Although there is no such thing as a “bullet proof” floor, we all want to find the perfect floor for our facility. It seems everyone is looking for a no maintenance floor that will look just like new forever.

Until that flooring is invented, it is important to know what choices are out there and understand the strengths and weaknesses so that you can select the floor that is best suited for your facilityThe term resilient flooring is used to describe flooring that is firm but has some give or bounce to it. The most common varieties used in commercial applications are Rubber, Linoleum, Cork, Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT), Solid Vinyl Tile, Luxury Vinyl Tile, and Vinyl Sheet Flooring.

Budget, schedule and installation challenges all play a part in the decision making process, but for this article, we will leave those items out of the discussion since they vary widely from facility to facility and even project to project.

No matter what floor is being installed, installation and the quality of your installers can make or break your project. Don’t skimp on installation costs! Work with your architect, interior designer, general contractor and seek references from other facility managers to determine the best qualified installers located in your area.

To select the best flooring for your application, understand the needs of your project. What are the likely spills/stains? Are there any harsh chemicals being used? Are there heavy rolling loads going across this floor? What kind of slip resistance is required? Does this floor need to support a specialized use like dance, work out areas, etc.? How much traffic will this space get? Is this a sterile environment?

Also consider the long term maintenance costs of the flooring. Are waxes or top coats required on a regular basis? What is the life expectancy of this flooring? How easy is it to patch or replace portions of this flooring if an area does get damage? It is smart to consider the long term or life cycle costs of a flooring rather than just looking for the least cost up front.

And don’t forget the design or image you are trying to create. Each one of the choices offer a different visual and range of options.

Now let’s look at the overall considerations for all of the different resilient floorings. Once you decide which one is best for your facility, look at the detailed specifications from different manufacturers and even products from the same manufacturer. Most make multiple levels of quality in each category to create products that hit a wide range of needs and price points.

Rubber flooring has been around since the 12th and 13th centuries. It is available today in rolls or a variety of tile sizes. As shown in the image, it has a wide range of finish options from smooth to textured, solid, marbleized and speckled. It is naturally slip resistant and has inherent acoustic properties. Maintenance is low and it has a long life cycle. Rubber is a natural product and in general is less resistant to stains than synthetic floorings. It is the perfect floor for many environments, but, as mentioned before, you will need to know what potential stains will be common to your facility to judge if this is the right floor for you. In general Rubber flooring is more expensive than some of the other choices.

Linoleum flooring was invented and patented in 1845. The first US plant was built in 1872. It is a natural product made from solidified linseed oil along with other materials such as cork dust, rosin and wood flour. It is available today in roll or tile. As shown in the image, it is available in a wide range of colors. Linoleum is durable and can last many years if properly maintained. Linoleum is color and pattern thru unlike many of the layered synthetic products. Therefore, scratches in the product are less apparent. It is an ecofriendly product that is comfortable under foot and is biodegradable. When it is first installed it emits linseed fumes for up to 30 days. These odors are completely harmless, but might be found annoying to some. Linoleum will amber when exposed to light so it’s important to test a sample to determine how it will look with the amber effect. Some products are sealed at the factory and others are unsealed and will require polishing and buffing. Linoleum in general is more expensive than the synthetic products.

The first Cork tile floor was introduced in 1904 and was the most popular flooring in the 1920’s. Today Cork comes in tile or a plank format. Cork is available in a variety of natural colors as shown in the image. It is a rapidly renewable resource and is an excellent choice for those who want to be ecofriendly. Cork has excellent acoustical properties, is comfortable underfoot and has relatively low maintenance. Cork is naturally hypoallergenic and has antimicrobial properties. Cork does change color when exposed to sunlight and is not impervious to moisture, making it easier to stain. It will dent and scratch easily so locating cork in high traffic area will require more attention to maintain it. Depending on the thickness and product selected, many are able to be sanded and refinished. Cork is one of the more expensive resilient flooring options.

Vinyl Composition Tile or VCT was displayed at the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago in 1933. VCT is almost 65% limestone, this filler is mixed with a vinyl component. VCT is very dimensionally stable and is a favorite for institutional settings. It is most commonly found in 12″X12″ tiles, but manufactures make other size and shape tiles as well. It is very resistant to UV light and does not fade or change color over time. VCT is a very low cost flooring initially. It does however, require multiple coats of wax that must be stripped and reapplied on a regular schedule. VCT is becoming a less popular choice due to the high cost of labor and maintenance and the fact that the wax, strippers and cleaners are not good for the environment.

Solid Vinyl Tile (SVT) is manufactured in multiple different tile sizes. As the name suggests, it is made of vinyl with very little fillers. It is dimensionally stable and homogenous (color and pattern thru the whole tile). Solid Vinyl Tile requires less maintenance than VCT and is typically only slightly more costly than VCT. It comes in a variety of tile sizes and a great range of colorways and patterns.

Luxury Vinyl tile (LVT) is one of the fastest growing market segment as it relates to sales. LVT has a huge range of visuals available. This tile can look like wood, stone, tile, concrete or a very contemporary graphic. With HD printing, the visuals are very realistic and the options are endless. It comes in many different sizes of tiles and planks to fit the visual requirements. LVT is composed of layers, a resilient vinyl backing, a vinyl color layer, a photographic film layer and a urethane or aluminum oxide top layer. The maintenance is minimal with most requiring sweeping and damp mopping. It is naturally water resistant, and scratch, stain, dent and scuff resistant.

Sheet vinyl for commercial installations typically come in 6′ rolls. It can be homogeneous (same color and material thru) or heterogeneous (made up of layers much like LVT). The sheet format minimizes the seams unlike the tile and plank products. The seams can be chemically welded or head welded. Many of the products can be coved up the wall for a seamless installation that is impervious to water. This makes it an excellent choice for clinical and healthcare environments that need to be sterile. There is a wide range of visuals available, marbled, speckled, wood look, stones or tile and contemporary graphics. The products can be smooth or have a texture for additional slip resistance.
In general, sheet vinyl is more expensive than the vinyl tile options and it does require a more specialized installation, but it is an excellent choice for many of the specialized needs in a facility.

Keep in mind that the summary above offers a very brief overview of resilient flooring options. Most of these have wide variety of levels of quality within the same category.
It is important to understand the specifications, options and required maintenance before making a final selection. Talk with your design professional to confirm that you have selected the best type of product for your specific application

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