Tiling for any commercial property needs to meet high standards, visually as well as practically. Tiles can transform your space visually, while also bringing practical benefits that include longevity and durability, low maintenance, and safety. But what are the important considerations for commercial tiling? And how can you be sure to achieve the right result with your commercial tiling project?
What are the important considerations for commercial tiling?
When tiling your commercial property, there are a number of important considerations to take into account. These include:
- Durability and longevity
- Safety and non-slip surfaces
- Aesthetics and design
- Compliance with regulations
Choosing commercial tiles that are durable and have longevity
One of the biggest benefits of tiling in a commercial space is that this is a hard wearing flooring choice. Tiles have increased durability when compared with carpets, hardwood and lino, which means that they are less likely to become damaged or show signs of wear and tear. However, it’s important to choose tiles that offer this increased durability, like those made out of porcelain. These are often more suitable for heavy foot-traffic than ceramic tiles, which are better for wall tiling. To help with this, tiles have a rating system, and you can use the PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) rating to choose tiles that will be best suited for your property and purpose. This rating analyses the tile’s resistance to wear and tear, and tiles with a PEI rating of 3 or 4 would be suitable for medium traffic commercial environments, while a rating of 5 is recommended for heavy use areas like shopping centres or airports.
Choose commercial tiles with slip resistance and safety in mind
As well as the practicality of the tiles, you should also consider employee and customer safety. While tiles may be hard wearing and durable, many tiles can also be slippy when wet. As a result, safety is something that you will need to pay close attention to when choosing commercial tiles.
You can reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls with tiles that are designed to be anti-slip, and offer slip resistance. The level of slip resistance is measured using the Pendulum Test Value (PTV). According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), tiles in commercial environments should ideally have a PTV of 36 or higher, especially in areas that are likely to get wet, such as entrances, restrooms, and kitchens. Using tiles with the correct levels of slip resistance can be important for meeting legal requirements, as well as for maintaining high levels of safety.
Choose commercial tiling that compliments the aesthetics and design
You don’t just need your commercial tiling to be practical and functional, as this also needs to be visually appealing and complementary to the aesthetic of the design too. In fact, this is absolutely essential to take into account, to make sure that the right result is achieved for your space. In a commercial setting, tiles can even be designed to align with your branding too. As part of this aesthetic design, you should consider the style, colours, patterns and layouts of the tiles. For contemporary spaces with a minimalist, contemporary feel, neutral tiling colours with a modular or grid layout can be very effective. On the other hand, for a traditional pub or restaurant, terracotta tiles, or those with earthen shades, as well as floral or patterned tiling can be very effective.
Another factor that shouldn’t be overlooked is the layout and the size of the tiles. Larger tiles can create a modern, seamless look, but they might be harder to install in small or irregularly shaped areas. On the other hand, smaller tiles or mosaic tiles can add intricate detail and texture to a space but will create more grout lines, leading to a higher level of maintenance.
Commercial tiling needs to comply with UK building regulations
Finally, you will need to make sure that you choose and install tiles in line with all of the necessary building regulations in the UK. As a commercial property, you have a responsibility for safety and security, as well as accessibility. As such, it’s important to make sure that your new tiles are installed professionally, avoiding all potential trip hazards, particularly between transitions from one room to the next. Fire safety regulations may also come into play. In some cases, tiling needs to meet fire resistance standards, particularly in high risk environments such as kitchens or areas where electrical equipment is present.
If you’re looking for high quality commercial tiling and installation you can trust, we are the team for you, here at Tile Style Lancashire. We are leading tiling experts, with an extensive range of tiles in stock, and we are always happy to help. Take a look at what we can offer online, or in store, today.