Restaurant and bar owners want practical flooring but also want something that will last and perhaps is a little different. From easy maintenance to longevity, it’s an investment that is crucial. We mentioned some of the benefits for hospitality flooring in our previous blog. These still stand but what type of flooring is best to use within a bar or restaurant?
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) : The attraction with LVT flooring is that it is easy to maintain and there is a wide range to choose from. As discussed in our previous blog post for the Hospitality Sector, Luxury Vinyl Tile replicates the look of wood, stone, slate and marble. The beautiful appearance, ease of maintenance and excellent sound and heat insulation ensures that Luxury Vinyl Flooring is a great, cost-effective alternative to the real thing!
Marmoleum : The benefits include strength and durability when using this very traditional product. This is ideal for when you are flooring a bar or restaurant. The surface is relatively smooth and resists stains, scratches and wearing out. It is one of the hardest wearing products available and is also regularly used in schools and hospitals. In addition, one of the many benefits is that it is a completely natural product, using ingredients such as chalk and linseed oil in its manufacturing process.
Wooden Flooring : There are very few products which come close to the traditional appeal of a real wooden floor, although some get very close. Available in a wide range of colours, this generally comes with a pre-lacquered top surface. This can be sanded and re-applied, as the product wears thus bringing it back to life.
Safety Flooring : This type of flooring is especially important within bars and restaurants, particularly in serving areas and kitchens. This type of flooring can provide protection and safety for a variety of different environments. We supply and install two main brands : Polysafe and Altro. These are both renowned for their reliability and versatility. Recently, we completed a job for The Rum Shack in the Southside of Glasgow. Here we fitted Altro slip resistant vinyl on the Main Stage, Kitchen and a few of the public areas.
As we have been supplying and installing commercial flooring for many years, we are able to give you guidance when choosing the right floor for your business. The aim is for your bar or restaurant floor to add to the surrounding atmosphere which is why we have such a large selection to choose from. Flooring for Front of House is just as important as flooring for the kitchen.
When people think of flooring, they don’t tend to think of ‘Fun Facts’! Once a floor has been installed it tends to only get attention when being cleaned.
Here are some top facts about flooring :
1. The oldest surviving carpet is called the Pazyryk carpet. At a startling age of over 2000 years old, it dates back to the 5th century BC and was found in the Altai Mountains in Siberia.
2. Wooden floors are allergy friendly. The smooth and hard surface of wooden floors does not harbour bacteria or mites. They’re easy to clean and easy to keep bacteria free.
3. The red carpet was not introduced to the world through celebrity events, like we would think. It was originally used for marking ceremonial and formal roots for leaders and politicians.
4. Vinyl and linoleum are often referred to as the same things however they are entirely separate products. Vinyl is completely synthetic while linoleum is made from raw and natural ingredients.
5. The world’s priciest flooring is the Pietra Frimas LuxTouch tile. This stunning black marble design is inlaid with 95 cut diamonds. Not only that, but each tile contains abalone shell, mother of pearl and black onyx. You could be look at near to $1,000,000 per square meter!
6. A rug and a carpet are basically the same thing. The only thing that sets them apart is the size. Any piece of carpet that measures less than 40 square feet is considered a rug. This means that, technically, Aladdin’s Magic Carpet is actually a rug.
These are just a few facts on the wonders of different types of flooring. Do you have any facts to add? Flooring will always be an important part of any building. If taken care of properly, it can last 20+ years!
We recently completed a job in Carmunnock, near Glasgow, where we were asked to replace existing Karndean in a large Hallway, Lounge and three rooms. The previous floor-covering had been inherited by our customers and wasn’t exactly the best Karndean installation we have ever seen!
We began to remove the previous floor and discovered that the preparation work had not been carried out correctly. It had not been primed prior to applying the smoothing compound, and it had therefore ‘failed’ and was very loose. For some smoothing compounds, priming must be done beforehand.
We had to ‘pull out all the stops’ to get the job done properly, and it proved to be a bit of a challenge. But as always, our fitters (Barry and Tony in this instance) rose to the challenge and provided this first-class finish for our customers.
