Commercial Flooring Solutions for Asheville Businesses
Running a business in Western North Carolina means your floors work harder than most. Between tourist traffic, mountain weather tracked in from outside, and the wear that comes with commercial activity, the flooring demands of Asheville businesses exceed what residential products can handle.
At Leicester Flooring, we’ve served Asheville’s business community for 50 years. From downtown restaurants to medical offices, from retail shops along Biltmore Avenue to vacation rentals in the surrounding mountains, we understand what commercial flooring needs to deliver.
This guide covers everything business owners and property managers need to know about choosing flooring that performs in commercial settings.
Why Commercial Flooring Differs from Residential
The flooring in your business faces challenges your home floors never encounter. Understanding these differences explains why commercial-grade products matter.
Traffic Volume
A busy restaurant might see 500 people walk across its floors daily. A retail store during tourist season handles constant foot traffic for 10-12 hours straight. Medical offices see patients, staff, and equipment rolling across floors continuously.
Compare that to a home where the same family walks the same paths each day. The wear difference is dramatic. Flooring rated for residential use can fail within months under commercial traffic.
Cleaning Demands
Commercial spaces require frequent, often aggressive cleaning. Restaurant floors get mopped multiple times daily. Healthcare facilities need sanitization that would damage many flooring products. Retail spaces can’t close for gentle cleaning routines.
Commercial flooring must tolerate cleaning chemicals, wet mopping, and the maintenance schedules business operations demand.
Moisture and Spill Exposure
Restaurants deal with constant liquid exposure. Breweries and wineries face even more challenging conditions. Even dry retail spaces see rain and snow tracked in constantly during Asheville’s wet seasons.
Commercial flooring needs moisture resistance that goes beyond handling occasional spills.
Appearance Standards
Your floors represent your brand. A worn, damaged floor in a retail shop discourages purchases. A stained floor in a restaurant raises health concerns. A scuffed floor in a professional office undermines credibility.
Commercial flooring must maintain appearance under conditions that would quickly degrade residential products.
Commercial Flooring Options
Several flooring categories serve commercial applications well. Each offers different advantages for different business types.
Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank (LVT/LVP)
Commercial-grade LVT has become the dominant choice for many Asheville businesses, and the reasons are practical.
Durability: Commercial LVT features wear layers significantly thicker than residential products. These enhanced wear layers handle rolling loads, heavy foot traffic, and dropped items that would damage lesser flooring.
Water resistance: Complete waterproof construction protects against spills, mopping, and tracked-in moisture. Restaurants, breweries, and any business dealing with liquids benefit from this protection.
Maintenance simplicity: LVT cleans easily with standard commercial cleaning methods. No special treatments, no waxing, no refinishing required.
Design options: Wood looks, stone looks, abstract patterns, and custom designs allow businesses to create the aesthetic they want. The visual options rival any flooring category.
Comfort: The layered construction feels better underfoot than tile, reducing fatigue for employees who stand all day.
We carry commercial LVT from Shaw, Mannington, and other American manufacturers in grades appropriate for various commercial applications.
Commercial Carpet and Carpet Tile
Carpet still serves commercial spaces where its properties matter most.
Acoustics: Open offices, call centers, and spaces where noise control matters benefit from carpet’s sound absorption. Hard surfaces amplify noise that carpet dampens.
Comfort: Employees who stand or walk continuously appreciate carpet’s cushioning. The comfort benefit affects productivity and satisfaction.
Design flexibility: Carpet tile allows creative patterns, easy replacement of damaged sections, and access to under-floor systems. Many offices choose carpet tile for these practical advantages.
Safety: Carpet provides traction and cushions falls. Healthcare facilities and spaces serving elderly populations often choose carpet for safety reasons.
Commercial carpet requires different specifications than residential. Higher face weights, denser construction, and commercial-grade backings ensure performance under heavy use.
Porcelain and Ceramic Tile
Tile excels in specific commercial applications.
Extreme durability: Porcelain rated for commercial use handles virtually any traffic level. The material doesn’t wear out in human-relevant timeframes.
Moisture immunity: Kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, and any space with consistent water exposure suit tile perfectly.
Chemical resistance: Healthcare facilities, laboratories, and spaces requiring aggressive sanitization benefit from tile’s resistance to cleaning chemicals.
Heat resistance: Commercial kitchens and spaces near heat sources require tile’s tolerance for high temperatures.
The trade-offs include harder surfaces that cause employee fatigue, cold temperatures in winter, and higher installation costs.
Polished Concrete
Some commercial spaces benefit from polished concrete flooring.
Industrial aesthetic: Breweries, modern retail, and spaces embracing industrial design use polished concrete as a style statement.
Extreme durability: Concrete handles any traffic level and essentially never wears out.
Low maintenance: Sealed concrete requires only basic cleaning.
Cost efficiency: In spaces with existing concrete slabs, polishing that surface costs less than installing separate flooring.
The hard, cold surface limits appropriate applications, but for the right business, concrete performs excellently.
Choosing Flooring by Business Type
Different businesses face different challenges. Here’s what typically works best for common commercial applications in the Asheville market.
Restaurants and Bars
Restaurant flooring must handle food and beverage spills, heavy foot traffic, dropped dishes, rolling carts, and aggressive daily cleaning. The kitchen demands different flooring than the dining room.
Dining areas: Commercial LVT provides the wood or stone looks that create ambiance while handling spills and cleaning. The comfort matters for servers working long shifts.
Kitchens: Commercial tile handles the heat, grease, and water that kitchens produce. Non-slip ratings matter for safety.
Bar areas: LVT or tile, depending on aesthetic preference. Both handle the constant liquid exposure bars experience.
Restrooms: Tile or LVT with appropriate slip resistance.
