When it comes to choosing the right hard wood flooring for your school, there are various factors to take into account. One of the principal factors is durability, as all flooring in schools will generate a lot of pedestrian traffic from pupils and staff. But there are a number of other considerations to make when choosing hard wood flooring and we shall look at some of these below.
Naturally Wood are experts in the installation and restoration of high quality hard wood flooring in schools, sports halls, dance halls, assembly halls, gyms, community centres and more. We are an Essex based company and supply and install a range of hard wood flooring throughout London, East Anglia, and the Home Counties, including Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Kent, Hertfordshire and Middlesex.
Here we shall look at the benefits of hard wood flooring in schools and the factors to take into account on choosing your solid wood floor.
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Hard Wood Flooring - What Do Schools Require?
There are many different hard wood flooring options and finishes available, but the type of flooring you require will depend on its use. The most popular request for hard wood flooring in schools is for gyms, assembly halls and dance floors - and we shall look at the requirements for flooring in these areas.
1. Practicality
Flooring in schools will generate a lot of footfall from pupils coming in and out of lessons. Add this to the movement of furniture and other equipment across its surface and high level of usage (such as a sports or assembly hall) and there is a good reason why hard wood flooring is such a practical choice in certain parts of the school.
If there is a likelihood of furniture, such as desks and chairs being regularly moved across the floor, your hard wood flooring could be prone to marks and indentations. This is often the case if your assembly hall doubles up as another room, such as an examination room. In this case an aged or distressed hard wood floor may be more appropriate, as any surface marks will only add to its character.
2. Hardness
In dance floors or sports halls, oak and maple are popular hard wood flooring options because the surface is so hard wearing. There are also a range of specially engineered floors available for sports halls and these are stronger than solid wood and less prone to natural expansion and contraction. The type of material used will also depend on the surface the floor is laid on. Sometimes a plywood floor base is needed while other materials can be laid over a concrete sub-floor.
3. Easy to Maintain
Hard wood flooring in schools should not just be durable, but easy to clean, as they can be prone to spills or contaminants. Some gyms or assembly halls may also double up as function halls, where food and drinks may be served. Polished or waxed surfaces were traditionally used in gyms or dance floors. However, lacquered floors are more popular now, as it requires less upkeep.
4. Acoustics
As flooring takes up a lot of space, it needs to be compatible with a teaching environment, so pupils can hear what the teacher is trying to say. The wrong flooring can hamper a pupil’s ability to learn. How your hard wood flooring impacts on the adjacent room and the rooms above and below must also be taken into account. At Naturally Wood, our experts will discuss the options with you.
5. Non-Slip Surface
Hard wood flooring in schools should have a non-slip surface to prevent accidents or injury. A lacquer finish for a gym or dance hall provides a less slippery finish than polished or waxed surface.
6. Appearance
Parquet flooring was historically used in large areas, such as school halls, to break up the expanse and was particularly popular in the Victorian era. All types of parquet designs are suitable for this space.
School gyms or dance floors, however, tend to be more minimalist. Hard wood flooring in these areas are usually laid in narrow random length strips, which is less distracting, and works well in both modern and traditional interiors.
7. Cost
Like all businesses, schools will want to keep costs down to a minimum. Hard wood flooring is ideal for schools and, if well maintained, it can last for generations.
Tired, rough or worn flooring may require renovation and this is generally cheaper than the cost of installing a new floor. Naturally Wood are experts in repair, restoration and sanding of all types of hard wood flooring including in homes, public and commercial buildings. Just contact us to find out more.
Hard Wood Flooring - contact us now for a free quote or click here to view our range of Flooring Products