Here we installed Karndean Opus wood plank, which was laid diagonally across the entire area. Note the border detail – particularly around the curve of the fireplace, and the bottom step ‘bullnose’ in the hall.
The Karndean Opus collection is perfect for homes, like this one, as well as in office or commercial spaces too, particularly because it’s both fresh and modern. The Opus collection has a thick 0.55 wear layer/ surface covering, allowing it to withstand heavy foot traffic.
What a beautiful floor – definitely worth the additional work!
Allfloors is an independent, family run business based in the Southside of Glasgow, offering a hug range of domestic, commercial and flooring products and services.
The hotel industry is big on visual aesthetics. Everything about the inside (and outside too, of course) must look up to a certain standard and attractive to guests. From the windows and the walls, to the doors and most importantly, the floors!
Arguably, flooring plays a bigger role in hotels than any other feature, because it’s not just about the interior design. Floors must also be durable, comfortable, maintainable and safe.
Getting the right flooring in hotels can ensure safety and hygiene, reduce maintenance duties and keep guests happy, which is why we have created this short guide on choosing flooring for hotels!
Things to consider
As obvious as it may sound, it’s important to note that hotel flooring is a lot different from standard home flooring. There is a lot more to take into account when fitting flooring in hotels, like what type of room/area it’s being laid in, the acoustics and how durable and safe it will be.
The area of the hotel
Exactly where the flooring will be fit is perhaps the biggest consideration of all. This will determine a lot of other factors, like how soundproof or comfortable the flooring needs to be for that specific area. Hotels are big spaces, with lots of rooms that serve different purposes, so different rooms require different flooring needs. Bedrooms would require more features than reception areas, for example.
Comfort
Comfort in hotels isn’t just found in beds and pillows, it’s in the floors too! Hotel flooring should be soft and comfortable underfoot, especially in bedrooms and hallways where comfort is vital.
Acoustics
A certain level of silence is required in bedrooms. No guest wants to hear every footstep of their neighbour above, so choosing the correct floor with soundproof qualities can ensure that this doesn’t happen and keep guests happy.
Safety
Safety is key anywhere, but even more so in the hospitality industry. Flooring must also be safe for the staff working in the hotel, just as well as guests. With busy staff rushing about at work, they may be at more risk of slips, trips and falls than guests are.
Durability
Many guests come and go in hotels, so wear and tear are very probable. Many organisations may not have the time or budget to continuously update flooring, which is why they need to consider durability and find a floor that will last.
Hygiene
With such high foot traffic inside hotels, dust and dirt is guaranteed to always make their way inside and onto the floors. Luckily, there are types of flooring that can resist dirt, staining and smells.
Aesthetics
Finally, floors must also still look good. They should look luxurious and inviting, while complementing the rest of the décor.
Good quality commercial grade carpets are traditionally used in hotels.They are warmer and more comfortable than other types of flooring, with noise reducing qualities too. Carpets can be used throughout an entire hotel, but are almost always laid in bedrooms and hallways.
Key benefits:
Warmer
Carpets retain warmth a lot better than hard flooring options, like wood or luxury vinyl tiles, for example, thanks to the materials they are made from. This is what makes them the most suitable option for bedrooms.
Noise reducing
According to The Building Performance Centre at Edinburgh Napier University, carpets absorb sounds up to ten times better than hard flooring, meaning that neighbours won’t be disturbed by footsteps.
Comfortable on foot
With carpets being softer than hard flooring, it makes them more comfortable on bare foot. In bedrooms, guests are likely to walk about on bare foot, so carpets can promote comfort and relaxation.
Hospitality carpet tiles
Hospitality carpet tiles differ from traditional commercial carpet rolls as they are installed as small squares of carpet. These can also sometimes be fitted in bedrooms but are more commonly laid in areas like conference rooms or function suites.
Key benefits:
Durable:
Hospitality carpet tiles are designed to last, so they’re built with strong, heavy duty materials that will ensure this.
