Hi,
>
> I've reached the point in a refurbishment of a big Victorian house
> converted into 7 flats, and need to decide on flooring for common parts. >
> There is obviously a chance that tenants will bring things like bikes,
> muddy shoes etc. through the common parts, and I have several thoughts: >
> Good quality hardwearing carpet
Industrial grade carpet tiles would be better. When they show signs of wear, which is inevitable, you only need to replace the affected tiles. The other way is to include a contracting colour carpet in the high-wear areas, such as in a semi-circle around doorways. That also allows you to replace a worn area without having to replace the whole carpet.
Linoleum - like they fit in hospitals etc.
Again, use industrial grade continuous flooring. It usually contains granite particles, or similar, to provide grip and improve wear. This will be the easiest to keep clean and almost certainly the hardest wearing. I have some in my factories that is 15 years old and it still looks good, while epoxy floor paints, put down at the same time, have had to be replaced.
Ceramic Floor Tiles
Noisy and liable to damage, particularly if laid on wood.
Any thoughts welcomed
For the stairs, you could also consider pre-formed metal or GPR step covers, which incorporate anti-slip coatings or anti-slip strips on the nosings. They can also have an integral high-visibility nosing. If you choose not to have a high-visibility nosing, take care to ensure that the stair lighting is not too flat. It is much safer if the lighting creates a shadow at the back of the step, with the nosing highlighted.
Colin Bignell