Few areas are more hectic than commercial kitchens. These spaces see chefs, line cooks, and wait staff scrambling in coordinated chaos to prepare, plate, and deliver food to hungry customers. If a commercial kitchen floor isn’t well-suited for these high levels of activity, they’ll quickly fall apart and become both an eyesore and a potential hazard for every employee. Indeed, busy kitchen floors must be durable, slip-resistant, sealed from spills, easy to clean/sanitize, and comfortable. With all that in mind, what is the best flooring for a bustling commercial kitchen?
Best Floors for Kitchens
Rubber Flooring
Rubber might not be the first floor material you think of for commercial kitchens, but rubber kitchen flooring is a perfect fit in many facilities. For starters, rubber floors are among the most durable floors you can have installed, in part due to their flexibility. This elasticity also adds to the comfort factor, making it easier for employees to stay on their feet for full shifts. Rubber floors are safe, too, offering a high level of friction to prevent slips and falls. These floors are also easy to maintain, reducing the time and energy you have to spend on floor cleaning duties. And, as an added bonus, commercial rubber flooring is relatively eco-friendly, which is important for improving your restaurant’s sustainability.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is another strong choice for busy kitchen settings. One of the biggest benefits of a laminate floor is that it’s easy to clean and highly resistant to dirt, bacteria, and other contaminants. So, if you’re looking to keep your kitchen more sanitary, laminate floors will do the trick. While standard laminate floors aren’t waterproof, there are waterproof laminate flooring options available to increase your kitchen’s resistance to moisture intrusion and mold. These floors are also durable and come in a wide variety of styles so you can easily enhance your kitchen’s atmosphere.
Vinyl Flooring
Last but certainly not least, commercial vinyl flooring is one of the most popular floor types for commercial kitchens everywhere — the reasons for this will become abundantly clear. First, vinyl flooring is a relatively low-cost option, both in terms of material and installation. Vinyl is also a non-porous material, naturally preventing moisture intrusion and keeping dirt and dust to a minimum. These easy-to-clean floors also offer high durability, much like their rubber and laminate counterparts. And though not quite as flexible as rubber flooring, vinyl floors are flexible and somewhat soft, too.
Which Floor Type Is Best for Busy Kitchens?
There’s no clear winner between the three commercial kitchen flooringcontenders listed here. Each floor type comes with its pros and cons, and every kitchen has unique requirements. The bottom line is this: each of these flooring materials has the potential to make a hectic kitchen more safe, sanitary, comfortable, and cost-effective. If you’d like to learn more about these floor types or other alternatives, contact Ozburn-Hessey Company — we’re flooring and installation experts serving businesses and homes in the greater Nashville, TN, area.