Quick and easy installation:
With being such a busy industry, hotels usually don’t have a lot of time to spare to close off areas for flooring to be laid. Fortunately, carpet tiles are simply stuck to the floor, quickly and easily.
Cost effective
Hospitality carpet tiles are versatile and re-usable, which makes them cost effective. Even if they don’t suit one room, they are easy enough to lift and reuse in another.
Luxury vinyl tiles
Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) replicate the look of natural materials, like wood, marble and rock, making it an inexpensive way to make flooring look more luxurious. LVT may be placed in reception areas or restaurants/cafes within the hotel.
Main benefits
Range of designs:
With such a variety of designs, LVT flooring can look good and fit into any type of room.
Durable:
LVT is made up of many layers which make it durable, scratch resistant and able to withstand heavy foot-traffic.
Low maintenance:
Hotels already have a lot to clean. But LVT can make cleaning jobs that little bit easier, as all that is required is daily sweeping and mopping.
Safety flooring
Safety flooring is a popular choice in the hospitality industry. Why? The clue is in the name! With this type of floorings ‘safety’ features, it’s particularly useful areas of hotels like restaurants, kitchens, bars or toilets.
Main benefits
Hygienic:
Spillages, bacteria, dust and debris will not be absorbed into safety flooring, making it hygienic and easy to clean and maintain.
Safe:
Safety flooring has been specifically designed to reduce slips, trips and falls, the most common causes of injury in workplaces.
If you’d like to hear more about the services we offer hotels, do not hesitate to get in contact with us today!
Some of our satisfied customers include The Douglas Hotel, where we carried out a full refurbishment and The Leapark Hotel, where we fitted a carpet in the function suite.
Be sure to keep a look out for our next blog, A complete guide to choosing flooring for the hospitality sector part 2: Bars, clubs and restaurants
Ever heard of safety flooring but you’re not entirely sure what is it and what it’s for? If that’s the case, you may want to keep reading!
What is safety flooring?
Safety flooring is a type of floor covering that is designed to provide safety and protection from slips and trips in high foot traffic areas that are prone to spillages. It’s mostly made from vinyl mixed with silicone carbide, quartz and aluminium oxides. These elements make it different and safer from standard flooring.
There are two major safety flooring brands:
Altro
Altro are the original inventors of safety flooring. Altro safety floors are designed for areas where aesthetics, slip resistance and durability are all a priority.
Polysafe:
Polysafe is the safety flooring of Polyfloor. It has managed to establish itself as one of the most popular safety flooring brands in the world. Consistently optimal performance and attractive design has led to the brand becoming widely used in the flooring industry.
Where should it be used?
Safety flooring can of course be used anywhere, but it tends to mostly be used in commercial premises.
Why? The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (Regulation 12) requires floors to be “suitable, in good condition and free from obstructions.” Floors that are not suitable, in good condition and free from obstruction can result in slips, trips and falls – the most common workplace injuries.
Moreover, workplace injuries are also not only a major inconvenience to employees, but employers too. Employees could be sued large sums of money for workplace injuries.
Having safety flooring installed is one of the most sensible changes a workplace could make to reassure safety.
Safety flooring is most commonly used in:
Healthcare facilities
Doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, hospitals and care homes are likely to see chemical spills from medicines. This makes flooring particularly hazardous for those in such facilities who may be unsteady on their feet.
Animal care facilities
Veterinary practices, kennels, and animal rescue shelters are likely dealing with scared animals, some may not even be house trained. Flooring in these places must be able to withstand liquids while being quick and easy to clean in order to maintain a hygienic environment.
Pubs and clubs
The floors of pubs and clubs can quickly become swimming pools, with intoxicated customers spilling entire drinks or accidentally smashing glasses. Staff behind the bar are also at risk too, as they’re busy pouring drinks all night in poor lighting.
Sports facilities
There is a risk of accident throughout sports facilities, like gyms, swimming pools and changing rooms. These are humid environments, meaning that floors will quickly become slippery from sweat, showers or spilled water.
Commercial kitchens
Commercial kitchens are fast-paced environments. It’s almost guaranteed that liquids, foods and grease will easily find their way on to the floor. Flooring in commercial kitchens must be able to withstand these spills to ensure kitchen staff are protected.
