Your service is second to none, and you need a facility that matches the service you provide. You have thought deeply about the flow of the space, your client experience, and the technology you utilize to provide world-class service to your clients.
You know that every detail matters, and there’s one big one weighing on your mind. What is the best flooring option for your office, clinic, or hospital?
Healthcare facilities require durable, hygienic, attractive, and inviting flooring. Luckily, there are a variety of flooring options that will check all the boxes, and we offer them all at Interior Motives Flooring.
Explore the factors you’ll want to consider when deciding on the right flooring for your space and look at the five best flooring options for healthcare facilities.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Best Flooring for Healthcare Facilities?
- 5 Healthcare Flooring Options
- Healthcare Flooring Options: 5 Factors To Consider
- Interior Motives Flooring: Providing Residential and Commercial Flooring in Auburn, WA, Since 1989
What Is the Best Flooring for Healthcare Facilities?
The best flooring for your facility will depend on several important considerations. You want a material that will meet compliance and be easy to sterilize to maintain hygiene. Additionally, safety is a key factor to take into account as you make decisions for the flooring in different areas of your facility. You also want floors that are aesthetically pleasing and inviting to patients and their families.
As you consider the different options, think about the space you have, are building, or are envisioning. Picture the different possible floors in that space.
These flooring options all can work well for healthcare settings, depending on the specifics of your practice and space:
- Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank
- Carpet Tile
- Rubber Flooring
- Commercial Laminate Flooring
- Ceramic Tile
Remember that whichever you decide is best, picking a commercial-grade flooring material will be important due to high traffic and the need to sterilize and disinfect frequently. Whether you are considering options for a hospital, clinic, small private practice, or anything in between, Interior Motives Flooring has the expertise to advise and install the flooring that will work best for you.
5 of the Best Healthcare Flooring Options
You want to consider cost, longevity, safety, and aesthetics when choosing flooring for your healthcare facility. Let’s look more closely at top choices for hospitals, doctor and dentist offices, rehab facilities, and assisted living facilities.
#1: Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank
This flooring style is popular in healthcare facilities for its durability, water resistance, stylish options, and budget-friendliness. Luxury vinyl plank (or LVP) and luxury vinyl tile (or LVT) are thicker than their traditional sheet vinyl counterparts and are, therefore, better able to withstand scratches, scuffs, dents, stains, and more. This is important when you consider heavy foot traffic and the impact of machines, equipment, and medical tools.
Our inventory at Interior Motives Flooring includes vinyl plank flooring options from leading brands and consists of several styles including:
- Wood-Look LVP
- Stone-Look LVP
- Tile-Look LVP
Vinyl is the most common choice for healthcare facilities due to cost, ease of hygienic maintenance, and durability. It does not offer the same acoustic benefits as some other options. Check out more about our vinyl flooring options here.
#2: Carpet Tile
Carpet tiles are the sensible carpet style for offices or rooms with heavy foot traffic. Carpet tiles are easier to remove and replace than rolls of carpet.
Carpet helps with:
- Noise reduction.
- Slip resistance.
- Fall protection.
Carpet tiles can be a fantastic choice for mental health facilities and certain areas of assisted living or rehab facilities.
On the flip side, carpet tiles do not offer:
- The same ease of sterilization as hard flooring options.
- Low installation and maintenance costs.
Learn more about all carpet options offered by Interior Motives Flooring, including carpet tiles.
#3: Rubber Flooring
Rubber flooring is offered in tile or sheet applications. It works well in high-traffic areas, offers good acoustic benefits, and is comfortable to walk on. It is a popular choice in healthcare facilities for these reasons.
Potential disadvantages of rubber flooring options are its up-front higher price tag and the potential for water seepage between tiles (for the tile application), potentially resulting in damage to the sub-flooring. Given the importance of proper sanitation and impeccable hygiene in healthcare facilities, options that can possibly lead to sub-floor damage may not be the best choice.
