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Commercial Kitchen Flooring
Commercial kitchen flooring doesn't have to be as limiting as just using linoleum or vinyl. With the proper sealant, you can use most any kind of flooring, as long as health code allows it. Commercial kitchen floors can include cement, ceramic or porcelain tile, wood, and rubber. Rubber kitchen flooring for restaurants has long been used to keep workers from fatiguing as much, but they are also great for reducing the chance of slipping. Restaurant kitchen flooring can have many different designs from utilitarian, to modern, and best of all -- retro kitchen flooring.
Commercial kitchen flooring is a huge business. There are so many different kinds of flooring that can be used for commercial kitchen floors. Although many people automatically think of linoleum when they think about restaurant kitchen flooring, or commercial kitchen flooring, there are many more options available. From hardwood to linoleum to vinyl flooring, there are options for any kind of business.
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Most people gravitate to the linoleum or vinyl flooring for application in commercial kitchen floors. Although linoleum may seem like a boring option, so many beautiful linoleum choices are available these days. If you mix and match different colors and create patterns, you can really create a floor that creates excitement and interest while still maintaining the benefits of durability and ease of maintenance. Vinyl flooring is also a great choice for commercial kitchen use. The myriad colors and patterns available are sure to please any discriminating decorating palette. Vinyl flooring is durable as well, although linoleum will probably last much longer.
Hardwood flooring is also another commercial kitchen flooring option although it may not be as durable as the linoleum or tile would be. There are commercial grade hardwood options available that will work great in the kitchen area and that will make the kitchen look great as well! These commercial grade hardwoods are moisture resistant and able to withstand the wear and tear of most commercial uses.
Although linoleum and vinyl tile are great for kitchens, they can get slippery when liquids are spilled or grease is splattered. The way to overcome this is to lay down rubber kitchen flooring for restaurants to keep you from slipping and the flooring will make it much easier to stand for long periods of time. Rubber mats are used commercially to prevent back fatigue and leg pain when you stand up for hours at a time. They are also slip resistant. That is why the mats are used so commonly in restaurants and retail settings.
The colors and patterns that are available in commercial kitchen flooring will allow you to set the mood for many different kinds of restaurants. Retro kitchen flooring would look great in a 50's style restaurant. The checkerboard effect of vinyl or linoleum tiles will help to reinforce the retro look. Use your imagination and creativity to create a commercial kitchen floor that fits the feel and flow of your restaurant.
Commercial kitchen flooring should be durable and easy to clean. The high traffic that a commercial kitchen sees demands flooring that is easy to clean and maintain. That is why it is so important to make sure that any flooring that you purchase is commercial grade so that you will get the most for your money. Research all of your options to make sure that the flooring that you choose meets your needs and desires and you are sure to choose commercial kitchen flooring that will last for years and years.
Comments
Hi Flooring Lady! I'm opening up a commercial kitchen in a space that has beautiful factory remilled hardwood floors. The tongue-and-groove floors have been "sealed" with PolySoy (it's a LEED certified Gold building), but there are still cracks between the boards and I'm afraid flour and so forth will get in there. Is there a way to fill in the small spaces between the boards so I can use the existing floor?
If there is no way to properly seal the floor, is there anything I could roll right on top of the wood that wouldn't damage it when I take it off down the road?
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
Brennen at May 16, 2009 12:05 PM
Cool - a Certified Gold LEED rating! Big, big kudos to you!
I would try using an additional coat or two of the PolySoy and see if that doesn't help first. How wide are the gaps?
Thanks for mentioning the PolySoy, something I need to investigate. ;~)
Most people who have rather large gaps use a colored wood filler, which can then be sealed as well. Good luck and congrats on your Gold LEED certification!
The Flooring Lady at May 17, 2009 10:58 PM
I have a split level home and am considering remodeling the main level (kitchen, dining, living room) into one big, usable space. This would include the kitchen, a very large farmhouse type table for meals, homework, etc, and a comfortable sitting area that is stilll a part of the flow of the kitchen. I would like to consider a floor for the whole area that is spill (and pet) resistant, but still attractive, and not cold. Options I thought I should consider, but don't really know a lot about, include linoleum (not vinyl) and maybe stone, slate, or concrete with radiant heat. Can you give me any advice?
Jill at July 17, 2009 08:44 AM
Hi Jill, I have articles on this website covering all of the flooring types you have mentioned here. I would encourage you to read through those and they should help you to decide which one is right for you.
The Flooring Lady at July 17, 2009 12:41 PM
I recently saw a rubber? kitchen floor mat that looked like 40's linoleum, but was about 3/4" thk w/ a finished , beveled edge. I have been unable to locate this item so far...any ideas? Thanks, JK
Joel Kresner at September 13, 2009 04:40 PM
I'm bidding a remodel at a chicken place the owner is wanting to put tile in the kitchen area thats slip resistant any suggestions or places that sell this sort of tile. Thanks. Kelly
Kelly jones at September 15, 2009 01:48 PM
Joel,
Is the product a commercial product? Is the mat a covering or the flooring itself? If you could let me know where you saw the mat that would be helpful as well.
The Flooring Lady at September 15, 2009 08:28 PM
Kelly,
Tile when wet usually becomes a slippery surface. Have you thought of using recycled vinyl flooring? I mention it several times in this article and highly recommend it.
The Flooring Lady at September 15, 2009 09:37 PM
We need to replace an 800 sq. ft. commercial kitchen floor for a camp/ retreat center. The present floor is a ceramic tile that was painted and repainted with an epoxy paint. There are grout indentions that would need to be evened, or the old ceramic tile floor would need to be removed. What would you suggest?
Ronald L. Brown
Ronald Brown at November 4, 2009 10:36 PM
Ronald,
Removing ceramic tile can be very difficult. If it is possible to even the grout indentions, that would the easiest solution.
Another article that may help is Ceramic Tile Flooring.
The Flooring Lady at November 9, 2009 01:49 PM
