How to maintain your office vinyl flooring

A guide to regular vinyl flooring maintenance.

You can retain vinyl floor quality through regular cleaning, including daily sweeping and weekly mopping. We give you some guidance on best practice and products to avoid.

Vinyl flooring is less expensive than a lot of flooring options. It is also relatively easy to maintain, and it comes in a huge variety of finishes, designs, styles, and colours. While it is designed to last for years and withstand a high footfall, some general care and maintenance will help you prolong the life the floor, and allow it to retain its great looks.

Daily cleaning

Use a brush or vacuum cleaner to pick up any solid dirt and debris that gathers over the day. If wet cleaning do so manually or with a mono-disc machine with white pad. Although most vinyl floors do not require daily cleaning, doing so will help you maintain its looks and will prevent dirt from becoming ingrained and more difficult to deal with.

Weekly schedule or periodic cleaning

A cleaning regime will partly depend on footfall. Sweep or vacuum the floor first, and then mop it with a damp mop (microfibre mobs are the best) or for mechanical cleaning, a mono-disc machine. Use a neutral or light alkaline detergent, and only use warm water rather than boiling. This will help prevent any unnecessary damage to the material, while the damp mop will help pick up any dirt and mild stains that have gathered over the past week. Manufacturer’s directions should be followed but as a guide, cleaning solution should be dispersed on a surface of 5-10 m2 and should be scrubbed after 10-15 minutes, allowing the cleaning agent time to absorb. This should then be rinse thoroughly with clean water. Do not use fluids or agents containing pine oil.

Some important tips

To assist in regular cleaning and to ensure that your floor continues to look great, use foam pads under the feet and corners of any furniture. This will prevent the sharp corners from potentially scratching and scraping the vinyl. Only use foam, however, as rubber and other materials can leave stains of their own on the floor, especially when moved.

Only use neutral detergents, other options can do more harm than good, eventually leading to damage to floor materials. Do not use abrasive powders, black soap, or oil based products, and don’t try treating the floor with varnish or wax because this will reduce the quality and strength of the material. Use two compartment buckets to avoid mixing clean and dirty water.

Some materials are known to stain vinyl floors (included but not limited to): asphalt, bitumen, wet cardboard, dyes from literature or packaging print, wet hardboard, rubber backed mats, and some chemicals used in cleaning products including pine oil.

Preventative measures are of course the key to good floor maintenance and entrance matting and barrier tiles provide both a safety element and cost saving one. These collect dirt and debris before it is walked into the building and trodden into the floor. This is the single quickest way to reduce the amount of maintenance that your new flooring requires. Being aware of what will stain the floor and avoiding this is also a key consideration when advising employees and maintenance staff on how to keep the vinyl flooring in a commercial building looking its best at all time.

The feature image is from a recent case study and shows just how stunning a luxury vinyl tile looks when first installed. AXIS used here has a 10 year guarantee when properly maintained.

The benefits of vinyl flooring

Have you considered all the benefits of vinyl flooring?

Flooring is a key consideration when it comes to an office refurbishment, and for that reason it needs to be hard-wearing, presentable and easily maintained. Vinyl is highly innovative and brings a range of benefits to any business, it is no surprise it continues to go from strength to strength each year as a commercial floor covering of choice.

Versatility

Vinyl manufacturing processes mean that you can find sheet vinyl or vinyl floor tiles with a range of designs and structural characteristics. There are various cell foam backing for vinyl flooring that mimic specific performance characteristics, for example those of a sprung floor or a wood or laminate flooring system. Comfort underfoot is also possible without the need for additional underlay and newer designs can mimic the acoustic benefits of carpet.

This means that you can readily tailor your choice of vinyl flooring to be in complete harmony with the functionality of your workspace.

Durable

Vinyl is an excellent hard-wearing flooring choice. One of its primary benefits is its moisture resistance which greatly contributes to its longevity. The quality, thickness and manufacturing of vinyl will greatly affect the durability of a vinyl floor. Sheet vinyl is generally of lesser durability than vinyl planks and tiles. Both however are designed to withstand the wear of high traffic and are a great choice for retail, hospitality and service environments where there is a lot of footfall.

