The flooring requirements for every business differ and in some cases these are obvious. A hotel will need a hard-wearing but attractive-looking carpet, whereas an office can have something more functional. A pub carpet needs to be very hard-wearing and able to deal with lots of spills and splodges, while some places are better off without carpets at all.
In the latter case, this will be where alternatives such as vinyl will be more suited. This is true both in domestic and commercial premises; carpets are, for instance, not so well suited to the wettest rooms in the home like bathrooms and kitchens. The same applies in workplaces where floors may get wet or dirty easily.
When Vinyl Is Better Than Carpet
If there is any doubt, the best thing to do is compare the different attributes and characteristics of the two flooring types. For example, vinyl will not stain, giving it an advantage in areas with lots of spillages. It may be more practical to clean daily with a mop or broom instead of constant vacuuming, and if water resistance matters, vinyl always wins.
An unfortunate downside to vinyl is its reputation, which still lingers in some quarters, that the design is tacky with garish patterns and lacks style. This, however, is a somewhat outdated view, a leftover of the early days of vinyl flooring. Nowadays, attractive effects such as stone and wood are common.
While its use in a commercial setting may be a practical one and those walking on it more likely to be staff than customers in most (but not all) cases, it looks smart and attractive, contributing to a pleasant working environment.
It is certainly true, however, that not all vinyl floors are equal. This is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also design, with some having greater resilience against tears and dents, plus the fact that not every manufacturer focuses on using recycled materials where they can.
Why Gerflor Is Great
These are important considerations when it comes to our vinyl plank flooring. Take, for example, the Gerflor Creation 55 duo core wood effect vinyl planks, which measure 1500 x 230 mm. These not only look like wood but include small details like bevelled edges. Yet they are also very scratch and stain-resistant and easy to clean.
This could be useful in settings such as a restaurant, where food and drink spillages may be common, while at the same time blending perfectly with a wood-effect décor. In addition to all this, the material is 35 per cent recycled content and is recyclable.
Gerflor also produces Creation 40 Rigid Acoustic wood effect planks, measuring 229 x 1250 mm and again coming with bevelled edges. Alternatively, these can come with a stone effect, which may be particularly suited to stone buildings.
They also have an acoustic underlayer for significant sound reduction and. Both these products are 5.7 mm thick, have built-in slip resistance and come with a 12 year warranty.
Gerfor’s range also includes 55 core planks with extra acoustic resistance, again in wood and stone effects, while they also make a number of similar products, but in square tiles rather than planks.
A Grand Design
Another maker of vinyl planks whose wares we stock is JHS Design Works. Their products include the Glue Down Wood 0.55 wear layer LVT plank, which comes in dimensions of 120 x 180 mm.
As the name suggests, this comes with an extra wear layer for areas with high foot traffic, with a high slip rating and a choice of 12 wood effect designs. This can be used in retail, office, care home and education settings as well as in domestic locations. It has 3 decibel noise reduction, micro bevels to add to the wood effect and is 2.5 mm thick.
Being extra hard-wearing, this is very versatile and comes with a 15-year warranty. It is also resistant to scratches and scuffs as well as mould and bacteria.
The above products are just some of the vinyl flooring options we offer. Vinyl has come a long way and no longer represents a trade-off between aesthetics and practicality. Whatever your needs, we can provide a vinyl floor that will suit the needs of your business.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to get in touch with the CVT Direct teamvia our Contact Us page or give us a ring on 0345 121 1234.
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