While many wouldn’t consider hardwood flooring for a commercial space nowadays, it can actually withstand the demands of a commercial environment for decades if taken care of properly. That’s why learning a few tips and tricks about hardwood floor maintenance in offices and commercial settings is necessary to avoid costly and time-consuming repairs and replacements.
Here, we’ll first discuss installing hardwood for commercial spaces for those who are looking for a long-lasting floor for their workplace. Then, we’ll provide all the necessary information you need to maintain and clean a hardwood floor in high-traffic areas.
Did you know a proper professional hardwood flooring installation plays a big role in its longevity?
Hire Minuteman Floors in Manchester, NH, and neighboring areas to get top-notch materials and installation.
Call now to discuss your project.
Commercial Hardwood Flooring: Where, What, and Why to Install It?
Hardwood is a versatile and classic flooring material that is often one of the best choices for both residential and commercial settings. It offers many advantages if you take into account a few factors.
So, first, let’s see what commercial environments are suitable (or not suitable) for a hardwood floor. Then, we’ll introduce the best 5 types of commercial hardwood flooring and their advantages for a commercial area.
What Commercial Environments Can Benefit from a Hardwood Floor?
Hardwood can meet the requirements of some commercial environments more than others.
- Offices: A hardwood floor makes the place, especially the reception and executive offices, welcoming and sophisticated.
- Retail stores: Retail environments normally get a lot of foot traffic, so hardwood can be a durable choice. Besides, it can enhance the ambiance by making it warm and inviting.
- Restaurants, coffee houses, and hotels: The design, glamour, and ambiance a wood floor provides in such hospitality-focused spaces play a significant role in their success.
- Showrooms and art galleries: If the place is used to showcase your products or artwork, a hardwood floor offers a classic and neutral backdrop that helps you draw more attention to the products or artwork.
- Financial institutions: Hardwood flooring adds a sense of professionalism and trustworthiness to financial institutions, such as banks.
However, when you’re thinking about installing a wood floor for a commercial building, you should consider its specific applications and needs.
Factors to Consider When Considering Hardwood Flooring for a Commercial Building
- The wood type and its finish have to be chosen carefully to meet the requirements of the place. For example, if there’s a risk of slipping, textured and matted finishes are more practical and safer.
- Are there heavy equipment and machinery? Even the best hardwood floor can’t withstand the impact, movement, and weight of heavy equipment and machinery.
- How high is the risk of water damage? Although some wood types and hardwood flooring finishes resist moisture well, you should remember that no hardwood floor can be 100% waterproof.
- Hardwood floors aren’t suitable for a place with corrosive and aggressive substances, like acids.
- Direct exposure to sunlight, rain, temperature fluctuations, and any other elements damage a hardwood floor quickly. So, it’s not a good choice for outdoor or even semi-enclosed areas.
- The subfloor condition must be compatible with hardwood installation.
Overall, hardwood can benefit your commercial space if you make sure the condition and requirements of the place are compatible with this natural flooring material. Plus, proper cleaning and maintenance are essential (fully discussed in the second half of this article).
What Types of Hardwood Are Suitable for Commercial Spaces?
There are various kinds of woods and, therefore, different types of hardwood flooring. However, each type has its own characteristics. That’s why, only a few of them can meet the requirements of commercial areas and can last for decades in such high-traffic environments.
Here are 5 types of commercial hardwood flooring.
- Maple Hardwood
Maple offers exceptional durability and resistance to scratches, impacts, and dents. Besides, due to its fine-grained appearance, it provides a clean and uniform look.
So, it’s a great choice for high-traffic areas where a modern style is preferred.
- Hickory Hardwood
Hickory is one of the hardest and strongest types of hardwood. It’s very dense and can resist moisture and water pretty well. But, unlike maple, its rustic appearance and visible grains create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. In addition, this type of wood comes in different colors.
So, hickory hardwood flooring is the best choice for busy commercial places where a natural and traditional charm is desirable.
- Oak Hardwood
There are red and white oak woods and both offer excellent durability and stability. Oak hardwood also elevates the aesthetic of the place with its grain patterns and colors. Its beauty is timeless and glamorous.
- Brazilian Cherry Hardwood
Jatoba or Brazilian cherry hardwood is famous for its unique reddish-brown color and hardness. It’s extremely durable due to its high density and can withstand daily wear and tear in high-traffic commercial spaces. If you wish to add warmth and elegance to your place, this is for you.
- Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood is a layered flooring that includes
- Top layer: Hardwood,
- Core layer: Plywood or composite.
It offers more stability for places with temperature and humidity level fluctuations. Also, engineered hardwood can resist scratches and dents. However, because the hardwood layer is thinner than other hardwood floors, the number of times it can be refinished is very limited.
To sum up, only strong commercial hardwood flooring, paired with the right type of finish (see below), can be a practical choice for a busy office and other commercial buildings.
Best Hardwood Floor Finishes for High-Traffic Commercial Settings
Any hardwood floor, regardless of the place and type of the wood, needs a suitable finish. Using the right finish expands the flooring's lifespan and helps to keep it in good shape. Besides, it can add some features to make it a more practical choice for your place.
The best commercial-grade hardwood finishes for a high-traffic place:
- Urethane and polyurethane-based hardwood finishes add to the durability of the floor and provide good protection against scratches, scuffs, and daily wear and tear.
