What surface you choose to lay in your entrance way will depend on your own circumstances. If, for instance, you have children or pets, or if you own a commercial premiss managing the transfer of moisture and dirt can be a real issue, as seen in the images below.
We recently visited a commercial premiss in St.Ives, Cambridgeshire, to quote them for cleaning and repairing their Oak parquet floor. This floor ran right from the entrance door throughout the whole space. The most noticeable issue, as you can see from the images, was the water damage caused to the wood around the entry doorway. This wood is unfortunately very damaged. It would be advisable for this section to be removed and replaced with a suitable matting that can deal with the high foot traffic.
You will want to consider the practicality of your flooring before going ahead, here are some points of consideration:
Carpet
If you choose to lay carpet in your hallway be prepared for the up keep. If you can ensure shoes will be taken off promptly and you are prepared to clean the carpet regularly then carpet is a fine choice. Chooing a tougher, natural carpet would be advisable as it will be more hard wearing. Sunlight can fade carpet, so be sure to take this into consideration when making your decision.Wood
Wood floors are more durable than carpet and can be cleaned more easily. However, as seen above, if the wood is not cared for correctly it will also wear. The finish on your wood will wear fastest in the hallway due to the amount of footfall, this will need to be reapplied regularly to ensure moisture does not work into the wood. We would strongly recommend using an oil as opposed to lacquer as the latter requires the floor to be sanded before reapplying, the former can simply be reapplied (see you blog on Oil v's Lacquer). Another consideration to make is the amount of light that your hallway receives. If there is a lot of sunlight your wood floor may start to fade.
Stone
Stone flooring will be the most durable flooring option. A tiled hallway is easiest to clean and maintain, and will last a very long time if looked after correctly. Regular cleaning is still important, as is removing excess moisture. There is a vast array of stone options, from dark slate to light marble and limestone, or a colourful Victorian hallway. But before making your decision be sure to ask a stone tile professional for their advice on which stone would be most suitable for you.
Above all, no matter which flooring you choose, you should ensure that you have a good entrance mat to absorb most of the moisture and debris. Also, discuss your flooring options in detain with your floor supplier, and a second opinion can often be helpful.
Floor maintenance is our specialty, we are highly trained and certified in Carpet Cleaning, Rug Cleaning, Hardwood Floor Cleaning, Stone floor Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning and Leather Furniture Cleaning for domestic an commercial clients.
Contact Art of Clean for more information and we can discuss the services we offer. Call us on 01223 863632 or see our website www.artofclean.co.uk to find out more.
