Choosing a new floor for your laboratory requires a bit more
planning than another room might. Determining the best type of floor requires
some thought and planning regarding what types of activities that are being
done in the laboratory.
For example, in many laboratories,
there may be some spills and liquids that may regularly hit the floor. For
this reason, a waterproof option would be best. Some great options that are
waterproof are porcelain tile, stone, marble, vinyl, poured cement, and
rubber. Any of those options will hold up to spills and messes that may
hit the floor and be easy to clean if that ever
happens.
Another consideration would be durability.
What type of traffic would be going through the lab? Would heavy
equipment be moved across it regularly, or heavy carts and/or refrigeration
units? If so, porcelain tile and vinyl may not be the best choices.
While they are very durable in a home atmosphere, they may not hold up
as well in the laboratory environment. Stone, marble, poured cement, and
rubber would be the better options in regard to durability and heavy use that
a laboratory floor might get.
Price may be another
consideration, especially if the lab is a larger. Marble is durable and
waterproof, but it’s a high-end product with a higher price tag. Marble
flooring is really known for it’s beauty and decorative properties which
aren’t usually the priorities in a lab environment. Stone also is a bit
on the pricier side and needs to be sealed to render it effective against
stains and damage. Poured concrete may also need to be sealed for protection,
but has no need for grout, so stains and damage can be kept to a
minimum.
Ideally, for the best durability, ease of
cleaning, and cost-effectiveness, poured cement would be the best option,
with rubber flooring installed in areas that may need more traction,
electrical grounding, or support for those standing for longer periods of
time. Cement can be easily poured and installed, is waterproof in case
of spills, can be installed with drains for easy clean-up, can hold up to
just about any machinery or equipment, and can be a subfloor for other types
of flooring if necessary, such as the rubber flooring mentioned above.
It’s also quite cost-effective and should last many years if properly
installed and treated.