Retail Stores
Retail flooring shapes customer experience and must handle tourist-season traffic that can be intense.
Sales floors: LVT works well for most retail. The design options support brand expression while the durability handles shopping traffic.
High-end retail: Hardwood creates luxury atmosphere for upscale shops, though maintenance requirements increase.
Fitting rooms: Carpet or LVT, depending on brand positioning. Carpet feels more luxurious but requires more maintenance.
Stock rooms: Concrete or LVT handles rolling loads and less careful traffic.
Offices and Professional Spaces
Office flooring affects employee comfort, acoustic environment, and professional image.
Open offices: Carpet tile controls noise while allowing easy access to under-floor systems. The modular format simplifies maintenance and future changes.
Private offices: Carpet or LVT depending on preference. Hard surfaces in private spaces don’t create the acoustic problems they cause in open areas.
Reception areas: LVT or tile creates polished first impressions while handling visitor traffic.
Break rooms: LVT handles food and beverage spills better than carpet.
Healthcare Facilities
Medical environments demand flooring that supports infection control, patient safety, and equipment movement.
Exam rooms: Commercial LVT cleans easily and handles rolling equipment.
Waiting areas: LVT or commercial carpet, depending on practice atmosphere.
Procedure areas: LVT or tile rated for healthcare use.
Restrooms: Tile with appropriate safety ratings.
Healthcare flooring must meet specific regulatory requirements. We help practices understand and meet these standards.
Hospitality and Lodging
Hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals need flooring that impresses guests while surviving heavy turnover.
Guest rooms: LVP provides durability and easy cleaning between guests. Carpet adds comfort but requires more maintenance.
Lobbies: LVT, tile, or hardwood depending on property positioning. First impressions matter.
Hallways: Commercial-grade LVT or carpet handles constant traffic.
Bathrooms: LVT or tile. Waterproof construction is essential.
Commercial Flooring Specifications to Understand
Commercial flooring is rated differently than residential. Understanding these specifications helps you choose appropriately.
Wear Layer Thickness
LVT and LVP durability correlates with wear layer thickness, measured in mils (thousandths of an inch).
- 12-20 mil: Light commercial, suitable for offices with moderate traffic
- 20-28 mil: General commercial, appropriate for most retail and restaurant applications
- 28+ mil: Heavy commercial, for high-traffic environments
Don’t install residential-grade LVP (typically 6-12 mil) in commercial settings. It will fail.
Traffic Ratings
Carpet uses traffic ratings to indicate durability.
- Moderate commercial: Offices, hospitality guest rooms
- Heavy commercial: Retail, restaurants, high-traffic lobbies
- Severe commercial: Airports, casinos, extreme applications
Choose ratings that match or exceed your actual traffic levels.
Slip Resistance
Wet environments require slip-resistant flooring. Look for:
- Coefficient of friction (COF) ratings
- ADA compliance for accessibility requirements
- DCOF (dynamic coefficient of friction) for wet areas
Slip-and-fall liability makes appropriate slip resistance essential, not optional.
Warranty Coverage
Commercial warranties differ from residential. Understand what’s covered, for how long, and under what conditions. Some warranties require specific maintenance protocols.
Installation Considerations for Commercial Projects
Commercial installation involves factors beyond residential work.
Minimizing Business Disruption
Installation during business hours costs you money. We work with business owners to schedule installation during off-hours, phasing work to keep portions of the space operational, and completing projects as quickly as quality allows.
Subfloor Preparation
Commercial spaces often have more challenging subfloor conditions. Concrete moisture, existing adhesive residue, and unlevel surfaces require proper preparation before installation.
ADA Compliance
Commercial spaces must meet accessibility requirements. Flooring transitions, slip resistance, and other factors must comply with ADA standards.
Building Codes
Commercial construction follows different codes than residential. We ensure installations meet all applicable requirements.
Maintaining Commercial Flooring
Proper maintenance protects your investment and keeps your space looking professional.
Establish Cleaning Protocols
Document cleaning procedures and train staff to follow them consistently. Different flooring types require different approaches.
Use Appropriate Products
Commercial cleaning products must be compatible with your flooring. Harsh chemicals that work on tile may damage LVT. Verify compatibility before use.
Address Damage Promptly
Small problems become big problems when ignored. Fix chips, tears, and damage before they spread.
Plan for Replacement
Even quality commercial flooring eventually needs replacement. Budget for this reality and plan projects during slow seasons when possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does commercial flooring last?
Quality commercial flooring typically lasts 10-20 years depending on product, traffic, and maintenance. Tile and concrete can last much longer. Budget appropriately for eventual replacement.
Can I install commercial flooring myself?
Commercial installation requires experience, specialized tools, and understanding of commercial requirements. Professional installation protects your investment and ensures proper results.
What’s the most durable commercial flooring?
Porcelain tile and polished concrete offer maximum durability. Commercial LVT provides excellent durability with easier installation and more comfortable surfaces.
Does Leicester Flooring handle commercial projects?
Yes. We’ve served Asheville businesses for 50 years. Our commercial team understands the requirements, timelines, and coordination that commercial projects demand.
How do I get a commercial flooring quote?
Contact us to schedule a consultation. We’ll assess your space, understand your needs, and provide detailed quotes for appropriate options.
Partner with Local Commercial Flooring Experts
Your business deserves flooring that performs as hard as you do. The right choice protects your investment, impresses your customers, and simplifies your operations.
At Leicester Flooring, we’ve supplied and installed commercial flooring throughout Western North Carolina for five decades. We understand what Asheville businesses need and we deliver American-made products that meet those needs.
Contact us to discuss your commercial flooring project. Whether you’re opening a new restaurant, renovating an office, or upgrading a retail space, our team provides the expertise your project requires.
Schedule your commercial consultation today.