What type of flooring is best for a commercial kitchen?

The floor of a commercial kitchen will need to be able to withstand high levels of heat, as well as heavy duty equipment, constant footfall and regular spillages and stains. Therefore, the material used for this sort of environment must be ultra-hard wearing and durable if you do not want to have to replace it regularly.

Commercial kitchen floors must also be slip resistant, for safety reasons, and easily cleanable while limiting the potential for infection. So what are the best types of floors for the kitchen of a restaurant or café?

Vinyl

The vinyl flooring typically used in commercial kitchen spaces is created from a blend of synthetic and natural polymers. The structure of these makes the material very long lasting and ensures it does not become slippery. Examples of the kinds of vinyl found in such kitchens include sheet floors, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) or vinyl composition tile (VCT).

Luxury vinyl tile is the best of these because it is stronger and more durable than vinyl composition tile or sheet flooring while also being available with pre-treatment that provides a guard against infection. Given the importance of health and safety in food preparation areas, that is a key point to consider when choosing flooring.

Ceramic tiles

These are made out of clay that is shaped into square tiles and then kiln-fired. It is a kind of floor that offers high durability and very easy maintenance, provided you get the right glazing. This should be melted glass and it will be essential for commercial kitchens. It prevents damage and means that stains can be easily wiped away.

Unglazed ceramic tile floors are too fragile and vulnerable to water damage to be suitable for use in the kitchen of a café or restaurant. Opting for tiles also means that a single damaged one can be replaced instead of an entire floor.

Resin

The third popular flooring choice for kitchens is resin. This is one of the easiest floor materials to clean and it is hard wearing enough to cope with boots, shoes and heavy kitchen equipment. Other advantages of resin are its slip resistance and hygiene qualities, all of which are ideal for kitchen areas.

As with vinyl and ceramic tile floors it is available in different colours and styles.

These will be the best floor options for a busy commercial kitchen, and each can be installed by experienced professionals.