Oak flooring in restaurants is a really popular style choice. No matter whether the food in the restaurant is modern or traditional, you can be certain that oak flooring will match the ambiance and enhance the interior design. As with any wood flooring in any commercial setting, the three most important things to take into account when making your final choice are: durability, finish and cleaning.
Due to the high level of footfall in a busy restaurant, it’s essential that whatever type of oak flooring you choose is durable. You can choose between solid wood flooring or engineered wood flooring, but durability is a question you should certainly check with your supplier. Solid oak flooring, as the name suggests is made from planks of oak, which are created from one single piece of wood.
Engineered oak flooring, on the other hand, is made up of a combination of wood and other materials. Engineered oak wood flooring is typically made up of three layers of hardwood plus a layer of plywood or MDF. Because this base is finished off with a layer of hardwood, in this case oak, the look of the floor will be exactly the same whether you opt for the solid or the engineered option. In a restaurant setting, if you are choosing engineered oak flooring, it’s important to select a solution with a thick (at least 6mm) top layer. The thicker the top layer, the more opportunity you will have to sand the floor in the future to rejuvenate it and make it look like new.
Once you’re sure you have selected the right type of oak flooring for your restaurant and have arranged to have it properly and professionally fitted, it’s time to think about the finish. Clearly, you’ll need a hardwearing and easy to clean finish. For commercial wood flooring, it’s important to select a commercial grade lacquer or oil because only this tough finish will stand up to the traffic your floor will experience. A commercial grade lacquer will give you a shiny, tough finish whereas commercial grade oils will allow you to retain the natural look of the wood while providing the level of protection you require.
Finally, when it comes to cleaning your restaurant’s oak floor, it’s essential that your cleaning regime is appropriate, thorough and regular. Selecting the best cleaning regime for your restaurant’s oak floor will depend upon its overall condition. Generally speaking, if your floor is relatively new and regularly cleaned, a surface clean with an appropriate floor cleaner and a buff up should do the job. In severe cases, it may be necessary to strip away any build up of polish, followed by a deep clean and a re-polish. The worst-case scenario is that the finish of the floor is so worn away that grime and dirt has started to become ingrained in the wood. In these instances, only a re-sand and re-finish will bring your restaurant’s oak floor back to its former glory.