statement piece that can be the focal point of the whole restaurant, something like a piece of art, or you can go for a simple look that is the perfect backdrop of the rest of restaurant’s style and design. Thankfully, real wood flooring is available in a bunch of natural or additionally achieved colours, textures, styles, patterns, etc. So whenever you are going for a sense of high-end sophistication, or you are more keen on a cosy, family-inspired, intimate design and atmosphere, with real wood flooring you have all the chances to get exactly what you want.
Restaurant wood flooring – ease of installation and safety
Health and safety requirements are one more very important aspect you should take into account when considering a few floors for your restaurant. Thankfully, real wood flooring, be it solid wood or engineered wood, is a great choice for commercial spaces in this aspect too. When choosing the right wood flooring and the right finish, you want to make sure it has a very good trip and slip resistance. Furthermore, you are going for a wooden floor that won’t trap mould and mildew, dirt and soil, bacteria, germs, and allergens. The good news is that real wood floors are naturally very hygienic, plus they are easy to keep clean and maintain.
The installation method chosen for the wooden floor is determined by the specifics of the space and subfloor and it also plays an essential role in determining overall safety. Three of the most popular methods for wood floor installation are glueing, nailing, and stapling. While nailing or stapling down the floorboards is a great fitting method that ensures amazing stability and solidness, you should make sure that all the nails or staples aren’t loose or popping out at all times, because you want to guarantee the safety and that your clients are not going to trip down. Consider finishes that are not extra glossy as they can be very slippery. You can go even further and purchase a finish that is slip-resistant and designed to make an extra grip.