The Most Durable Flooring for High Traffic Commercial Areas
Choosing the right flooring for commercial spaces means finding a solution that looks great but can also withstand the demands of daily use. In environments like retail stores, hospitals, and offices, flooring must handle heavy foot traffic, rolling equipment, and frequent cleaning — all while maintaining its appearance.
To meet these challenges, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and resilient vinyl sheet flooring offer the perfect balance of durability, ease of maintenance, and design flexibility, making them ideal choices for high-traffic commercial spaces.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the benefits of LVT and vinyl sheet flooring, along with a few other common options, to help you choose the best solution for your commercial space.
Resilient Vinyl Sheet Flooring
Wood Plastic Composite / Stone Polymer Composite Flooring
Which High Traffic Flooring Is Right for Your Commercial Space?
Luxury Vinyl Tile
Pictured: Everest Rehabilitation Hospital cafeteria featuring luxury vinyl flooring from the Spectrum collection, combining Carter, Mayer, and Jagger designs in a wayfinding pattern.
Luxury vinyl tile has become a leading choice for commercial spaces, and for good reason. Built to withstand heavy foot traffic and rolling equipment, LVT is designed to perform in the most demanding environments. Its multi-layer construction, featuring a high-strength vinyl backing and a protective top coating, provides outstanding durability and stability, making it resistant to scratches, moisture, and everyday impacts.
One of LVT’s greatest strengths is its versatility in both performance and design. It can replicate natural materials like wood, stone, textiles, and even terrazzo, offering a wide range of design possibilities that suit the unique needs of industries ranging from healthcare and senior living to corporate offices and education. Whether it’s a hospital corridor, a hotel lobby, or a busy retail store, LVT offers the right combination of durability and aesthetic appeal.
Pictured: White Iron Ridge event venue space features a neutral, wood look, Arabian TAJ luxury vinyl plank, throughout the ballroom area.
Pictured: The Stott in Detroit featuring custom TAJ luxury vinyl plank in a rich herringbone pattern, part of a high-rise office-to-residential conversion by Patrick Thompson Design.
In addition to its durability, LVT is low-maintenance. Its water resistance makes it easy to clean and ideal for healthcare facilities, senior living centers, and hospitality spaces where hygiene and cleanliness are top priorities. Unlike carpet or hardwood, LVT doesn’t require frequent replacement or refinishing, making it a cost-effective, long-term solution for spaces with high traffic and frequent use.
Resilient Vinyl Sheet Flooring
Pictured: Hospital corridor using resilient vinyl sheet flooring in a light wood tone with contrasting dark border for visual wayfinding.
Resilient vinyl sheet flooring is a durable, water-resistant solution for commercial spaces that prioritize hygiene and easy maintenance. Its seamless design, with welded seams that prevent spills from penetrating to the subfloor, makes it ideal for healthcare settings like hospitals, clinics, and assisted living facilities. In these environments, maintaining a sterile surface is crucial, and vinyl sheet flooring provides the necessary protection.
Beyond healthcare, this flooring is also a practical choice for education facilities, corporate offices, and sports centers, where durability and ease of cleaning are equally important. Its resistance to abrasions, stains, and moisture ensures long-lasting performance in high-traffic areas.
While the installation process requires specialized techniques such as heat welding, once installed, vinyl sheet flooring offers exceptional resilience and minimal upkeep, making it a trusted option for spaces that demand both cleanliness and durability.
Wood Plastic Composite / Stone Polymer Composite Flooring
Wood plastic composite (WPC) and stone polymer composite (SPC or rigid core) flooring are popular choices in residential and light commercial spaces due to their affordability and ease of installation. For some contractors, LVT is easier than SPC, as additional tools and equipment — including a saw — are needed for installation. However, in high-traffic commercial settings, these products often fall short of the durability required. The large continuous spaces found in many commercial applications can push the construction of these products to the limits of their capabilities. For spaces that need lasting performance under heavy use, LVT and resilient vinyl sheet flooring are superior options.
Pictured: Hospitality suite featuring Avian Rigid Core Click flooring in Sandpiper — a serene, wood-look design with cushioned underlayment and water-resistant performance.
Terrazzo
Terrazzo is often chosen for its luxurious appearance and long lifespan, making it popular in high-end spaces like airports and upscale office lobbies. However, the installation process is labor-intensive and costly, and it requires regular maintenance to maintain its polished look. While durable, terrazzo may not be the most practical solution for businesses looking for a balance of affordability, durability, and ease of upkeep — areas where LVT and vinyl sheet flooring excel.
For those who love the look of terrazzo but need a more practical solution, TAJ Flooring offers terrazzo-look luxury vinyl tile. The 2-3-5 luxury vinyl plank & tile – Terrazzo collection comes in Light, Dark and Clay, blending the appearance of chipped marble, quartz, and granite into a bold, large-scale visual that replicates the elegance of traditional terrazzo with the durability and lower maintenance of LVT.
![A commercial kitchen with dark terrazzo-look LVT flooring, a white marble island, contemporary lighting, and a dining area with matching chairs and a refrigerator in the background.]](https://tajflooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/durable-high-traffic-commercial-flooring-6-1024x768.jpg)
Pictured: CenterPoint Properties break room featuring 2-3-5 luxury vinyl tile design, Terrazzo Dark.
Epoxy
Epoxy flooring is known for its industrial-grade durability, making it a strong choice for manufacturing facilities, laboratories, and garages. Its resistance to chemicals and heavy loads makes it ideal for such environments. However, epoxy can be costly, time-consuming to install, and may become slippery when wet. While it offers durability, it lacks the design versatility and cost-effectiveness of LVT and vinyl sheet flooring in most commercial settings.
Rubber Flooring
Rubber flooring is commonly used in gyms and hospitals due to its cushioned comfort and sound-absorbing qualities. While it offers durability and slip resistance, rubber flooring can be more expensive and lacks the design flexibility of LVT. Additionally, rubber flooring’s appearance and off-gassing (that lingering odor we’re all familiar with) can be drawbacks for some commercial environments. For businesses seeking both performance and design options, LVT and vinyl sheet flooring present a better alternative.
Carpet Tiles
Carpet tiles provide a soft underfoot experience, making them a popular choice for office spaces and education facilities. However, they tend to wear out faster in high-traffic areas and require more maintenance than harder surfaces. Carpet tiles are also less resistant to moisture, stains, and dirt, making them less practical for areas that demand long-lasting, low-maintenance flooring — areas where LVT and resilient vinyl sheet flooring offer clear advantages.
Which High Traffic Flooring Is Right for Your Commercial Space?
When it comes to choosing flooring for high-traffic commercial spaces, durability, ease of maintenance, and design flexibility are key considerations. While options like epoxy, terrazzo, and rubber flooring have their strengths, luxury vinyl tile and resilient vinyl sheet flooring offer an unbeatable combination of performance and versatility. These solutions provide the durability needed to withstand heavy use while offering a wide range of design options suitable for any commercial environment, from healthcare facilities to corporate offices.
Ready to explore the right flooring solution for your space? Contact TAJ Flooring today to learn more about how LVT, SPC, and vinyl sheet flooring can elevate your next commercial project. For further design inspiration, browse our latest Look Book.