Easy to clean and maintain

Maintenance of your vinyl flooring is often more simple and cost effective than carpet, which may require periodic professional extraction cleaning. If you opt for a tile flooring system, damaged vinyl floor tiles can be readily replaced.

A broad range of designs

Vinyl flooring offers a wide variety of styles, patterns and textures which can really enhance your office environment. Luxury Vinyl Tiles easily replicate the appearance of wood or stone and are available in a variety of patterns and colours. With the ability to be integrated with other flooring options such as carpet as part of your final office design, vinyl stands out as a great investment for reliable and attractive commercial flooring.

How to integrate branding with office design

There are several ways to integrate branding within office design. With careful consideration, designs can also reflect a company’s ethos and unify employees.

How to integrate branding with office design

An office is a statement about a business’ values and branding. Visitors will pick up on the subconscious messages that you’ve weaved, intentionally or not, into the office design.

This is why in the past, companies would go to great lengths to implement branding within entrance and exit ways. However, there was very little attention paid to the internal working areas of the office. There are however ways that you can combine both functional office designs and corporate branding throughout a building.

1. Commercial flooring aligned with the brand

For some, the colour of the floor is not the first thing they notice. However, even if people don’t pay active attention to it, they will notice it subconsciously. Using brand colours in commercial flooring choices shows great attention to detail and is likely to have greater stand-out.

2. Plan your office based on the journey

Whenever you’re looking at office design, you should think about how a veteran employee would give a tour of the building. Where would they start, what are the points of interest and what paths would they take? The natural stop points and typical pathways are key areas where branding should be.

3. Think about key messages you want to communicate

Branding isn’t just about colour it is also about the messages and concepts the business wants to convey. When designing an office, it is worth thinking about the main message that you want the business to communicate. Is it about inspiration or customer service? These important messages should be at key points in the office which see high traffic. You can also segregate messages for staff and those for visitors.

Angelist used a mural of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak to inspire and connect their love of innovation and startups to two of the most successful tech entrepreneurs. This reflects their mission to help startups find their funding and talent for success.

Conclusion

While many businesses spend budgets on leaflets and other publications, there is one area that is often missed out – the office design. Yet by getting everything from commercial flooring to wall murals matching corporate branding, an office can become a way to advertise a business. More importantly it can also help unify the team around a company’s brand values.

How to save money as a facilities manager

To be an effective facilities manager, you need to always be learning on the job. Adaptability is key because by making even some of the smallest changes, you can not only increase the productivity and well-being of those working in your property, but also save yourself money.

Maintenance

Maintenance is a big concern for any facilities manager, not only because of the setbacks it can create but also because of the cost. Breakdowns deplete asset life and can require costly replacements. Implementing predictive testing and inspections is a good way to combat repair costs, as it keeps you aware of the condition, as well as detecting trends which suggest impending failure. We found an article that discusses many of the advantages of a good maintenance programme and provides a few warnings as well.

Energy consumption

Vigilant energy consumption monitoring is also a big step when it comes to cutting down on costs. This doesn’t just mean efficient energy use in terms of light and machine usage, but in other, more subtle ways too. Insulation is a good example, as while every commercial building will have it in some form, there are always improvements that can be made which will save you money in the long run. Energy efficient windows make for a simple way to increase insulation, reduce energy costs and improve the well-being of the building’s occupants, as well as looking at the roofing, which can be bolstered to minimise the overall solar impact. Many floor coverings, especially carpet tiles provide additional installation, as well as being a practical maintenance solution.

Redesign

If you’re looking to make a difference which lasts years, sustainable facilities design is not only more attainable but more affordable than it’s ever been. Sustainable design also does wonders for your image amongst the public, cementing your reputation as both socially and environmentally conscious. What also works to your advantage is that many reputable design companies will work with you closely to match your specifications and needs. As a facilities manager, you know how space is used; what works and what doesn’t.

A new design offers a great opportunity for any facilities manager, as not only can it set up what you need to drive a business forward but also enables you to install measures to help you maintain that drive. Furniture, waste management, equipment, health and well-being are all things to be considered during the design process. The UKGBC provides plenty advice on sustainable design and how it increases productivity.

