Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

What Additional Flooring Costs Should Be Considered?

  • By Bob Bethel
  • 12/01/16

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.

Featured

  • Utah Valley University Opens New Engineering Building

    Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, recently held a grand-opening ceremony for the new Scott M. Smith Engineering Building, according to a news release. The facility is one of the largest engineering buildings in the state at almost 200,000 square feet, and it plays home to the university’s Smith College of Engineering and Technology (SCET).

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part I

    We asked, you answered, and the results are in! Last year, we put out a call for submissions to collect our readership’s opinion on trends and predictions for K–12 and higher education facilities in 2026.

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.