Top 5 Performance Criteria when Selecting K-12 Floor Coverings
Determining the perfect new flooring system is one of the most important considerations when building a new K-12 school or remodeling classroom and other existing spaces in your current school building. When establishing the selection criteria and deciding which type of flooring products are best for educational buildings, considering all of these Top 5 commercial floor covering performance characteristics will assist you in finding what will work best for your K-12 school setting.
1. Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning and maintenance requirements varies with each different type of floor covering and can impact both health & safety and the cost of ownership. Hard surfaces, like vinyl tile and ceramic tile require different cleaning methods and cleaning materials than do carpet tiles. Ensuring that your maintenance staff has proper training and proper cleaning supplies for the type of flooring you choose will make maintenance less of a hassle, assure that your floor surfaces remain healthy, and can extend the life of your new floor covering.
2. Durability
K-12 schools tend to have heavy foot traffic and usage. Make sure to select products for your new flooring systems that can stand-up over time. Industry durability ratings are based upon tests that indicate how long the flooring will last and appear newly installed. Not all floor coverings will perform under heavy usage. A professional commercial flooring contractor is a good source of information regarding durability and fit-for-purpose, as they will generally be able to tell you which products can perform over time. The more quality made and heavy duty the flooring is, the longer it will last through years of heavy use. Also make sure the flooring products you select come with a good manufacturers warranty.
3. Acoustics
K-12 buildings and classrooms can get quite loud and noisy, which can create learning disturbances. Choosing a flooring with proper sound absorbing abilities like carpet or carpet tiles can minimize the distraction from noise in K-12 buildings. Also, choosing a carpet or carpet tile with built in padding will both improve acoustic performance and increase the comfort and safety of the floor — especially for younger students.
4. Installation
Professional installation is a key criteria to complete the desired look and performance for your K-12 school building. More so than the quality of materials used, the quality of the installation is one of the first-impressions noticed by school staff, students, and parents. Having a professional commercial flooring and tile contractor who is experienced, talented and knowledgeable in their craft will typically assure a much better and more cost-effective installation.
5. Material
Each point to consider when choosing the proper flooring for your K-12 building stems back to what material is chosen first. Different materials are required for certain areas of the building, with each having certain advantages or disadvantages to consider. Maintenance for sheet vinyl flooring and epoxy flooring systems are different than carpet tiles. Carpet tiles will help absorb noise more effectively than a harder floor material but may be harder to maintain over the life of the floor. The installation of tiles versus sheet flooring may make it easier to repair worn down and high-traffic floor areas. Whichever material you choose consider the requirements for the maintenance requirements, overall durability and warranty, acoustics and comfort for users, and the installation requirements.
With these Top 5 performance criteria in mind you can confidently begin to evaluate the best options for your K-12 school flooring needs. Don’t skip the step of speaking with a professional commercial flooring contractor early in your selection process.