Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

How Rubber Flooring Impacts Costs

  • By Tasha Hughes
  • 06/01/18

From classrooms to hallways, steady foot traffic and heavy rolling loads can quickly compromise a floor’s original beauty and integrity. With pressure to lower operational expenses, many institutions are turning to lifecycle cost analysis (LCCA) to determine which flooring material offers the greatest durability and resilience over the lifetime of the product, 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. The cost of installation (including labor and materials) varies greatly between flooring products. 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 dense surface of rubber flooring can withstand the pressure of heavy loads, dragging desks and chairs, and is resistant to liquid spills and harsh chemicals. This level of ultra-durability is able to support a facility for decades.

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 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 institutions lower expenses long-term while increasing the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff.

This article originally appeared in the College 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 Idaho Debuts New Campus Housing Community

    The University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Vandal Village, a new campus housing community for graduate students and families, according to a news release.

  • Longwood University Hits Construction Milestone on New Music Education Facility

    Longwood University in Farmville, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of its new music education and performance facility, according to a news release. The university partnered with development and construction firm Skanska on the 63,800-square-foot facility, which began construction in August 2025 and has an estimated completion date of fall 2028.

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.