Office Flooring: Which Covering to Choose

Office flooring is one of the demanding stages of a comprehensive renovation. It faces high requirements: the surface takes significant loads and mechanical impact, and at the same time it has to form a coherent business interior. So choosing a covering is always a balance between practicality and aesthetics.

In this guide we cover the requirements for flooring, the stages of the work and — most importantly — the main floor coverings for an office: laminate, tile, carpet tiles and poured floors. We explain the advantages of each option and suggest where each is appropriate, so you can choose the best solution for your particular space.

Office floor requirements and installation stages

Laying the floor is a responsible stage of a renovation, where it matters not only to lay the covering correctly but also to strengthen the base. Depending on the space, the process usually includes these stages:

• levelling the rough concrete layer;
• laying a screed to form an even surface;
• creating a base under the floor covering (if needed);
• installing a thermal-insulation layer and other works.

The main requirement for a workspace floor is practicality. The quality of the base determines how even and durable the finished covering will be, so the screed and preparation stage is no less important than the laying itself.

Types of office floor coverings

Today there are various floor coverings, and when choosing you should consider the purpose of the space and how it will be used. Let’s look at the main options.

Raised floor

A modular covering that suits offices and private offices well. Its advantages are speed of laying, additional heat and sound insulation, and above all the ability to hide part of the communication systems with easy access to them when needed. This solution deserves separate attention — read more in Raised Floor for the Office: Convenience & Practicality.

Carpet tiles

A soft modular covering that absorbs the sound of footsteps and therefore suits work zones and open-plan spaces well. Its strengths are eco-friendliness and a variety of colours, letting you match the option to the overall interior style. Carpet tiles aren’t afraid of dirt, clean easily, and individual tiles can be replaced when needed without relaying the whole floor. Synthetic-rubber tile has similar properties.

Laminate

An excellent choice for a director’s office. Such floors are practical, wear-resistant and have a prestigious look that emphasises the status and solidity of a company. Office laminate comes in a wide range, including materials that imitate natural parquet — they give the interior an expensive look at a moderate price.

Floor tile

The most popular material for high-traffic zones. Tile suits corridors, lobbies and client halls thanks to its durability, strength, ease of cleaning and resistance to abrasion and damage. It is the optimal choice where a large number of people pass through every day.

Poured floor

The choice of modern, progressive companies. A poured floor is simple to lay, has a respectable look, is practical in use and easy to care for. Its strength is a wide range of stylistic solutions, including the ability to create three-dimensional (3D) images.

How to choose a covering for an office

There is no universal solution: an office floor covering is chosen for the specific zone. The choice and design are largely determined by the room’s area, the lighting arrangement, the field of activity and the company’s corporate colours.

In practice, one office often combines several coverings: tile in corridors and client zones, carpet tiles in open-plan areas, laminate in management offices, and a poured floor in representative zones. This approach lets you combine practicality with a coherent design. The layout of coverings is best planned as early as the design stage.

Office floor renovation with Partner Create

Partner Create, a reliable contractor, will carry out an office renovation, including the flooring, taking into account the individual features of the space, the company’s field of activity and the planned budget. We will select a covering for each zone and deliver it together with the whole complex of works under general contracting.

Examples of completed offices with various floor types are gathered in the office spaces portfolio.

Office flooring in brief

• An office floor takes significant loads, so its main requirement is practicality.
• Installation stages: levelling the base, screed, a base under the covering, thermal insulation.
• A raised floor hides services; carpet tiles dampen sound; laminate adds status.
• Tile is for high-traffic zones and corridors; a poured floor is for representative spaces.
• The choice of covering depends on area, lighting, activity and corporate colours.
• One office often combines coverings by zone for practicality and a coherent design.

Frequently Asked Questions

Order an office floor renovation from Partner Create

The right floor combines practicality, durability and aesthetics for each zone of an office. Partner Create will select and install the covering alongside the whole renovation and take responsibility for the result.

Explore our work in the portfolio, read useful materials on the blog, or get in touch to discuss your project. Call +38 050 388 24 49.

We also recommend Raised Floor for the Office: Convenience & Practicality and Office Corridor: How to Design It Functionally — for more on flooring for services and high-traffic zones.