FLOORING
Three factors to consider when choosing a hospitality floor
- TED TODD-
For over 30 years, Ted Todd has been furnishing the hospitality sector with fine wood floors, providing an enduring foundation for establishments like the Michelin-star-winning duo of Skof and Manna, the elemental dining experience of Sam Eliot’ s Pasture, as well as Benihana, Zhima, and more than 100 Nando’ s restaurants. It’ s not unreasonable to assume Ted Todd know a thing or two about the important factors to consider when selecting a wooden floor for a bar or eatery.
A popular food and beverage venue is an unforgiving environment for a floor. Significant footfall, scraping chair legs, dropped cutlery and every imaginable variety of spillage will be visited upon a new floor from opening day onwards. Thankfully, all of this can be mitigated by considering three factors: wood species, construction type and finish.
Species You’ re doubtless aware of the existence of hardwoods and softwoods, but these categories can be misleading, referring to the botanical origin of the species and not necessarily the actual hardness of the wood. For this reason, the Janka Hardness Scale is used to measure a wood’ s resistance to indentation, ranging from Very Soft( below 700 lbf or pounds-force), which includes Balsa, to Very Hard( above 2000 lbf) for trees such as Ebony. European Oak, with a rating of around 1,120 lbf, is both ideal for the hospitality sector and readily available.
Construction Although Ted Todd are enthusiastic advocates of the solid wood floor, when it comes to hospitality, an engineered floor is generally recommended, due to its stability and resistance to moisture-related warping. A caveat, however: opt for a substantial wear layer, which can withstand multiple sandings.
Finish A water-resistant, dirt-repellent finish is essential. There are several options. A hardened lacquer is one good example; it penetrates the wood’ s pores and is then cured with UV light to form a protective coating. Your finish will likely change the tone of the floor, so this should be considered from an interior design perspective.
By prioritizing these elements, establishments can invest in a flooring solution which withstands the rigors of a demanding environment, ensuring a stylish and enduring foundation for years to come.
Call us on 01925 284 494 www. tedtodd. co. uk / commercial
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