Is Laminate Flooring Good For High Traffic Areas?

Is Laminate Flooring Good For High Traffic Areas? Laminate flooring is an excellent choice for swift, inexpensive floor cover solutions. However, its durability depends on the area’s traffic level. Hundreds of customers or guests can pass through a space in just one day, so you have to be sure they won’t wear through the floor.

Laminate has come a long way since it started gaining popularity in the early 2000s. Even modern linoleum has a far better visual quality than it used to. Modern laminate imitates all materials well (depending on your budget!). A lot of the time, they’re indistinguishable from actual tiling until you step on them!

In this article, I’ll take you through a few critical points about laminate floors so you can choose what’s best.

Before we get started, ask yourself a few questions about your needs. Such as: How high traffic is the area compared to a domestic setting? For example, a quiet clothing boutique will see less footfall than a buzzing cafe.

• Will heavy equipment, machinery, or stock deliveries be moved across this floor?
• What type of people will be visiting your space? For example, laminate is an excellent choice for wheelchair-accessible places.
• Will this floor ever be open to the elements? Water can cause problems with some types of laminate.

About Laminate Flooring Durability

Laminate floors are graded with an ‘AC’ rating. AC stands for Abrasion Coefficient. This rating indicates how well a base endures foot traffic, chips, and scratches. The higher the rating, the more durable the material.

What’s The Highest AC Rating Laminate You Can Get?

If you’re set on choosing a laminate option for your space, the most challenging type you can select is AC5 commercial-grade flooring. This is specially made to withstand heavy traffic in shops and commercial areas. It’s a cheaper option than traditional tiling or bespoke hardwood floors. And they can look just as good, depending on your budget!

How Do I Know What Laminate Style Or AC Rating Is Right For My Space?

The key is to consider how much wear and tear the foot traffic will cause. A quiet store will see only a bit of footfall than a home. Another good thing to remember is whether heavy items like chairs, shelves, or tables will be moved around on them. The more you drive these things, the more scratch-resistant floor you should choose.

Here are a few examples of areas that would need a higher AC rating floor:

• Restaurants and cafes
• Shops with heavy products (e.g., electronics or furniture stores)
• Entranceways

Spaces that don’t take much wear could use lower AC-grade floors, for example:

• Salons
• Boutiques
• Waiting rooms

When Is Laminate Not Tough Enough?

Even high-grade laminate is unsuitable for workshops, garages, and stockrooms. These places will put weight on the tiles they are not designed to endure. High-traffic areas that also have very heavyweight items on them are not suitable for a laminate floor.

Other Tips And Important Things To Keep In Mind

• Do not choose based on budget alone. Laminate floors usually cannot be serviced or resurfaced. Often damage means having to have the whole floor replaced! Make sure not to buy your bed twice because the thinner laminate was cheaper!

Check the floor your laminate will lay on. An inappropriate surface could cause buckling or lumps in more flexible types of laminate. Ask your installation expert to discuss your options and whether you need to level or strengthen your floor.

• Very few people can DIY a decent floor, especially in high-traffic areas. You can hire a professional, and don’t cut corners.

Is Laminate Flooring Good For High Traffic Areas? – Conclusion

Your needs are unique. Every space is different, and you’ll know your through-traffic best. Weigh up your other options with your budget, and remember that laminate will only sometimes be a good solution for you. Consult a trustworthy contractor or decorator that has done a floor for a similar space to yours. Laminate floors are a great choice in many circumstances, but all cases differ. Analyze all the information you have and figure out if they’re best for you!