#4: Commercial Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a modern hybrid type of flooring that consists of a wood base, an image layer, and a durability layer on the top. Laminate comes in a variety of styles, textures, and finishes. Commercial laminate flooring is designed to be more durable for high-traffic areas.
Laminate flooring does not have the same acoustic benefits as other options and may not offer the same ease of cleaning and sterilizing.
There are many types of laminate flooring possibilities. Interior Motives Flooring brings 3 decades of experience in installing the best quality laminate floors and offers today’s top brands and styles.
#5: Ceramic Tile
Tile flooring is available in various materials and styles, including ceramic, porcelain, and marble. Ceramic tile is most commonly selected in healthcare facilities, offering more slip resistance than porcelain or marble tile options.
Ceramic tile:
- Holds up well in high-traffic environments.
- It is easy to maintain over time.
- Offers many design possibilities.
It does not offer:
- Slip protection.
- Acoustic benefits.
- Ease and low-cost installation.
Healthcare Flooring Options: 5 Factors To Consider When Choosing Flooring for Your Space
#1: Compliance
It is important to consider compliance with local and federal health and safety codes and accessibility standards outlined by the Americans With Disabilities Act. These laws are designed to protect patients, and you have choices when it comes to flooring that are within the scope of what is allowed.
#2: Safety
There are several considerations when it comes to patient safety in healthcare facilities. We often think about people and services when it comes to healthcare safety. But the building and facility are where a safe medical facility starts. In order to ensure a safe facility, you need to start with the building itself.
Some physical considerations for safe choices in flooring are:
- Slip-resistance for patient and staff safety.
- Fire-resistance.
- Indoor air quality — eco-friendly flooring materials with low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are best for indoor air quality.
At Interior Motives Flooring, we have the professional expertise and experience to explain all healthcare flooring options and their benefits and deficits when it comes to safety. Our job is to explain all the options, allowing you to make an informed choice in the best interest of your patients and staff.
#3: Efficiency and Durability
Healthcare facilities have high levels of foot traffic and use. Between patients, staff, and equipment moving around, you need durable flooring. Avoid costly replacements down the line by choosing flooring that is wear and impact-resistant.
Due to the frequent need to disinfect and sanitize, choose flooring that is chemical-resistant. A clean environment is a must in healthcare settings, and the right flooring will make this process easier and more effective, without taking away from the life of the floors.
#4: Infection Control
The floors at any healthcare facility need to be disinfected frequently for infection prevention and control, so the flooring needs to be easy to clean and sterilize.
Ask our team about any potential healthcare flooring options available to make cleaning simple and sterile. There are even some options, like antimicrobial vinyl, that can resist bacterial and fungal growth.
#5: Aesthetic Appeal
Of course, functionality and safety are the top priorities in healthcare facilities. However, it’s also important that the environment is welcoming and calming with a pleasant look. Aesthetically pleasing spaces provide a more positive atmosphere for patients and their families.
Healing outcomes have even been linked to psychological and physical comfort in healthcare settings. You want your floors to be functional and cost-effective while optimizing aesthetics and comfort for your patients.
Interior Motives Flooring: Providing Residential and Commercial Flooring in Auburn, WA, Since 1989
In Auburn and surrounding areas, Interior Motives Flooring is equipped to advise, quote, and install flooring solutions for all of your healthcare and other commercial and residential needs. We have installed flooring in many area healthcare facilities, and are happy to provide samples of our previous work and a quote for your project needs.
For over three decades, our family has worked to make the flooring remodel and installation process easy and worry-free for homeowners in Pierce and King County. Our goal is to provide the level of care and attention you would expect from a small-town company while offering the wide selection and pricing you would receive from a big box store.
It’s easy to schedule a free consultation, either at your place of business or in our showroom. Please click the link below and send us your contact information or give us a call today. We look forward to making your vision a reality.