Choosing a more reputable designer might seem like a large cost, but their understanding of your needs will go a long way in saving you money in the long run. Their goal isn’t just about aesthetics, it’ll also be about working with you to overcome any potential issues early on. It also means that with all the data you have to hand, the entire design plan is based on your specifications, so all of your long-term ambitions can be uniquely worked into your new design.

The psychology of shapes and colour in flooring

The colour, shape pattern and even layout of commercial flooring can have a high impact in the workplace. Whether it’s an open office or a relaxed leisure environment, the right feel is key.

Commercial flooring options are varied, and there’s so much more to flooring than just picking a complementary colour or selecting a standard layout. Different shapes incite different feelings and moods, as do the colours that create them. Depending on your business and the room function, you’ll want to make sure that you pick flooring or carpet tiling that speaks the right tone. Using flooring design in the right way can change the spatial perceptions of the room as well as affect the mood of the people who enter it.

Shape psychology

A lot of the time, the focus of flooring and its psychology is centred around colour. Whilst it does have a great impact, the pattern and shapes used can have tremendous effects too.

Squares and rectangles are used as a standard layout for most commercial floors. Used either to create rectangular block areas, a brick-like pattern or stripes, it’s a staple choice. Due to the fact that many things around us are squared with straight edges, it’s clear to see that it represents stability. Square shapes create a trusting and safe environment. Using large squared block areas, you can break up a large open plan office into areas and use colours to imply the use of that area. You can also create a block walkway effect from your entrance to help guide workers or customers, again adding to the feeling of safety. Using stripes in the right way can make a smaller square room feel longer as proven by the Helmholtz illusion.

Triangles utilise the familiar safe straight edges of a square but have a more modern twist. It’s a unique dynamic shape, that exudes a sense of power and energy. Due to their peak like shape, triangles also represent success so they are great for sales rooms, boardrooms or gym floors, where the shapes can energise and invigorate.

Hexagons elicit thoughts of harmony. Although geometric, it is a shape existing in nature in bee hives so it makes sense that it would create a feeling of togetherness. Hexagon tiles (such as our Hexxtile range also embody strength due to their structure and can make spaces seem infinitely larger than they are. This shape would work well in communal rooms where you want people to be open and interact.

Pattern psychology

The psychology of flooring can sometimes reach deeper than the layout, as even the flooring pattern can affect a space. The most popular patterns are natural ones. They geo-mimic in a unique way that creates a sense of calm and groundedness. From washed stone patterns through to replicated grainy wood (such as our Bark range ) these can bring the calmness of the outside world inside whilst boosting productivity.

Colour psychology with shape form

When you look to create your pattern, you do also need to consider the colours you want to use. If you are using multi tones, you’ll need to think about whether to use contrasting or complementary colours depending on the requirements of the room or building.

Warm, neutral shades suggest comfort and safety so would work well combined with square and rectangular flooring. Bright and bold colours can be overwhelming, but when used correctly they can promote productivity and ignite a creative mind. Combining these colours with more modern, invigorating shapes such as triangles would be great for use in motivational areas.

With a well thought out layout using patterns or inspiring colours, you can create a dynamic working environment, with your workforce or clients working with the design in a positive and responsive way.

How to reduce stress in the office

Man hands on head looking stressed in office

Stress costs UK businesses around £6.5 billion every year. But there are simple ways your office design can reduce this. Here are some suggestions.

Stress is one of the largest costs to businesses in the UK. According to research, around 10.4 million work days and £6.5 billion are lost every year due to employees being off sick with stress. There is also the hidden cost of poorer productivity and incomplete or low-quality work that is harder to measure.

Reducing stress in the office should be a priority for any business and there are numerous ways that your office design can contribute. Here are some of the top ways to factor in stress-reducing elements in your next office design project.

1. Encourage good posture

Bad posture is linked to several physical and mental illnesses. There are several ways to encourage good posture including designing offices that encourage standing work from time to time and ensuring desks and chairs are set up at the optimal height and distance from the user. By encouraging good posture, physical stress on the body is reduced, which in turn can lead to less emotional stress.