Why is safety flooring ‘safe’?
By now you may be wondering what exactly makes safety flooring ‘safe’. There are a few great features which makes it safer than standard flooring.
Slip resistant
It only takes a small spill of water for flooring to become dangerous. But safety flooring has been designed to reduce slipping, making it particularly useful in the likes of bars, clubs, commercial kitchens and public toilets. It works by incorporating aggregates into a wear layer. When these aggregates are enough in number and quality, they can penetrate the wet film to provide contact with shoes.
Hygienic
Unlike standard flooring, safety flooring doesn’t absorb any spillages, meaning it can prevent build-up of bacteria, dust and debris. Some Altro products have Easyclean Technology which keeps the flooring looking good and saves time and money when cleaning. This feature makes it perfect for inside health facilities where hygiene is vital.
Durable
Safety flooring is also designed to last and survive the harshest of spillages, such as chemicals. It’s hardwearing, with an extremely high impact resistance, so it will survive premises with high foot-traffic too.
At Allfloors, we can provide our customers with both Altro and Polysafe safety flooring, as well as Luxury Vinyl Tiles and Carpet Tiles, for a variety of different purposes.
We pride ourselves in providing first class products and a level of service that we feel is unsurpassed in our industry.
Do not hesitate to get in touch with us today for more information.
Amtico are market leading suppliers of commercial LVT flooring. With a huge range of colour options available and a wide range of benefits, such as a 20-year warranty, durability and authentic designs, Amtico flooring is an excellent choice for businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Amtico Luxury Vinyl Tiles
Amtico have been producing commercial vinyl flooring since 1964, making them one of the world’s most experienced suppliers. Luxury Vinyl Tiles work well in almost any commercial space and Amtico have luxury vinyl tile collections that are specifically suited to commercial areas.
Commercial LVT collections
Amtico Spacia
The Spacia range couples Amtico’s renowned design with a cutting-edge urethane layer. Amtico’s Quantum Guard urethane layer is the most durable urethane available in the market making this an excellent choice for commercial floors.
Amtico Signature
Amtico Signature flooring features beautiful, highly realistic luxury vinyl tiles. A high level of realism is created by an extremely translucent wear layer. Moreover, Amtico Signature flooring is an excellent heat conductor making it suitable for underfloor heating.
At Allfloors, we can supply and install both Amtico Spacia and Amtico Signature.
Why is Amtico great for workplaces?
The benefits of Amtico commercial luxury vinyl tiles make the brand especially great for workplaces like: retail, hospitality and leisure, offices, education, healthcare and transport.
Low maintenance
Maintaining floors is the last thing any workplace wants to do, however, Amtico luxury vinyl tiles are very low maintenance and easy to look after.
Hard wearing
Amtico floors are engineered from heat-compressed layers to ensure extreme resilience, strength and durability. This means that luxury vinyl tiles are protected from dents, scratches and scuffs. You can enjoy Amtico flooring for many years to come.
10-year commercial warranty
Even if your Amtico flooring does happen to become damaged, do not fret, as all flooring comes with a warranty. The warranty for each collection differs.
Authentic
Amtico’s commercial vinyl flooring has been praised for its authenticity and ability to recreate the latest flooring trends.
Allfloors offers a complete supply and installation service for commercial clients. With over 30 years’ experience in the commercial flooring industry, our contract flooring team has the knowledge to provide the perfect solution for any business.
From initial survey, to product suggestions and sampling, we can help. We offer a full subfloor preparation service and a professional installation.
Previous work has included offices large and small, shop floors, pubs and nightclubs, restaurant and cafe floors and factory flooring installations.
Do not hesitate to give us a call on 0141 404 0114.
Karndean Design flooring was established in the UK in 1973 as a small family business. Since then it’s become one of the world’s most renowned and respected luxury flooring companies.
The company is passionate about developing imaginative, innovative and practical floors that are stunning to look at, easy to maintain and best of all, affordable.
What is Karndean flooring?
