There's a Lot to Know About Flooring Selection

On most construction and renovation projects, choosing the floors that will be installed throughout the facility is usually done by an architect in collaboration with the owner. Selections are based on the space’s use, aesthetics, and, perhaps most importantly, product lifespan and performance. The flooring manufacturer’s track record, product availability, and warranty are also important considerations. Choosing the wrong floor can be a big deal as repair or replacement of a failed floor can be costly and extremely disruptive to business operations and production.

An average commercial building may have a dozen or more types of flooring, so floor selection is a big responsibility and you want to get it right the first time. For example, carpeting in high-traffic office areas and corridors must be durable, resistant to excessive wear, crushing, tearing, fading, and stains, and clean easily, so it’s important to choose wisely in these areas. The same facility might require epoxy floors in a manufacturing area and various factors unique to that business must go into product selection. Owners and architects must consider their options carefully when there will be heavy forklift traffic, or rolling carts and equipment. Perhaps the epoxy floor will need to stand up to frequent high-temperature pressure washing or caustic cleaning solutions. Epoxy flooring requirements can often differ between similar spaces in the same building.

Selecting floors within the project budget is another challenge. Sole-sourcing one manufacturer can drive prices up, so bidding should be open to competitors with equal products. Once the submittals and samples come in, it is important to ensure that they meet all design criteria. SRI & Company is often consulted by architects with questions and requests for advice on flooring selection, installation, and product opinions. Our dedication to quality and years of experience in the commercial arena make SRI & Co. invaluable to flooring projects of any size and scope.