Choosing the Right Wood Flooring for Your Restaurant
Due to the popularity of the latest trends in sustainability, the demand for more environmentally friendly natural materials has increased even more. Many architects, restaurant owners and interior designers use natural materials during renovations, that allows them to indicate the natural environment from which food originates. Wooden floors are one of the desired elements of decor because of their durability and beauty.
Interior design.
Many design schemes can affect how customers perceive a restaurant. Therefore, when choosing the wooden floor, you should focus on specific demographic groups of clients that you want to encourage. If you run a restaurant that offers casual meals, a lighter colour of the wood in the dining room or bar will be the best choice to attract potential customers. If it is a marine or rustic restaurant, recycled wooden products may be desirable. If you are the owner of an exclusive restaurant, wood products with deep colours will increase the mood of intimacy and sophistication that customers feel. They will have the impression that they are in a good restaurant, expecting that the meals and their prices will reflect the atmosphere of the place.
Performance.
The types of wood most commonly used for restaurant renovations are commercial engineering wood and commercial solid hardwood. Commercial engineering wood is more stable than commercial hardwood and is not sensitive to changes in humidity. It has a greater tolerance for pedestrian traffic and is resistant to scratches. Commercial solid hardwood works best in areas such as bars and food outlets. Solid wood floors are ideal for dining rooms and corridors because they withstand heavy pedestrian traffic. Solid wood is not suitable for renovating bathrooms, kitchens and bars due to temperature and humidity fluctuations. Restaurant owners also use recycled wood to mask damage that occurs during restaurant operation, particularly in areas where the floor is most exposed to wear.
Installation.
The wooden floor can be nailed or stapled in place, glued down to the floor, have the wood planks glued together in a floating floor application, or have the planks click and lock in place without nails or adhesives. Installed floors must meet all health and safety requirements. Slip resistance is one of them. Properly installed wooden floors should provide good adhesion and reduce the risk of accidents in the restaurant. Restaurant owners very often choose floors that are easy to clean, inhibit mould, provide high slip resistance, and prevent dirt from entering between boards.
Maintenance.
Although wooden floors are very durable, they require regular maintenance to bring out their beauty. An additional finish can make the wooden floor more stain-resistant, waterproof and durable. Choosing the right floor finish depends on the type of wood. Varnishes available on the market are perfect additional protective layer resistant to abrasion. Widely used linseed or tungsten oil penetrate the floor, seal it, and do not cause the surface to shine. Proper maintenance of wood will reduce damage to the floor in the future.