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Floor Types at a Glance
One facility can have multiple floor types throughout the different areas, so knowing what flooring type is right for specific settings, plus how & how often to care for them properly, will protect your flooring investment.
| Floor Type | Key Features | Level of Daily Maintenance | Ideal Settings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete | Extremely durable, hard, strong, long lasting, and resilient | Very low maintenance; after curing, it is typically finished with polishing or sealing and is easy to clean | Suited for high-traffic, heavy-use performance settings like warehouses, distribution centers, factories, manufacturing plants, supermarkets, outdoor commercial spaces and walkways |
| Vinyl | Highly durable; made from synthetic materials; includes Vinyl Composite Tile (VCT) and Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVF) | Easy to wipe clean; water resistant or waterproof; resists dirt, stains, scratches, mildew, moisture, and mold | High foot traffic settings such as commercial kitchens, schools & universities, healthcare facilities, hospitality common areas |
| Carpet | Non slip surface; comfortable and soft underfoot; provides both thermal and sound insulation | High maintenance due to it being prone to wear and tear, retains moisture and allergens, and difficult to remove stains from; generally has a limited lifespan | Professional environments where comfort, noise reduction, and warmth is ideal such as offices, conference rooms, hotel guest rooms, libraries, and healthcare waiting rooms |
| Laminate | Synthetic floor covering designed to mimic the look of natural materials such as tile, hardwood, or stone | Easy to clean; dependable flooring that resists stains, scratches, and fading; best for areas without excessive moisture | Ideal for retail stores, offices spaces, classrooms, healthcare admin areas |
| Tile | Highly durable; stain resistant surface; rigid and hard surface; suitable for both indoor and outdoor use | Low maintenance; water resistant; easy to clean | High foot traffic environments like outdoor dining areas, retail spaces, food processing areas, public restrooms, and locker rooms |
| Linoleum | Durable, eco friendly made primarily from linseed oil combined with other natural, renewable materials such as cork dust, wood flour, and pine rosin, which distinguishes it from synthetic vinyl flooring | Relatively easy to maintain—requiring regular sweeping or vacuuming and gentle cleaning with linoleum specific products | High-traffic commercial and institutional settings such as classrooms, cafeterias, hallways, healthcare facilities, government buildings, offices, retail |
| Hardwood | Long lasting, durable, warm, beautiful aesthetic | Easy to clean; more susceptible to scratching & water damage | Suitable for commercial or light industrial areas like corporate offices, retail shops, dining areas, and hospitality reception areas |
| Rubber | Made from natural or synthetic rubber and is highly durable; water and slip resistant; eco friendly; comfortable underfoot; reduces noise through shock absorption | Low maintenance | Performs well in heavy-load areas like gyms & fitness centers as well as playgrounds and childcare centers where superior comfort and safety are prioritized |
| Cork | Sustainable, eco friendly material made from a renewable resource that is naturally pest resistant, hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and recyclable; soft, comfortable feel underfoot sound and temperature insulating qualities | High maintenance, including resealing every several years to protect it from water and wear | Ideal in low-to-medium foot traffic environments where comfort, sustainability, and acoustics takes priority such as small offices, creative workspaces, training rooms, libraries, healthcare admin & waiting areas. |
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Essential Supplies for Commercial Floorcare by Floor Type
Please Select a Floor Type First
Stay Stocked on Key Floorcare Supplies
From scrubber squeegees and floor machine filters to brushes, pads, wipes, vacuum bags, mops, chemicals, and trash bags, keep the most-used floor care consumables well stocked to maintain clean, safe floors.
Maintain Floors with the Right Equipment & Accessories
Floors require constant care & cleaning with “Caution” floor signs, air movers, scrubbers, vacuums, mop buckets, sweepers, brooms, mats, and pressure washers all playing a role in safe & effective floor care. Start with the outside where pressure washers clean exterior areas to stop dirt before it’s tracked inside, helping floors stay cleaner, safer, and easier to maintain.
Utilize this custom floor pad calculator to determine how many floor pads will be required for your floor machine to adequately clean your floors based on the information you enter.
Input your labor cost & weekly cleaning area using the two sliders on our unique calculator to get a list of recommended floor scrubbers that will work best for your needs.
Terms and Conditions of Use. Model assumes $25/hr. labor rate, 52 workweeks/year, 3,500 sq.ft./hour manually, $.001 scrubber maintenance/sq.ft. cleaned.
The Global Industrial ROI Calculators ("Calculators") are interactive educational tools that use the information you supply to estimate a potential return on investment ("ROI") based on productivity gains (i.e., reductions in labor) when using select products sold and distributed by Global Industrial.
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Additional Resources and Expert Guides
Click the links below for additional resources & buying guides on all things floorcare. Get practical insights, comparisons, and tips to help you choose the right equipment and products with confidence.
Buying Guides
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