2. Noise reduction

Some noise is expected in an office setting, but too much noise can produce stress hormones in the body. Creating an office environment which reduces noise requires a lot of different elements. Commercial flooring is part of this equation, with carpet tiles being an excellent way of reducing high levels of office noise.

Impact sound considers the noise made on one floor to the rooms below. The level of impact sound reduction is often found on flooring specifications sheets. It measures in decibels the difference between a hammer machine being used directly on to a concrete floor and then on the tested floor covering. In-Room Impact Noise is also a consideration, the best performing floor coverings are Class A. However, where design comes in here is also essential – soft furnishings, partitioning and feature walls all contribute to reducing noise levels.

3. Use natural lighting

Natural light is an important part of our health. Without natural light, workers can suffer from reduced mental alertness, bad sleeping patterns and poor job performance. Mental health conditions can also cause anxiety, stress and depression. Therefore, you should always seek to increase the amount of natural light able to enter a room. If this isn’t possible, offer your clients the option to turn lights up to full spectrum light or to use artificial daylight bulbs.

4. Add nature to your office

Nature can be a powerful element in a business’s productivity. It stimulates workers and helps them feel more relaxed and less stressed. There are several ways that you can improve the biophilic elements of an office. Using natural materials like stone and wood within your office design is one way. Another option is to introduce plants through a living feature wall, or even encouraging your clients to bring a pet to the workplace. Pets have been proven to reduce stress and improve creativity within the office.

5. Exercise areas

Another key aspect of workplace stress is lack of exercise. Workers who don’t exercise often experience high levels of physical and mental stress. In order to encourage staff to get up from their desks and move around a bit, ensure you factor in the additional space in your layout, perhaps with specific areas for lunchtime yoga or other forms of exercise. Additionally, standing desks are one way to increase the amount of exercise for employees. By factoring in their physical needs, you can help workers to break the monotony of their regular working day. Accommodating activity based workspace is another consideration as that encourage take up of different tasks in different office locations. Thinking carefully about relaxation, bringing an element of fun in the office, including table tennis tables etc. all help staff take breaks and this can be even more important where going for a walk isn’t an option.

6. Use a splash of colour

Incorporating colour in the office is very important. Dull colours like white and beige are known to trigger depressive feelings and stress among female workers. Colours like purple have the same impact on male workers. Using natural colours in your room, like blue and green, are the best colours to help.

Designing a stress-reducing office space

Stress is a massive problem for employers. However, by incorporating some clever features into your office design, you can help reduce stress and improve productivity for clients and their staff.

Best office colours for creativity and productivity

Using colour in the office, Progression Range grey carpet tiles with a yellow Bright Ideas

The colours we choose when designing a space can influence our mood. Similarly, the colour a business uses in the office affects the productivity of its employees. Potential clients will also judge you depending on the colour you use for your brand and office premises. A subject we have touched on before but we thought we would summarise.

White

White is a colour that symbolises purity and cleanliness, and adds some clarity to an open space. Apply it in areas like the kitchen or spaces that need a sleek finish to attract or impress potential clients. In a previous blog however we warned too much white can be depressing.

Black

Black is a neutral colour that brings a sense of control and authority. On the flip side, one must be careful as it is known to attract natural light. It creates a comfortable elegance when mixed with other colours.

Purple

Purple is widely known as a royal and luxury colour with some magical mystery. Most people view it as an artificial colour because of its nature, so blend it with another tone to create a more relaxed and natural ambience.

Blue

Blue is a vibrant colour for an office setting and represents stability and reliability. It has a soothing and relaxing tone that symbolises trust, so it’s essential for encouraging peace of mind. To ensure your employees don’t fall sleep or become inactive, pair it with an orange shade – this will provide a sense of balance in the room.

Red

Red is a colour that represents passion, strength and assists in raising mental energies. It works well when used with furnishings in the office like sofas and a commercial carpet. Red helps in enhancing human metabolism; respiration rates can increase as well as blood pressure, which is similar to the effects of exercise. Perhaps for these reasons however it is suggested it is used sparingly if you are trying to create a harmonious atmosphere, a subject we have touched on previously.

