Museums are places where history, science, and art come alive, and every part of a museum’s design needs to encourage guests to spend time in that headspace. The flooring in a museum goes a long way toward providing people with a comfortable and aesthetically beautiful environment to absorb the lessons they learn inside.
A Museum’s Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring is rich in history and provides unparalleled aesthetics for a museum. Many historic buildings in Nashville are full of hardwood flooring because that was what was readily available when they were constructed. Hardwood flooring functions well in a museum because it can give an air of authenticity and authority to your space.
What are museum floors made of? While they can come in many forms, if your museum is older, it may already have hardwood. Refinishing your hardwood is a great way to hold onto your museum’s rustic charm and extend the lifespan of your floors. Refinishing is more affordable than installing new floors, and you have the ability to change the finish on the wood, giving your old floorboards a brand new look. Hardwood flooring is relatively durable, but it can start to wear down from heavy foot traffic and become damaged by dirt and water. As a result, it’s not great for entrances or places near admissions in a museum, as people’s wet shoes can wear on the wood quickly. Elsewhere, however, hardwood flooring has a long life expectancy and is sure to give your museum space the proper vibes.
Vinyl Flooring for Your Museum
Vinyl flooring is the answer to all of the pitfalls of hardwood. It’s extremely durable, waterproof, and inexpensive. Vinyl plank flooring can closely emulate hardwood because the plastics can be made to match a number of patterns and colors. Vinyl is a softer material than hardwood, making it a bit more comfortable to walk on as well. Vinyl is great in areas with high foot traffic, and it’s scratch- and dent-resistant, too. Vinyl is more affordable than a hardwood installation, making it great for areas of your museum that desperately need something new. Your museum flooring needs to be durable and stylish, and vinyl is both.
Museum Carpeting
Carpeting functions well in many museums, especially museums geared toward children. Children’s museums need to be comfortable, and soft spaces encourage play and exploration. Carpeting is the perfect option for museum owners looking to give their space an extra level of coziness. Carpet is also useful in large spaces because it can help dampen echo. In an open museum plan, carpet can make things feel intimate and important despite the open space.
Commercial carpet is built for durability, and it also comes in many colors and designs, depending on what you need. From simple patterns to complex designs and colors, your museum carpet can be anything you want it to be. Carpet has its setbacks, and one major issue is moisture. Installing carpet in rooms where water is a factor isn’t a great idea; thus, much like hardwood, it shouldn’t be placed near entrances or bathrooms. In terms of cost, carpeting lies somewhere between vinyl and hardwood, depending on the particular product you decide upon. No matter what, however, carpet is a great bet for making your museum feel comfortable and walkable.
Reimagine Your Museum Flooring
Don’t stress over finding the right flooring for your museum space. Trust the pros at Ozburn-Hessey to handle your installation! Give us a call for a consultation and estimate on your museum flooring project.
