Care Home Flooring Installation: Which Surface Should You Choose?
FSC has extensive experience supplying and installing flooring within the UK residential care sector. Whether you’re planning a new build, extension, refurbishment, or scheduled replacement, choosing the right flooring for a care home environment is critical.
Residential care settings have unique requirements. Flooring must balance safety, durability, hygiene, comfort, and aesthetics, all while complying with current health and safety regulations. Based on our experience, there are five key considerations when selecting care home flooring.
5 Vital Considerations for Care Home Flooring
Slip Resistance
Safety is paramount in residential care environments. Flooring must help prevent slips, trips, and falls, protecting residents, staff, and visitors.
Slip-resistant surfaces significantly reduce the risk of accidents, particularly in high-traffic areas and spaces prone to spills.
Low Maintenance & Hygiene
Care homes require flooring that is easy to clean and maintain. Surfaces should allow for quick removal of spills, dirt, and contaminants while supporting high hygiene standards.
Materials that resist stains, moisture, and bacterial build-up are particularly valuable in residential care settings.
Comfort Underfoot
Comfort plays an important role in both resident well-being and staff welfare. A cushioned surface can help reduce fatigue for carers who spend long hours on their feet.
Additionally, flooring with acoustic properties can help minimise noise from corridors and communal areas, contributing to a calm and homely atmosphere.
Aesthetic Appeal
Care homes should feel welcoming and comfortable rather than clinical. Flooring plays a significant role in creating a warm, homely environment for residents and their families.
Modern flooring solutions offer a wide range of finishes that combine visual appeal with practical performance.
Minimising Trip Hazards
While rugs and loose mats may add comfort, they can present significant trip hazards in care environments. Selecting integrated flooring solutions that deliver both comfort and safety is a more practical long-term approach.
Care Home Flooring Options
With these considerations in mind, here are some of the most suitable flooring options for residential care facilities.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl is one of the most popular flooring choices for care homes across the UK. It offers excellent slip resistance, durability, and resistance to stains, moisture, and mould.
Acoustic vinyl options can reduce noise, while cushioned variants provide shock absorption that may help reduce injury severity in the event of falls.
Carpet & Carpet Tiles
Carpets and carpet tiles can provide warmth and comfort in bedrooms and lounge areas. Impervious carpet tiles are particularly well-suited to care environments due to their durability, resistance to liquids, and ease of replacement.
They combine practicality with a softer, more domestic feel.
RUBBER FLOORING
Rubber flooring offers exceptional slip resistance, even in wet conditions. Its natural shock-absorbing qualities provide added protection in the event of falls, making it suitable for areas where safety is a primary concern.
It also provides a comfortable and resilient surface underfoot.
Resin Flooring
While often associated with industrial environments, resin flooring can be appropriate for certain back-of-house or service areas within care homes.
It is highly durable, non-slip, and resistant to heavy wear, chemical spills, and constant use — ideal for 24-hour environments.
Safety Flooring
Safety flooring is specifically designed to reduce slip risks while remaining easy to clean and maintain. Many modern safety vinyl options also feature antibacterial properties and can replicate the look of wood or tile, delivering both practicality and aesthetic appeal at a competitive price point.
Planning a Care Home Flooring Installation?
The FSC Flooring Division specialises in the supply and installation of flooring solutions for residential care facilities. Our DBS-checked team understands the operational requirements of care environments and can recommend the most suitable surface for your specific setting.
If you’re planning a care home flooring project, contact FSC today for a no-obligation consultation.