Yellow

Yellow works well in offices that are secluded for teamwork. It’s a bright and happy colour that improves positivity and generates energy. Employees will be in a great mood and it will bring out their creativity, thus tackling the task at hand well.

Orange

Orange is eye-catching and is widely known to stimulate energy within people. The youth of today love it as it represents fun, success and sheer determination. It also represents food, so it’s appropriate in kitchens or restaurants.

Green

Green is a great choice when you are working in an office environment that requires balance. Green is vibrant, calming and arouses a reassuring feeling. However, use it carefully because it can evoke some stagnant behaviour in active people. To avoid this, be creative and blend it with a red hue to combine strength and calmness.

Ways to get more natural light in the office

Momenta Rusticana - commercial flooring in office

Improve natural light getting into your office design with these simple changes. Everything from building designs to how furniture is arranged is covered.

Natural lighting into an office space offers numerous benefits to workers and employers. More than a third of employees identify a lack of natural light with negative emotions in the workplace. Yet those companies that use natural light in their design will benefit from an increase in productivity by up to 40%, and creativity can be improved by up to 15%. We found some fascinating facts and a great graphic in this article.

Staff also tend to be in a better mood when they’re exposed to more natural light. This has helped with better sleep regulation that can improve the quality of work.

In addition, the number one demand for office design tends to be more natural light. This is not just because of the benefit to employees either. More natural light can reduce lighting costs and absence rates by about 6.5%.

There are several ways that you can increase natural light in office designs. Here are some of the easiest and most efficient.

1. Use transom windows

Transom windows are extra windows that are sited above a door frame or window already installed. This style was initially introduced to add windows into buildings where natural light was desired, but for the window to be at a height so that passers by couldn’t see in. Now they can be used to increase the amount of light getting into an office. The more windows the more light.

2. Use mirrors in your office design

Mirrors help to reflect natural light so that the same amount of sunshine can enter the building but it counts for twice as much. This is a cheap and effective way to improve natural light within any room, however, mirrors can sometimes cause eye strain if the light is reflected towards certain people, so designs have to be carefully thought out.

3. Consider colour schemes for the office

The colours in your office design can make a significant difference in how natural light is utilised. Darker colours often absorb light. In contrast, lighter colours will reflect light, making the same amount of light fill a room more. However, you have to be careful about what colours you use. Light grey, beige and white are common place to improve lighting, but these colouring schemes can also make some workers depressed.

4. Think about the commercial flooring

Some commercial flooring, like vinyl can help to improve natural light by their colour and slight reflective attributes. Flooring is a particular element that is often forgotten, but light is always directed downwards and therefore should be an important factor in office design, especially when you’re thinking about incorporating natural light.

5. Remove obstructions

Sometimes offices have the potential for more natural light with just some simple changes in the office furniture. Moving cabinets, desks and other furniture around might improve the amount of natural light that can enter the entire room. This little cost-effective solution is often overlooked because those items are needed for work, but people often forget that moving them might make lighting a lot better for all those concerns.

Adding natural light into your office designs is going to offer significant benefits. People like natural light and it helps them work more and better. However, not all companies can afford Google’s running track and swimming pool on the roof. So, you have to find easier, and less expensive, ways to increase natural light in your business’ office design.

4 ways to improve office productivity

Axis natural looking wood flooring, lots of natural light

There are many options for improving staff and overall office productivity. You can improve business processes so they are more efficient, offer meaningful rewards for good performance and you can also create an inspiring office design. Here are just some of the tried and tested ways in which you can design an office to help boost the productivity of staff.

1. Utilise nature in your office design

Plants improve the humidity of a room and reduce harmful components in the air such as dust, bacteria and carbon dioxide. This can help to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches and dizziness.

Studies have shown countless times that these natural finishes within an office can improve productivity by up to 40%. You can use natural finishes like wood and stone for your office furniture, as well as considering cork partitioning and living walls.

A lot has been written about biophilic design on wellbeing, so it is no surprise it ranks as a key priority for increasing productivity.

2. Make your office bright

Natural light is known to have a positive impact on the morale and health of employees. Fluorescent lighting has been proven to cause significant eye strain and headaches that reduce productivity. At the same time, when workers are close to windows, they are found to have more restful sleep, which can help with the quality of work produced. It is important that all aspects of your office help to maximise natural lighting.