Karndean specialise in, and have become leading suppliers of luxury vinyl tiles (LVT). LVT flooring is one of the fastest growing areas of the flooring industry and Karndean supply the best of it.
Flooring solutions are created with 100% pure virgin PVC, making every surface look authentic.
Karndean’s vinyl flooring accurately replicates the look of natural products like wood and stone. This is achieved through manufacturing techniques including embossing, beveling, high quality print and random cutting.
The collections
Karndean have various different collections that include a range of styles and designs to choose from.
At Allfloors, we display, supply and install all of the ranges, including:
Da Vinci: A classic premium range containing slim and smooth wood planks (wood Da Vinci) with a beveled edge and a broad range of traditional ceramic and stone tiles (stone Da Vinci).
Van Gogh: Large wood planks that recreate the character of real timber.
Opus: Fresh and modern and includes a selection of contemporary greys and concrete effects available in large format planks and tiles.
Knight Tile: A versatile collection of strips and borders to add to most of the wood or stone effect designs.
Michelangelo: Some of the most unique designs such as pebble and metallic effects.
What makes Karndean different from others
Karndean flooring is designed like no other, meaning it comes with a range of benefits that you wouldn’t get with other flooring company
Affordable
Unlike many other flooring products, Karndean’s are affordable and are just as high quality as others that are more expensive.
Hygienic
Karndean flooring comes with a protective PU coating, making it a non-porous surface. This means that germs, dirt and bacteria won’t be able to find any cracks to seep into, unlike real wood flooring and carpets.
Easy to maintain
The flooring’s hygienic abilities make it easy to maintain too. There’s no need for constant deep, intensive cleans – just regular sweeping and mopping will keep it looking clean.
Durable
With the sturdy material and several layers that Karndean’s luxury vinyl tiles are made up from, the flooring is extremely durable. Scuffs and scratches won’t happen easily, and you can expect the flooring to last many years too.
The installation process
The installation of Karndean flooring is not easy. It’s not a DIY job as it can be very complex, particularly because Karndean floor products must only be laid on a smooth ‘pre-prepared’ sub-floor. A lot of subfloor preparation is usually required, to ensure that the final finish is perfect. Preparation and installation should be left to experts like ourselves, as otherwise your guarantee can be invalidated.
The preparation and installation process generally works in four main stages.
Stage 1
The process begins with a bare floor – this can either be a timber or concrete base and can be prepared in several ways.
At this stage, the moisture levels must also be confirmed. Karndean products must only be installed on sub-floors where the moisture level does not exceed 75% RH (relative humidity). If this is found to be the case (as often happens in ‘new builds’), then additional preparatory products may be required.
Stage 2
The way the subfloor is prepared really depends on what type it is. For example, timber subfloors should be overlaid with plywood. The plywood is fitted and the joints are the feather finished. If the floor is in a particularly poor condition, then a smoothing compound (screed) may also be required.
Concrete bases, on the other hand, are usually prepared using a smoothing/ screeding compound.
Stage 3
Once a level of smoothness is achieved the Karndean flooring is ready to be installed. However, before the flooring is laid, it must acclimatise to the environment. This is done by leaving it in a room temperature before installation.
Stage 4
Lastly, the Karndean product is installed using the recommended adhesive.
Luxury vinyl flooring like Amtico is a sought-after luxury that truly transforms your home. Whilst being very sturdy, Amtico and other LVT brands need some semi-regular maintenance to improve durability and aesthetics. This post explains how to clean Amtico flooring in detail combining manufacturers tips and a few of our own LVT cleaning tips.
Commercial areas are busy places that need quality flooring that looks great too. A commercial area is someone’s workplace – employees want to work in a nice area where they can feel comfortable. Visitors should feel comfortable within a welcoming environment too. We believe that Karndean is one of the best options for commercial flooring! This guide talks you through our reasoning behind this bold statement.
Choosing office flooring has a lot more to it than selecting a nice type of flooring and calling it a day. This post explores the 8 key things you should consider when choosing your office flooring.