- Epoxy-based finishes not only offer durability but also resistance to chemicals and moisture. Plus, if combined with a textured additive, epoxy finishes make the surface slip-resistant.
In addition to the finish, commercial-grade polishes can be used to protect the finish from getting dull and add to its durability. Hardwood floor polishing can even fill tiny scratches on the floor. (Read Hardwood Floor Finish Types for more information.)
Consulting with an experienced flooring contractor can be a good idea to make sure the type of wood and its finish are the best choice for your commercial space.
Get your hardwood floor refinished to restore its beauty and strength.
Call for a quote.
Hardwood Floor Maintenance, Cleaning, and Care in Commercial Areas
Taking care of a hardwood floor properly is necessary in any area. However, in commercial spaces, because of higher foot traffic, movement of furniture, etc., hardwood floor maintenance and care must be a priority.
Here are some hardwood floor care tips and guidelines for high-traffic areas.
- Hardwood Floor Cleaning
Cleaning hardwood flooring regularly is important to protect it from scratches. Debris, dirt, and tiny particles can cause small scratches and they’ll get deeper and bigger over time. So, you should consider sweeping, vacuuming, or mopping the floor frequently.
Just remember that, if you use a mop, it shouldn’t be too wet. A damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner that is suitable for hardwood is the best.
Also, except for this regular daily cleaning, you should have a schedule for deep cleaning hardwood floors two to four times a year. To do this, you can hire professional cleaning services. Or, if you have access to hardwood floor cleaner machines, you can do it yourself.
Deep cleaning can restore the floor’s luster and shine by removing all the dirt that is built up in areas that are hard to reach and clean with a mop.
- Hardwood Floor Refinishing
One of the best things about wood floors is that they can be refinished. It means, professionals sand the surface and remove the scratches and small gouges. Then, they apply a new finish and polish. After refinishing, a hardwood floor looks as good as day one.
The frequency of hardwood refinishing depends on the foot traffic and daily wear and tear. It’s recommended to have it refinished every 3 to 5 years. But if you can see a lot of scratches, dents, and gouges, it’s time to restore it with a professional refinishing service.
- Moisture Control
Wood is very sensitive to moisture, so it’s necessary to control the levels of humidity and moisture. Otherwise, you’ll be in for some warping, cupping, and other types of wood damage.
In commercial environments where humidity levels change frequently, you can use dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and HVAC systems to maintain the ideal humidity which is 35 to 55% for a hardwood floor. Plus, installing hygrometers helps you monitor the levels of humidity.
Learn more about Floor Humidity and Temperature here.
- General Tips for Hardwood Floor Care
- Inspect the floor and subfloor periodically to find damages and deal with them before they get too serious or spread.
- Clean up the spills as quickly as possible to protect the wood from stains and moisture damage.
- Use rugs and mats in high-traffic areas, like entryways, stairs, and hallways to protect them from dirt, moisture, and wear.
- Use furniture pads to protect the floor from scratches and dents. Also, don’t drag furniture and equipment on a wood floor.
- Ask the employees to be careful with high heels and any other pointy objects.
All in all, if you want to reduce your expenses and enjoy the beauty of your wooden floor for many years, you should care about hardwood floor maintenance. Additionally, keeping a log to track the maintenance, cleaning, and refinishing helps you stay on top of the upkeep and be able to refer to it in the future for details.
FAQs about Commercial Hardwood Floor Maintenance
Let’s answer some of our clients’ common questions about hardwood floor maintenance.
Is Removing Stains from Hardwood Floors Possible?
Yes, but it depends on the type of stain and how deep it is. For surface stains, you can use a damp cloth to scrub the areas with a hardwood floor cleaner. However, you should do it ASAP to prevent the stain from spreading and penetrating into deeper layers. And, if the stain is deep and stubborn, you’ll need refinishing to restore the original color and appearance of the wood.
Is Using Hardwood Floor Cleaners Necessary?
Yes. Cleaning a hardwood floor with a damp mop and a mild pH-neutral hardwood floor cleaner is necessary to remove the dirt and protect the wood and its finish from scratches and dullness. In addition, if there’s a risk of mold and mildew growth, consider using antimicrobial cleaners suitable for hardwood floors.
Is Hardwood Floor Maintenance in Commercial Areas Different from Residential Areas?
Yes. Commercial environments are typically busy and get a lot of foot traffic and dirt. The risk of spills, stains, and other damages is also higher compared to residential areas. So, this means to keep the floor in good shape, daily cleaning and periodic deep cleaning are required as well as regular inspections and more frequent refinishing.
Is It Possible to Make My Hardwood Floor Slip Resistant?
Yes. First, you should opt for a slip-resistant finish, such as matte or textured finishes. Then, you can apply anti-slip polishes and coatings to further reduce the risk of slipping. Besides, in places where slipping is more common or dangerous, such as stairs, using carpets, rugs, and runners is the best solution.
Top Quality Hardwood Floor Refinishing Services in Manchester, NH
Minuteman Floors offers premium hardwood floor installation, repair, and refinishing services in Manchester and its neighboring towns. Our highly experienced staff is ready to help you pick the best type of wood, finishes, and polishes that meet the requirements of your place.
So, whether you need a gorgeous floor for your home or business, give us a call at 603-782-1942 and we’ll be there.