Allowing all office workers access to windows is also important. About one in five people in the UK experience seasonal defective disorder. The symptoms for this can include loss of concentration, anxiety and overeating. These symptoms can be directly linked to lower levels of productivity.

3. Use uplifting colours in the design

The colour scheme of your office will have a significant impact on staff. Some colours will make them happy, sad or creative and it is about using the right blend to bring out the emotions and work ethic you’re looking for.

To get the right mix, you want to first avoid bland colours such as white, grey and beige. These are used to make rooms appear larger when leasing office space, but they don’t offer much value in terms of productivity. In fact, these colours can cause workers to become sad and feel less able to work.

The best colours to use in your designs, according to some studies, have been green and blue. Blue and green are natural colours and they are thought to help with productivity. Another highly sought after colour is yellow as it inspires workers to be innovative and optimistic.

4. Provide space for exercise

You might be tempted to try to squeeze as many people into a space as possible, but this can often mean people have less space to move around in. Exercising during the working day, whether it is working at a standing desk, or moving around the office to stretch the legs, can help relax strained muscles and improve productivity.

You can go even further by offering spaces for staff to unwind such as games areas with table tennis, Wii games or yoga mats. Encourage staff to use these areas and you’ll see they are happier and more productive at their work stations.

Make your office look nice and productive

An office design has to look nice, but it also has to be functional and that means thinking about whether or not staff will be productive in those spaces. The design of office space has become an essential consideration in attracting talent, and from an employers perspective as well as an employees perspective, there has to be a return on investment. Some from very simple steps can make this outcome a likely reality.

2019 Colour Trends and how it transforms an office

The impact of colour on your office is far greater than you might have imagined. We look at key colour trends in 2019 and how you can use them to inspire and energise your staff.

The key colour trends of 2019 champion fun and creativity. They also feature lots of natural inspiration, which can add sophistication, calmness and wide appeal. As we understand more about colour psychology and workplace wellbeing, the importance of excellent office design becomes evident.

The colour of the tear – Living Coral

Colour experts Pantone have chosen ‘Living Coral’ as the colour of the year for 2019. This bright and cheerful colour is bold and modern, with a positive and energising effect. Though this colour may be a little too bold for your commercial flooring, touches of living coral can make your office seem vibrant, contemporary and on trend. Colours that work well with this vibrant shade include grey, navy and yellow, which can be used to create a contemporary, high-end office look.

Fun in the office

The playful and ebullient shade of the year also ties in with the recent shift in office design towards more fun and interactive office spaces. Recent research looking at fun in the office has shown that creating a bright and inspiring office can have an incredible impact on your employees. Bold shades like electric blue and ultraviolet can provide a fun and creative environment that boosts your employees’ mood and focus. If bright, primary colours don’t fit with your company’s aesthetic, then this colour scheme is also perfect for break rooms and social spaces.

Natural inspiration

Another big colour trend in 2019 is colours which are found in the natural world, like sage green, olive and sand. Biophilia – the connection between humans and nature – remains a huge design trend and it can also have a great impact on your employees’ mood. Green is obviously one of the most popular ways to introduce natural inspiration into your office space. Green can have a calming effect on workers and touches of green like plants, carpet tiles and sofas are perfect for a stressful work environment. Wood effect vinyl flooring is another great way to bring the appearance of the natural world into your office space. Wood effect vinyl flooring is a cost-effective and durable solution, perfect for channelling 2019’s love of nature, while offering a easy to maintain and sustainable solution.

Vibrant and energising colours

Offices in the past have been thought of as bland, neutral and dull, with the corporate colour palette rarely straying from a shade of grey. However, these colours are some of the worst for inspiring your employees and creating a buzzing workplace. Though these colours do have mass appeal, forward-thinking office spaces are combining colour and corporate design with some incredible results. Colour can also have a positive impact on your team’s focus and energy levels. Creating a bright and fun office environment has been shown to increase workers’ happiness, productivity and focus too. Bold commercial flooring with shades like pineapple, cayenne and comfrey is growing in popularity, with office designers being more daring when creating the perfect floor scheme.

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