School facilities are no longer just for education, having become multipurpose centers for the entire community. They demand flooring that works hard – taking a beating during assemblies, special events, physical education classes, drama performances, and much more. This constant use adds up to tremendous wear and tear, with little time left for cleaning and maintenance. When determining the best type of flooring to install in each area of your school, there are many factors to consider, including life-cycle costs, ease of maintenance, and comfort.
Costs. When you’re watching your budget carefully, it’s tempting to focus on purchase price, but long-term costs are far more significant. Life-cycle expense calculations allow you to compare the true long-term cost of various flooring options. It’s important to consider all costs throughout the life of your floors – including installation, maintenance, removal, and disposal. Long-lasting flooring that requires minimal maintenance equals low life-cycle costs. While hard mineral floors have a higher purchase price than many other options, they are low maintenance and extremely durable, leading to lower lifetime costs. Rubber sports flooring is an extremely versatile option that offers low life-cycle costs. It allows schools to combine sports and dining into one area – offering great shock absorbency, resilience, and a sanitary, low maintenance finish.
Maintenance. Given the heavy demands placed on most school flooring, maintenance is an important purchase consideration. Floors that need frequent waxing and sealing will require a substantial investment of time and money to maintain. Lower maintenance flooring options will really pay off over time – continuing to look great year after year with a minimum of effort. Tile is durable, stain resistant, and easy to clean. Regular damp mopping will reduce wear and abrasion from sand and soil. Rubber flooring needs no waxes, coatings, or finishes, and is easily cleaned with vacuuming or damp mopping. Most liquids won’t stain or damage the surface, and it is highly resistant to the growth of mold and bacteria. Concrete doesn’t require waxing, buffing, or stripping, and regular dusting or wet mopping will keep your floors looking great.
Comfort. Flooring that is quiet and comfortable will make school much more enjoyable for administrators and students, alike. Facilities with multiple floors should consider options that minimize the noise coming from upper levels. Carpet is a great flooring solution for classrooms, media centers, libraries, conference rooms, and faculty offices. Teachers are sure to appreciate the reduction in fatigue that comes with spending all day on your feet. Carpet also absorbs noise effectively, and is conducive to learning that happens on the floor – typical in the early elementary grades. Rubber flooring is quiet, providing a soft, resilient surface. Cork is so effective at sound reduction that it’s often used in recording studios, in addition to being very comfortable underfoot.
More than ever before, schools have a wide array of attractive flooring options to choose from. Carefully weigh functionality, appearance, and durability when selecting your flooring, and it will serve your school well for many years to come.
