What Is The Best Flooring for Winter High-Traffic Areas?

High-traffic areas like lobbies and entryways need highly durable flooring, but during the winter, the flooring you choose plays a key role in safety, too. From maximizing drainage to providing essential traction, only certain types of flooring styles and materials are up to the challenge. To get you started, we've highlighted some of the best flooring options for winter high-traffic areas.

Must-Have Qualities in Flooring for Winter High-Traffic Areas

Since flooring must withstand certain challenges in the winter, it’s important to choose products with the following essential qualities.

Durability

Look for a durable flooring product that’s capable of withstanding the foot traffic your entrance sees. Additionally, if you’re using it outdoors, the flooring needs to be able to withstand extreme temperatures, snow, and ice.

Waterproof or Water Resistant

A waterproof or water-resistant flooring product is essential for indoor or outdoor use during the winter. You’ll also want to consider how the flooring drains water away, especially if you’re in a cold climate where visitors or customers will be tracking significant amounts of snow into a building.

Mold Resistant

Winter flooring will be exposed to high amounts of moisture, so it’s possible for mold and mildew to quickly grow on damp flooring. Look for mold-resistant flooring designed to help prevent mold growth, contributing to a healthier environment.

Traction

Traction is essential for flooring that’s used during the winter. Look for flooring that maximizes traction even when it’s wet to help prevent slips and falls, making your home or commercial space safer.

Maintenance

As visitors track in snow, ice, salt, and sand on their shoes, the flooring will quickly get dirty in the winter. Consider how easy it is to maintain. You’ll appreciate a flooring product that’s simple to clean, since it will save you or your maintenance crew time and effort.

The Best Flooring for Winter High-Traffic Areas

We’re proud to offer an excellent variety of flooring products suitable for commercial entryway spaces, and every product offers the performance you need for wintertime use. Consider these top options.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)

Luxury vinyl tile and plank flooring is a highly durable choice that’s also versatile and stylish. This type of flooring is great for commercial and residential lobbies where you need a tough product that’s also aesthetically pleasing.

Advantages:

• Highly Water-Resistant or Waterproof: Since vinyl is non-porous, melting snow, slush, or road salts won’t damage this flooring.


• Durable: Vinyl flooring features a thick wear layer, which helps protect the surface from scuffing. It makes the flooring highly durable, so it can withstand heavy foot traffic.


• Easy to Clean: Vinyl flooring is very easy to clean, and you can just sweep or mop it to keep it clean. Cleaning up after spills is easy, too.


• Versatile Appearance: Vinyl products are available in many different finishes, so if you’re looking for a special aesthetic, chances are you’ll find it. Many products are highly realistic and resemble wood or stone. The Envee Tacky Back LVT Laminate Tiles are available in numerous finishes that resemble stone. The HomeStyle Stone Series Floor Tile also comes in eight finishes that resemble stone.


• Ideal for Winter: When you’re choosing a vinyl product for winter, look for a rigid-core product equipped with a wear layer that’s 20 mil or higher. These products are some of the most durable vinyl options available and can withstand the harsh use they’ll see during winter. Consider the Envee Rigid Core LVP Laminate Planks, which are both beautiful and durable.

Rubber Flooring

Rubber flooring is a supremely durable choice. It’s excellent for commercial and industrial spaces where you need a quality flooring product that will last. Rubber also excels in slip resistance and impact absorption, which can help make your space safer for visitors and staff.

Advantages:

• Slip-Resistant: Traditional flooring can quickly get slippery when wet during the winter. Rubber is naturally slip-resistant to maximize traction and safety, even when it’s wet. The Recycled Rubber Floor Tiles are a strong and slip-resistant option that is suitable for indoor or outdoor installations.


• Extreme Durability: Rubber flooring is a long-lasting investment because of its durability. It’s strong enough to withstand dropped items, while its durability means it can also withstand heavy foot traffic and abrasive materials.


• Low Maintenance: Rubber requires minimal maintenance and is easy to clean and care for. It doesn’t require any specialized cleaning products or equipment, plus it resists staining.


• Winter Suitability: Heavy-duty rubber mats are a great choice for catching snow and debris inside an entryway. We recommend using rubber that’s ¼ inch or thicker for maximum durability. For example, the Rolled Rubber Pacific ¼ Inch is a great and versatile choice.

Commercial-Grade Carpet Tiles and Mats

Commercial-grade carpet tiles and mats are ideal for spaces where you need an inviting aesthetic, comfort, and noise reduction. These products also help to effectively manage moisture for practicality and safety.

Advantages:

• Insulation: Carpet can add warmth to your space, acting as an insulator against a cold subfloor to make the area more comfortable and inviting. The Waterhog Carpet Tile can make an entryway more comfortable while being durable enough to withstand high amounts of foot traffic.


• Sound Absorption: Carpeting also helps to reduce noise, so it can make spaces like busy lobbies quieter and more enjoyable. The Super Nop 52 Heavy Duty Carpet Tile offers valuable sound absorption and is aesthetically pleasing.


• Modular: Carpet tiles are modular, meaning you can replace just one tile. If a tile becomes damaged, stained, or worn, you can replace that one tile to keep the flooring looking its best.


• Winter Compatibility: Carpet products that are made of durable, synthetic fibers are ideal for winter use. Be sure to pair the commercial carpeting with a walk-off mat system to prevent any moisture and staining from damaging the carpet. The Entrance Linear Tile is a great choice for wintertime use, and the Waterhog Fashion Diamond Indoor Outdoor Entrance Mat is a versatile choice.

Additional Supplementary Solutions

Regardless of which primary flooring material you choose, a strategic matting system is a cost-effective choice that can help protect your main flooring material during the winter. Consider pairing your main flooring with additional solutions like:

• Scraper mats that are positioned outside of your entrance. Their coarse surface scrapes away debris, snow, and slush from shoes, so it’s not tracked onto your flooring.


• Wiper mats are placed indoors, inside your entrance, and they help absorb water and fine dirt before it reaches your main flooring.


• Grate systems, such as a recessed floor mat or grate, help trap moisture and debris, so guests don’t track it onto your flooring.

Contact Greatmats for Winter Flooring Needs

We have an extensive selection of winter flooring products for high-traffic areas. Contact our customer service team today with any questions, or for shipping quotes or product samples.