There are many different styles of commercial flooring on today’s market. A business owner may have trouble deciding which one to get. Since there are so many different types and materials of flooring, there are flooring options to fit into every budget. Keep in mind that most flooring companies carry many different brands of flooring. Chances are if you find a brand and style that you like, you will be able to find another, possibly cheaper, retailer that sells it.

When you need to choose new commercial flooring for your building, the first step is to decide which type of flooring will work best for your space and your budget. Consider these options:

1. Install a low-cost stylish carpet flooring to add comfort and warmth to any office space.

2. Stick with traditional, economical linoleum when your flooring is going to get a lot of wear and tear.

3. Look to ceramic tile flooring when you want a clean, modern look without spending a fortune.

Action Steps
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Pick carpet for your industrial flooring to add comfort and style to any office

Choosing carpeting for your commercial flooring needs is a great idea if you want a low maintenance solution. Since carpeting comes in so many types, styles and colors, there is a wide range of prices and options to fit every budget. Many carpet flooring systems come in large tiles that are easy to install yourself, cutting down on installation fees.

I recommend: Carpet Express is one place that sells convenient carpet tiles like these Gulistan ones that range in price from about $1.50 a square foot up to about $4.00 a square foot. Abbey Carpet & Floor sells Gulistan carpeting as well. Check out their competitive pricing.

Work with linoleum flooring companies to install a beautiful floor that withstands abuse

Linoleum is one type of industrial flooring that can take a beating and still look good. The quality of today's linoleum has greatly increased, therefore what used to be one of the cheapest flooring options isn't always the lowest cost option for today's offices. As with any other type of flooring, the price depends on the grade, size, design and color, among other factors.

I recommend: The Armstrong Floor Products website has a large selection of linoleum tiles that range in price from around $4.00 up to about $7.00. Check out the pricing for some Armstrong flooring at FloorMall.com.

Consider installing ceramic tiles as your commercial flooring

Ceramic tile flooring specialists will tell you that porcelain tiles are one of the best deals for the money. Not only are they durable and long lasting, but also they add style and professionalism to any office. These types of flooring products are one of the lowest-priced flooring options available because they tend to be plain and one color, therefore it typically costs less to manufacture them.

I recommend: FastFloors.com is the place to look when you are in the market for ceramic tile flooring. They have tiles from many different manufacturers in all budget ranges. Get this beautiful ceramic tile from DiscountFloor.com that costs around $3.00 per square foot. If this one doesn't fit the bill, jump on their site to find the one that will -- at the right price.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you are researching the pricing and costs of flooring, consider replacing all of the different types of flooring in your office at the same time. A flooring company may be willing to give you extra discounts if you buy a large volume of flooring from them.

Flooring specialists provide every service related to the installation of a new floor. In addition to providing the materials and services as needed, look to flooring companies for advice and commercial flooring information. Hardwood floors may offer the most refined look for your home or business, but can cost more than other alternatives. Look for flooring companies that offer a variety of products including laminates, bamboo, cork, or industrial flooring products for more options.

Find flooring specialists online who can meet whatever needs you have. There are many options available from flooring vendors, including:

1. Find a flooring company that offers an online catalog of multiple flooring materials and products.
2. Get discount deals and wholesale prices on flooring and installation.
3. Purchase industrial flooring to meet the needs of your business.

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Find an online catalog of commercial flooring products

It's easier to make a choice when you have all the options right in front of you. If you want to browse through multiple flooring products and materials at once, find a flooring distributor that offers comprehensive online listing of products so you can easily compare quality and prices.

I recommend: FloorMall.com has a catalog that allow you to browse hundreds of flooring products from multiple vendors. Shop by flooring type, style, color and price to find the perfect floor. iFLOOR sells a variety of flooring materials as well as area rugs and carpets. Check out their website for deals on financing and installation.

Purchase flooring systems at wholesale prices

Installing a new floor can be an expensive task. Search for flooring companies that sell flooring at wholesale prices to get the most for your money.

I recommend: American Carpet Wholesalers sells more than just carpets at wholesale prices. Visit their website to find deals on many brands of hardwood floors, as well as tile, laminate and vinyl flooring. Lumber Liquidators specializes in hardwood flooring at wholesale prices, and also sells bamboo, cork and laminate flooring.

Find industrial flooring dealers

Warehouses and other industrial centers have different flooring needs than residences. If you're looking to finish a floor in an industrial setting, contact a flooring company specializing in harder, epoxy flooring.

I recommend: Stonhard is a leader in seamless polymer floors suitable for industrial and commercial flooring environments suitable for the health care, chemical processing, transportation industries and others. View their flooring products online to find the finish that's right for your business. Armorpoxy provides coating and covering systems for industrial flooring.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If paying for your new floor is an issue, search for the flooring company offering the best financing options. Many companies allow you to delay payments for many months before charging interest.