Office flooring is hugely important to completing your office and the company’s physical image. Office flooring should first and foremost impress clients whilst giving employees a workspace they can be proud of.
1) Look
As with homes, flooring is the final brush stroke on the tapestry that is your new office. Whatever look you are going for; sleek, vibrant, traditional etc, you need to think hard about what it is you are trying to achieve and how your flooring fits into this. Remember to consider how your choice of flooring will impact on the rest of the room at the initial planning stage. Avoid leaving flooring as an afterthought as flooring truly completes a room.
2) Traffic
Consider how much traffic is going through an area. This will influence the type of flooring you choose. For example, your lobby and reception area is bound to have a lot of people going through. In this case, a strong luxury vinyl tile or heavy duty linoleum would be suitable.
On the flip side, your conference room will have fewer people walking about inside. In this case, a good luxury carpet or stylish carpet tiles would be suitable here, although LVT would still look very luxurious.
Tip: make sure that your kitchen area has some sort of safety/non-slip flooring. Even in office kitchens accidents can happen and solid non-slip flooring is an essential investment.
3) Durability and Maintenance
A flashy new luxury carpet for your conference room that fits in with your current office image might seem like an excellent idea. However, what happens when a client spills a cup of coffee on your carpet? Would you be replacing all that expensive carpet?
There are two excellent solutions to finding durable flooring. The first is to simply install hard flooring like luxury vinyl tiles. The second is to install carpet tiles.
What are Carpet Tiles?
Carpet tiles are what the name suggests – square sections of carpet that are glued in place.
If you are currently in an office, look down at the floor. Chances are you can spot seams in-between sections of your carpet. Look closer and you will find these are organised into squares or tiles.
If someone spills coffee on your carpet or if a section of your carpet gets worn you can simply remove the worn tile and replace it with a new one. This avoids having to change a whole carpet for a small stain or scuff. Granted, with solid flooring you could simply mop up the spilt coffee, but some people do prefer carpet.
4) Cost
Cost is important when designing your office space. There is a big movement towards creating zen in the workplace through design, but at the end of the day, an officer is there to facilitate hard work and not to look good. Granted, you want your office to look the part when clients visit but it is always important to keep a project on budget.
However, remember to factor in the cost of non-durable or hard to maintain flooring. A cheap carpet might save you in the short term but the likelihood is you will be replacing it within a couple of years.
5) Your Business
Consider your business itself. Do you host clients? If so, it might be beneficial to invest in high-end flooring. Is your office part of a factory? If so, you might want to avoid carpets as they can get ruined very quickly with dirty work boots coming in and out.
7) Safety
Safety flooring is crucial in offices. In areas where water may be spilled such as the toilet or kitchen, non-slip flooring is a must! Even some busy corridors in your office may require anti-slip flooring.
8) Types of Office Flooring
There are a few types of office flooring that are suitable for most businesses. What type you choose will depend on cost, room, traffic and your business needs.
LVT
LVT or luxury vinyl tiles are simply stunning. Available in the sleek, modern ranges offered by Amtico or the traditional, natural looking tiles available through Karndean there is something to suit every design.
Looks aren’t everything. Luxury vinyl tiles have excellent soundproofing qualities. Indeed, LVT has better acoustics that hardwood, linoleum and some of the thinner carpet tiles.
The only real downside to LVT is the price. LVT can be expensive. However, luxury vinyl tiles are extremely durable and easy to clean and maintain. Taking this into account makes the price modest when compared to cheaper carpets that need constant replacing.
Carpet Tiles
Carpet tiles are an extremely popular choice of office flooring. Easily replaced with a strong commercial look to them carpet tiles are commonplace in offices across the UK.
These tiled carpets come in a wide variety of colours and styles.
Safety Flooring
Safety flooring is a must for busy corridors, kitchens and toilets. Anti-slip flooring can help make your office a safer place and is extremely durable.
Commercial Office Flooring Glasgow
Allfloors Glasgow have over 30 years helping businesses around Glasgow find commercial office flooring that suits their specific business needs. For advice, measurement, supply and installation. Get in touch today or visit our commercial flooring page.
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