Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

How Rubber Flooring Impacts Life-Cycle Costs

  • By Tasha Hughes
  • 06/01/18

The demands placed on flooring in educational facilities are significant. Steady foot traffic and heavy rolling loads can quickly compromise a floor’s original beauty and integrity. With increasing pressure to lower operational expenses, many learning institutions are turning to Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) to determine which flooring material offers the greatest durability and resilience, and how that directly translates to value and cost savings. Rubber flooring has proven to be a leader in this category. Here’s why:

  • Installation
    Rubber flooring with a self-adhesive backing can be installed directly over an existing floor. It has fewer seams with less cutting and joint sealing, resulting in faster turn-times reducing your timeline by up to half.
  • Durability
    The extremely dense surface of rubber flooring can withstand the pressure of heavy loads and is highly resistant to liquid spills and harsh chemicals.
  • Maintenance
    Flooring maintenance can account for 75 to 90 percent of total cost over the product’s projected lifespan. Premium rubber flooring has a nonporous surface that inherently repels stains and can be cleaned with little more than water. Unlike other resilient flooring, rubber’s uncoated surface means the floor never needs to be stripped and resealed.
  • Sustainability
    Rubber flooring is naturally sourced and has a low-VOC rating, contributing to a healthier environment and improved indoor air quality (IAQ) for students and staff alike.

Premium rubber flooring has significant impact on total cost of ownership. Using LCCA during flooring specification helps schools lower expenses long-term while increasing the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff.

This article originally appeared in the School Planning & Management June 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

About the Author

Tasha Hughes is a marketing specialist, PR, for nora systems, Inc. (www.nora.com/us). She can be reached at [email protected] or 800-332/NORA.

Featured

  • University of Mary Washington Selects Builder for New Theater, Dance Facility

    The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., recently announced that it has selected construction and development firm Skanska to lead a series of renovations and upgrades to fine arts facilities, according to a news release.

  • Missouri K–12 District Cuts Ribbons on Two New Middle Schools

    Springfield Public Schools in Springfield, Mo., recently celebrated the completion of two new middle school facilities with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, according to a district news release. The district officially opened the new Pipkin Middle School and Reed Academy on Sept. 3, both of which were funded through the $220-million Proposition S bond program approved by voters in 2023.

  • Texas A&M Opens First Building at Fort Worth Campus, Breaks Ground on Research Facility

    The Texas A&M University System marked a major milestone in the development of its Fort Worth campus by opening its first completed academic building and breaking ground on a second facility designed to expand research and industry collaboration.

  • Missouri Child Development Center Completes $2.3M Expansion

    The Urban Sprouts Child Development Center in St. Louis, Mo., recently announced the completion of a $2.3-million expansion and adaptive reuse project, according to a news release. The new space includes a retail café, outdoor learning space, and a support office building.