As a result of the multiple national lockdowns we have experienced over the last year, many businesses have been forced to close their doors for long periods of time with one of the many industries hugely impacted being beauty.

Salons, hairdressers, spas and the like have had to keep their premises closed for much of the last 12 months and, as tough a time as it has been, many have used this as an opportunity to do some long overdue renovations.

If you’re a salon owner and you’re considering a little makeover on the premises, then we’re here to help when it comes to finding the perfect new wood flooring for your site.
This may be because your flooring is damaged as a result of years of wear and tear, or just the desire to give your salon a fresh, new look.

Whatever the reason is behind the renovation, when choosing the wood floor for your salon, there are a number of things you need to consider in order to make sure that you get it right.

WOOD FLOORING THAT CAN HANDLE A LOT OF TRAFFIC

Under normal circumstances, when business is open as usual, your salon - hopefully - has high footfall throughout the day with clients walking in and out, and staff walking around attending to those clients.
This will put a lot of pressure on your floors and will require a wood that is durable and hard-wearing.

Additionally, the flooring in your salon will be at high risk of damage due to the strong possibility of beauty equipment, such as scissors and brushes, falling onto the floor as well as chairs being moved around and furniture, such as beauty trolleys, being pulled around.

Therefore, with high traffic and exposure to damage comes the need for a wood floor that can sustain it all - something tough and durable that will last a lifetime.

Hardwoods, such as oak, maple and walnut, tend to be more durable and work well for commercial spaces where there will be high volumes of traffic with further protection added when you apply an oil finish.

Oil finishes provide a surface protection and penetrate deep into the wood, protecting the boards and giving them moisture resistance. This is particularly ideal in hair salons as it’s likely that the floor will be exposed to water when providing certain services, i.e. washing clients’ hair.

But the best, and most recommended, level of protection for any commercial space is achieved through finishing wood floors with a commercial grade lacquer.
These are designed and tailored to meet the specific needs of a commercial floor that is exposed to higher levels of traffic than, say, a floor in a domestic property so will need added protection against everyday wear and tear.

WOOD FLOORING THAT IS EASY TO MAINTAIN

An unavoidable part of running a salon is the mess that often finds it way onto the floor. Nail polish may spill, water may drip from wet hair, hair itself being cut will leave strands piling up, not to mention the multitude of other beauty products that could get sprayed / spilt / leaked / dropped etc. onto the floor on a typical working day.

As much as your staff are probably encouraged to clean as they go, it isn’t always possible to wipe up spills or sweep up hair right away as your employees are more than likely going to be in the middle of a treatment or providing a service to your customers when this happens.
Hence why it’s important to fit a wood floor that is easy to clean and maintain, and won’t be easily damaged when exposed to liquid or chemical spills.

Of all the wood floor species available, maple is one of the easiest to maintain thanks to its toughness. It can sustain a lot of footfall and a lot of bumps before any damage starts to show which means it won’t need restoring as regularly as other wood floor types.

The finish of the wood floor can also impact the level of maintenance required. A matte finish will make your floors easier to maintain and keep clean, especially seeing as dirt and scuffs are not as visible on matte wood floors. This means you won’t have to hurry to clean the floor as often and you don’t have to stress or panic when a pair of scissors hit the ground and cause a little damage.

This is also true when you consider how the design/aesthetic of the wood can help hide any marks on the floor. For example, rustic wood is purposely made to have visible imperfections - it’s part of the appeal and character of that style of wood flooring.
Therefore, it can work well in a salon because it will hide any scratches, dents or scuffs that are commonly found on salon floors; any further marks will only add to the character of the already imperfect wood floor.

As mentioned previously, oil finishes are also good for creating a moisture-resistant layer to your wood flooring and protecting them from the damage that could be caused by spills and leaks.

WOOD FLOORING THAT SUITS YOUR AESTHETIC

As important as it is to choose a wood flooring that ticks all the technical boxes, you also need to consider the aesthetics too.

Salons tend to be open and bright as this is required in order to provide the best service. Employees need good lighting in order to carry out their job well, whether that’s cutting and styling hair, threading eyebrows or painting nails.
This doesn’t always mean that the salon has access to a lot of natural light, and when that isn’t the case, the wood floor can be key in brightening up the place.

A light wood flooring, such as a white, grey or a cream, can instantly brighten up any room and a high or semi-gloss finish will help reflect any natural or synthetic light brightening it up even further.

Then there’s your brand aesthetics and the atmosphere that you’re trying to create. For example, your salon may be aimed at a younger clientele and lean towards being a fun, sociable environment so you may opt for bold, bright colours and a modern interior so a grey oak, or pine wood with yellow undertones would work really well.

Whereas, a salon with a slightly more sophisticated client base and a calmer more relaxing atmosphere may want to go for a darker, richer wood tone such as a chocolate brown walnut wood.

Many people don’t realise how crucial the flooring is in creating or enhancing the right type of environment in any given space and that the interior design of a property should be built around the floor, so this, along with various other factors, needs to be taken into consideration before deciding on the wood type, colour, grain, grade, finish etc. that will be suit your salon.

SHOULD YOU RESTORE YOUR WOOD FLOOR INSTEAD OF BUYING A NEW ONE

Unless you are tired of your flooring and want something completely new, it may not be necessary to rip out your current floors and start over.

Wood floor restorations are a cost-effective alternative to replacing your floors altogether and can be just as impactful as fitting new flooring.

By refinishing your wood floors, you can restore them back to their original colour if they have discoloured over time, remove any scuffs or scratches that are causing your floors to look unsightly, and only replace boards that have been severely damaged rather than your entire floor.

To learn more about the process of refinishing wood floors, read one of our older blogs: Beginner’s Guide To Refinishing Hardwood Floors in a Commercial Property.

Wood floor restorations may not always be the most suitable option, especially if your flooring is particularly old or damaged, or it has been refinished a number of times already.
If you’re unsure as to whether it’s best for you to restore or replace your wood floors, then we go into more detail in our previous blog: When Is It Time To Replace Your Hardwood Floors.