A restaurant needs two floors: one for guests and one for the kitchen.
What a kitchen floor needs
A commercial kitchen is fast and wet. Slippery surfaces can lead to worker injuries, and heavy kitchen equipment wears floors down. OSHA sets workplace guidelines for kitchens, and each state has its own rules. Check the manufacturer product specifications against OSHA and state standards before you choose.
- Anti-microbial: helps keep the kitchen sanitary and stops mold and mildew from spreading.
- Slip-resistant: grips the soles of shoes to reduce slips and falls.
- Easy to clean: takes heavy-duty cleaning products and wipes up fast.
- Moisture-resistant: does not fail when water spills on it.
Kitchen options: coatings, mats and tile
| Option | Strengths | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Epoxy or polyaspartic coating | In many cases slip and chemical resistant. Resists stains, grease and oil. No crevices for bacteria. | Epoxy can take several days to harden and cure. |
| Rubber kitchen mats | Cushion for long shifts. Drainage holes let oil and water flow through. | Not for full coverage. Mats hold food particles and need weekly cleaning. |
| Saltillo tile | Withstands heavy foot traffic and wears well over time. | Little give underfoot. Heavy and fragile during installation. |
For commercial epoxy, look for an abrasion rating of 8 mg or lower. A lower rating means a longer coating life. For full grease resistance, our kitchen guide recommends mats made of nitrile rubber.
Dish areas and walk-in coolers
Some areas need more than a standard mat. The Vynagrip heavy-duty drainage mat is impermeable to fluids and resists low temperatures. Its product page lists public food service areas and walk-in freezer floors as uses. It also resists chemicals, oil and acid. Walk-in cooler floors need scratch and crack resistance, insulation, and mold and mildew resistance. For walk-in coolers, our kitchen guide recommends Diamond Nitro Rolls and Coin Nitro Rolls.
Tell us about the kitchen, the dish area and the dining room. We will help you plan a floor for each area.
Floors for the dining room
Guests see the dining room, so looks matter there. Our commercial flooring guide names SPC vinyl as a good fit for areas with a lot of foot traffic, such as restaurants. It is 100% waterproof, and its wear layer withstands spills and scratches. Envee Tacky Back Vinyl Planks need no glue, seaming or staples. Their product page lists restaurants, retail shops and office buildings as uses.