Wood flooring in retail shops is an extremely practical and highly popular option. Not only does the right wood flooring provide the perfect backdrop to display your wares in their best light, but it can be a highly practical solution too. That said, when you decide to install wood flooring in a retail shop, there are a number of things you need to consider. The key things you need to think about are: the durability of the flooring you choose, the practicality of the finish and your cleaning regime.
Because your shop will experience a much higher level of traffic (hopefully!) in relation to a home, it’s essential that you choose a wood flooring solution that will stand up to the challenges that day to day retail life will throw at it. At the core of your decision-making process will be whether you plump for solid or engineered wood flooring. Solid wood flooring is made from single planks of the wood species you’ve chosen, whereas engineered wood flooring is an amalgamation of different layers of wood products that are bonded together to create an impressively strong and stable board. That said, what makes engineered wood flooring so very interesting is its solid wood top layer or lamella, which makes it look just like solid wood.
Your choice between solid and engineered flooring will need to take into account things like temperature and moisture fluctuations, as well as whether or not you have under floor heating in your shop. If you have reason to believe that your retail outlet will be subject to extreme temperature and moisture fluctuations, or if you plan to have under floor heating, then engineered wood flooring is likely to be your best option. If you don’t have either of these restrictions, then solid wood will allow you more opportunity to resand and refinish the floor to keep it looking great for longer. If you’re unsure about which option would work best, the important thing is not to hesitate to seek advice from your flooring supplier, who will be happy to guide you.
Once you’ve decided on the make up of your floor, the next most important point is the finish. While oiled and oiled and brushed wood flooring looks superb in a retail setting, there’s no getting away from the fact that a lacquered finish is more hard wearing and more resistant to damage. That doesn’t mean however that you need to accept high gloss shine; you can always opt for a matt lacquer, which can work really well.
When it comes to your cleaning regime, it’s very important, when you make the move over to wood flooring that your cleaners are briefed on the best course of action for your new floor. Depending on your cleaning arrangements, it may well be that your cleaners are well geared up with all the knowledge and equipment they’ll need to keep your shop floor looking great. If not, the most important points are to keep the floor as dust and debris free as possible, and to use water sparingly in the cleaning process. Depending on how much traffic you get, the cleaners may need to use a detergent of some kind to get your floor looking clean, but in most cases, water will suffice.
TOP TIP: in order to help simplify the cleaning requirements and to keep your floor protected from damage, make a point of investing in a good quality doormat which allows for as many footsteps as your space will permit. A high quality doormat will pay for itself many times over, thanks to its ability to absorb water and remove the dust and debris that will play havoc with your wooden floor if left on the surface.