I obtained a 3000 sqft office space. I would like it to be open space office with 4 rooms partitioned with glass. My business is in new media research and development.

Should I go for carpet? or wood flooring? I will always have people coming to here. Which?

wood flooring.... would look modern, clean, neat and easy to clean.
carpet flooring... would look kind a old fashion and difficult to clean if something spit on the carpet. and carpet traps a lot of dust mite. just my opinion

carpet much more cheaper than wood flooring, depends on your budget

Budget is no problem, I only worry of long term sustainability. It will need to sustain at least 5 years before a new major renovation.

At first, I thought of wood, because it looks nice, but there was once I visited my friend's office, I notice there's gap between the floor and the wood, so, then you step on it, it's kind of fragile feel to me. My friend's office just set up less than 2 years during my visit.

This post has been edited by recyka: Sep 6 2011, 09:12 PM

wood flooring will have shoes stepping noise, something quite annoying but if impose shoesless enviroment will solved that but will look abit odd

maybe use carpet tiles, thicker and more durable than those thin office use carpet. somemore can replace piece by piece

Solid wood will not be so noisy if you compare with laminated. You need to get thick solid wood, 11mm will sure be noisier compare to 18mm, even better 20mm

If your office adopt to policy of taking off shoes inside the office, natural timber is the best. Nothing beats that.

Sometimes, when a client comes to have some tea, or just a chat, I don't have the courage to say;

'Hey, dude, take off your shoes' or in a better way, 'I apologise, but we are a shoeless office environment' or given a special scenario,
the guy is not wearing socks, maybe weeks of uncleaned feet.

then,

he get insulted
he get agitated
he cancel deals
I close my business

maybe, I am over-imagining, but hey, I known clients who are multi millionaires that wear only slippers all the time, and shorts too in an AGM or EGM.

2cm wood flooring? I never know there are thicker, I thought all are the same. My bulb on top of my head is lighted now. TQ

If implement policy of taking off shoes, you can also view it in a way that,
you guys are
"new age cutting edge zen visionaries",
suitable with your office theme?


This post has been edited by phoenix69: Sep 7 2011, 01:04 PM

Can put spare slipper. Many Japanese company do that.

I do enter some office using hardwood flooring and don't need to take off shoe.

I say go for real timber flooring and opt for good quality sealant and coating as well as glue down construction. I did 1 project for Colony, a design studio using real timber pieces of 6 species to match their unfinished brick wall.

carpet absorbs sound.

laminated floor would reflect sound more

I will opt for carpet, reasons being
1) Cheaper
2) Easier to maintain
3) Look professional too
4) No need to worry about wearing shoes or not issue

carpet...you need carpet installer? i have a reliable buddy here..

How's this, use wood flooring in your reception area and carpet flooring around working areas (ie cubicles, discussion tables) and in meeting rooms.

Problem with wood is that after much use and shoes walking on the surface it tends to get a lil worn over the years.

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Added on September 11, 2011, 9:34 pmOff-topic but what new media research do you do exactly?

This post has been edited by adrianjc: Sep 11 2011, 09:34 PM

We choose checkered style carpet flooring on working space and wood flooring in rooms except meeting room, so places with higher traffic gets carpet treatment.

Perhaps there is a third option you haven't considered.

You can install what we call luxury vinyl tiles...which can be had with carpet design, wood grain look, stone, marble, etc. They are quite durable and if damaged, easily replaced.

What being mentioned is true, maintenance for wood for a high traffic area can be difficult if people walk in with shoes (main culprit are women's high heels) and carpet can be a maintenance nightmare to keep clean.

Give me a PM for more details. I have some project pictures and samples that I can show you.

i've been to a few multi national office... will actually have a spare sandal for you to change.... normally at the reception area.... and those sandals are those fluffy type... lolz....