The process for laying flooring is the same, regardless of the location of the flooring. The only difference is that you may find you need a stronger glue or a more secure way to anchor the flooring.

Once you decide on the type of flooring to use for your business, you have to find out how to lay that flooring. Prior to ripping up the old floor, you must make sure that you fully understand the process for laying the new floor. Consider the following suggestions to jump start your flooring education and training:

1. Make laying tile flooring as easy as possible, without sacrificing quality of workmanship.

2. Find out how to lay carpeting like a professional.

3. Take the uncertainty out of laying wood flooring.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider flooring tiles for your business

Flooring tiles, such as ceramic, can add an instant air of sophistication to your business. These tiles are sturdy and are available in a variety of colors and styles. While it may seem a daunting task, replacing your current flooring with tile flooring is a very doable do-it-yourself job.

I recommend: Danny Lipford offers detailed instructions on how to lay floor tiles. This website has instructions covering every aspect of laying the flooring from determining how much tile to buy to finishing the floor once you lay the tiles. Pictures are included. Al's Home Improvement Center offers step-by-step instructions on laying flooring tiles, which you can use to lay industrial flooring or commercial flooring. This website includes illustrations.

Replace carpet flooring

In the past, laying carpet was considered a professional only job. Today, many business owners, especially home business owners, are taking on the task of adding or replacing carpeting in their office. With the right tools, laying carpet is more time consuming than it is difficult. Using expert tips and following directions exactly are necessary to make sure you can enjoy the fruits of your labor for a long time.

I recommend: DannyVandervortHomeTips.com offers information on all aspects of caring for flooring. This website has flooring products checklists for each project from laying the flooring to repairing carpeting. ThisOldHouse.com has a video series to help even the most inexperienced do-it-yourself-er lay carpet. The tips shown in the videos are from flooring specialists employed by industry leading flooring companies.

Update your workspace with wood flooring

Wood flooring adds warmth to most spaces. Because wood flooring expands and contracts, laying it takes considerably more time than laying tile. In some areas, you may have to let the wood acclimate to your climate prior to laying it. The versatility of wood flooring today enables you to create custom flooring that you and your clients can enjoy for many years to come.

I recommend: Lowe's.com offers a series of instructional articles on laying wood floors. A printable list of flooring equipment and supplies is included for each project. HowtoInstallFlooring.com has information on wood flooring. Each project comes complete with a list of flooring equipment suggestions. ConsumerReports.com has in depth flooring information, including tips on measuring the amount of flooring you need and tips for installing various types of wood flooring.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before beginning a flooring project in your business, check local building codes to find out if you have to obtain a permit for the project.

Flooring terminology is pertinent to people at many stages of the flooring world. From those who harvest or create the materials to make the flooring materials all the way to the consumer, each person in between should be familiar with the words, definitions and phrases that impact this industry. Manufacturers should know the lexicon of the products they are working with, as should distributors, store owners and sales representatives of the flooring companies.

Knowing flooring key terms will help better acquaint you to the industry as well help you keep up with conversations with colleagues, customers or other business associates. These words can include processes done to flooring materials as well as the flooring types themselves. Whatever the word, increasing your level of familiarization will assist you in your next flooring business situation.

Action Steps
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Binding

Binding is when you sew a strip of edging over carpet to protect it against unraveling. You can also bind pieces of carpet to make rugs.

I recommend: Look at the carpet binding services of Jo's Carpet Binding.

Cork flooring

Cork flooring is made from the bark of the cork oak tree, and it is a resilient flooring material that is available in tiles or sheets. You can purchase it unfinished, waxed, resin-reinforced or vinyl impregnated as well as in many colors including natural shades.

I recommend: Find out about the benefits of cork flooring from Globus Cork.

Frieze

Frieze is a flooring technique where yarn is tightly twisted to make it appear rough and nubby. You can either keep it looped or cut it.

I recommend: Learn about Frieze from FloorBiz.

Glazed tile

Glazed tiles are made out of clay that have been fire-hardened. They are then covered with a matte or glossy glaze that makes the more moisture resistant.

I recommend: The Mosaic Tile Company has helpful information on the difference between glazed and unglazed tile.

Terrazzo

Terrazzo is multicolored floor that has been made from marble or stone chips embedded in a cement binder. The creator then polished the floor to give it a smooth finish.

I recommend: Check out the information and beautiful possibilities of terrazzo from EnviroGLAS.

Sisal flooring

Sisal flooring are rugs, mats, and matting that have been manufactured from the natural plant material called sisal. You can purchase this flooring material woven and dyed or you can buy them machine or hand-painted.

I recommend: Find out about sisal rugs from The Flooring Lady.