Is Resilient Flooring or Hard Surface Flooring Better for My Facility?

Selecting the right floor for your facility can feel overwhelming. The world of commercial flooring has no shortage of available options to accommodate your company’s unique set of needs and budget.

To simplify matters, it’s important to ask, “Do I need resilient or non-resilient flooring?” Let’s look at the differences between the two.

An engineered product manufactured using various types of flexible material, resilient floors are firm and “bounce back.” Resiliency gives floors better impact resistance, an advantage in high-traffic areas.

Seamless, poured-in-place floors can be resilient when formulated with specific polymer materials. Poured-in-place urethane floors possess less elasticity than some traditional materials, but offer degrees of flexibility underfoot, providing more comfort than many other hard surface choices. Like urethane, epoxy floors are also thermosetting polymers used to coat concrete floors. Typically, epoxy coatings bind tighter to a floor than urethane, offering greater durability, but less flexibility.

Seamless floors provide a host of advantages not found in other flooring materials.

Also known as “hard surface flooring,” non-resilient flooring comprises any flooring material that is not carpet. This flooring is made up of natural and man-made materials, including hardwood, laminate, and tile. A rigid surface, non-resilient flooring does not have the same cushion as resilient floors.

In general, resilient floors offer better traction and higher slip resistance than non-resilient floors and provide ergonomic benefits such as comfort underfoot and decreased fatigue. Traditional resilient floors like vinyl (planks, sheets, tiles,) linoleum, and limestone are made with flexible materials with underfoot cushion that also provide sound dampening. Resilient floors also tend to be quieter with lower foot-traffic noise and are available in many aesthetic choices with a wide variety of colors, patterns, and finishes. An elastic surface, resilient flooring is easier to maintain.

As you might expect, non-resilient flooring is quite different. This category includes tile, hardwood, brick, ceramic, natural stone, slate, and laminate. With a rigid surface, these floors are not as elastic as resilient floors and do not have the same "cushion" to spring back when impacted. Low maintenance is a benefit, with many requiring only regular sweeping and household cleaners.

Resilient floors are used in many commercial industries and are recommended for high-traffic environments, including retail, education, and other commercial spaces.

Epoxy and urethane flooring systems are common in commercial settings, including automotive facilities, hospitals, airports, schools, and colleges. A popular choice in high-traffic environments, epoxy coatings are highly resistant to wear and tear and abrasions.

Another exceptional advantage to poured floors is they are sustainable. Poured floors become a part of your structure, so when you choose to change your floors, the product does not end up in a landfill.

Urethane floors are popular for resiliency, longevity, design capabilities, and easy maintenance. Some urethane floors feature low VOC formulas to improve indoor air quality. Urethane floors also offer antimicrobial protection, as well as resistance to moisture, thermal shock and cycling, and feature great eco-friendly sustainability.

Epoxy flooring systems are strong and durable material with wear-resistant features that stand up to harsh conditions and heavy traffic daily. Epoxy floors also provide a number of performance functions such as slip resistance, chemical resistance, and abrasion resistance; and are also used to provide waterproofing and pitch for water drainage and are seamless solutions for hygienic protection. Easy maintenance and nearly unlimited colors and designs. Finishes include gloss, semi-gloss, and matte.

A traditional resilient floor, this category includes vinyl composition tile, solid vinyl tile, and luxury vinyl tile or planks. Vinyl is the most popular resilient floor for its low maintenance and resistance to water. Vinyl floors do have their drawbacks, however. One major downside is that they cannot be repaired when damaged and replacing vinyl flooring is no easy task. They are also highly susceptible to harsh chemicals that can wear down their protective layering, exposing the surface to scratches and dents.

A natural product comprising of wood, linseed oil, cork, limestone, and resins. An early precursor of vinyl floors that is still manufactured today, it shares vinyl flooring's many drawbacks including its susceptibility to damage.

An organic flooring made of tree cork, this surface is a favorite of eco-conscious consumers who enjoy its sustainable nature. A relatively easy floor to take care of, cork's invisible sealing barrier guards against stains and spills. Want to change its look? Cork's surface lends itself to periodic refinishes, much like hardwood.

Easily one of the most beautiful floors available, hardwood offers a unique warmth and richness. While they are long-lasting and easy to clean, hardwood floors are easily scratched and prone to damage.

Ceramic floors are easy to clean and feature many design possibilities. However, they are hard surfaces that are tough to stand on for lengthy periods and cannot be softened with underlayment. Additionally, they damage easily. Grout lines make them less hygienic than seamless surfaces, offering areas where dirt and bacteria can harbor.

Incredibly hard and strong, concrete is durable and can stand up to scratches and dents. That hardness is also a drawback, as concrete is an unforgiving surface that is uncomfortable and tends to crack easily. Moisture issues also plague concrete to create unacceptably damp conditions.

A beautiful surface made by processing and smoothing out volcanic rock, granite tile is exceptionally durable and a viable choice for moist areas. However, many find this surface tough to clean and maintain. Its "cooling" surface can also be a drawback in cold climates.

Stonhard is the unprecedented world leader in manufacturing and installing high-performance polymer floor, wall and lining systems. Stonhard maintains 300 territory managers and 200 application teams worldwide who will work with you on design specification, project management, final walk-through and service after the sale. Stonhard’s single-source warranty covers both products and installation.

Liquid Elements is a brand of Stonhard specializing in luxury seamless flooring for a wide range of commercial spaces, including retail, workplace environments, hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, and more. For the ultimate in high-end design and custom flooring, count on Liquid Elements to make your vision a reality.

Contact us to learn more about our precision installation methods and specialized products.