Want to find the ideal flooring for your commercial kitchen? You need a material that is easy-to-clean and durable. A great floor also needs to be stain- and water-resistant. As opposed to an industrial kitchen, f you have a kitchen where it is open to the public, you might want to put more thought into your materials. With all these considerations, your commercial flooring should comply with local building codes.
Determine Your Commercial Flooring Options
In a kitchen, your floor will take a lot of abuse. It has to fend off spills and water. In addition to that, the floor must resist heat and support all that heavy equipment in the room. You also want to find an option that is safe for your employees. There are other considerations when choosing restaurant kitchen flooring options, such as:
Durability: You want an easy-to-clean floor that can handle harsh cleaners. Many restaurants and kitchens use abrasive chemicals to clean their workspaces. For example, wooden floors are not ideal because they can get damaged by these cleaning solutions.
Safety: Your flooring needs to keep your restaurant employees safe. You want to choose a slip-resistant surface that prevents falls and improves traction around the kitchen. Without the proper safety considerations, you could have a serious accident in your restaurant.
Sanitary: All kitchens are held to higher standards of sanitation. You should look for materials that can limit the amount of microbial growth in your space.
Comfort: Kitchen workers spend a lot of time on their feet. If you are looking for the best flooring for a commercial kitchen, you want something that will be comfortable for your staff.
Aesthetics: While you want your commercial kitchen flooring option to be functional, you also need to choose something that will fit into the design of your restaurant. Try to find something that creates a little ambiance, especially if you have a kitchen that is in direct view of the diners.
Think About Tile
Tile is one of those tried and true materials for a commercial kitchen. It is easy-to-clean, stain-resistant, and highly durable. In other words, tile has all the best attributes for a kitchen floor. Most tiles are made from clay and are impact-resistant. That is great when a heavy pot or pan falls to the floor.
Many kitchens use a type of quarry tile. This particular tile is unglazed and has a naturally slip-resistant texture. While it can handle the workload in a kitchen, this is not the greatest choice if you want color options. Quarry tiles come in a few colors, including gray, tan, and brown. You also will most likely find it in a squared shape. It might not be the right selection to brighten up your decor, but these tiles are durable and cost-effective. With its slip-resistance, this quarry tile is an exceptional choice for your kitchen.
If you want to have tile in your kitchen, it might be time to look at glazed ceramic tiles. These flooring options have more styles and colors than those quarry tiles. With the surface glaze, the tiles are resistant to stains and water. However, you want to make sure your specific tile is slip-resistant to meet any local safety codes.
Add Some Concrete
Like tile, poured concrete is another classic option for commercial kitchens. You will find out that concrete is highly durable, and it can be finished with many different textures. Concrete is an excellent option if you want to add decorative inlays and colors. Since concrete is seamless, hard, and flat, it will not be damaged by impacts in the kitchen. It is also resistant to heat. No matter your style, concrete is versatile enough to work in any type of environment.
Since concrete is porous, it should be sealed to resist discoloration and stains. Concrete is also not a very comfortable flooring material. If you choose this restaurant kitchen flooring option, you may need to place rubber mats in those key workspaces.
Choose Commercial Vinyl
For another option, make sure to check out commercial vinyl. This material is thin, and it is often laid on the subfloor of the kitchen. If you install it over the concrete, you will have a durable kitchen floor. Commercial vinyl is sanitary. You can add a layer of padded underlayment to give your workers some cushion under their feet. Just keep in mind that any padding will make the flooring more vulnerable to damage. In many cases, heavy kitchen appliances can cause damage to the padded floor.
However, you cannot beat the ease of installation of vinyl flooring. Many commercial vinyl floors are available in a sheet. All you have to do is lay the material on the subfloor. This type of flooring also has fewer seams, making it less vulnerable to bacteria buildup, water seepage, or edge damage.
A Natural Option
If appearance is important to you, natural stone is your best bet. This material is durable, like quarry tile. You can also find natural stone in a variety of options. However, this material is also high-maintenance and more expensive. For a restaurant, you need to seal the stone to prevent discoloration and stains.
Using stone flooring in a kitchen does lead to some issues. For example, you want to choose a tile that is flat and smooth. Any rough surface elements can be a tripping hazard for your employees. Natural stone can get slippery when wet. For that reason, you want to choose a slip-resistant tile.
Excel With Epoxy
Last but not least, epoxy is a great kitchen flooring option. This material contains additives, resin, and colorants. With those materials, epoxy is exceptionally slip-resistant. When the epoxy is applied to your kitchen floor, it is a liquid. As it hardens, the epoxy is sanitary and almost seamless. Many kitchen owners choose this material to refinish those old worn-out floors. In turn, you have a beautiful sealed surface. Epoxy is even used to cover a few inches of the kitchen walls. With those methods, you can keep water away from the corners of your kitchen.
From vinyl to tile, there are plenty of commercial flooring options for your business. With these choices, you can find the best flooring for a restaurant kitchen. Many of these materials are sanitary, safe, and beautiful. You just have to find the right selection to meet your kitchen’s needs.
