What Additional Flooring Costs Should Be Considered?
A floor covering, especially for today’s
active learning environments, must be durable,
maintain its appearance and support the desired
instructional-intended design of that space.
When considering these factors — and knowing
a flooring surface is typically the largest of
any surface in a space — specifying the right
flooring product is important.
When budgets are tight, it can be
tempting to select a low-cost or inexpensive
flooring. This approach might save money for
material and installation cost, but it can have
consequences on the back-end. A lower-cost
flooring may require more maintenance or
it might need to be replaced sooner than
expected, costing more money in the long run.
When selecting a flooring facility experts
should consider not only the upfront costs,
but also the expected total “lifecycle cost of
ownership.”
The lifecycle cost is generally defined as
the total money spent on materials, installation
and maintenance over a seven to 10-year
period — the typical lifespan of a flooring
installation in a high traffic facility.
Calculating this cost does not have to be
time-consuming. Some industry associations
and manufacturers offer tools to help facility
executives with this important task. J+J, for
example, offers an online calculator, floorlifecost.com, that enables users to compare lifecycle
costs across various flooring types, including
hard surfaces, soft surfaces and textile composite
floorings. This allows facility professionals to
make informed decisions.
When it comes to flooring, it’s important to
know the costs beyond the initial material and
installation — including maintenance time,
tools and replacement considerations.
This article originally appeared in the issue of .
About the Author
Bob Bethel is the director of Business Development, Education, for J+J Flooring Group. J+J offers an online calculator, floorlifecost.com. Bob can be reached at [email protected] or 800/241-4586.