What costs should be considered for flooring?
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 to get
the most for long-term use.
When budgets are tight, it can be tempting
to select low-cost or inexpensive flooring.
This approach might save money upfront for
material and installation cost, but it can have
consequences on the back end. Lower-cost
flooring may require more maintenance over
time, or it might need replacing sooner than
expected, costing more money in the long run.
When selecting flooring for an educational
environment, facility experts should consider
not only the upfront costs, but also the expected
total “lifecycle cost of ownership” for
that product.
Calculating this cost does not need to
be time-consuming. Some industry associations
and manufacturers offer tools to help
facility executives with this important task,
including online calculators that enable 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 about product choices and associated
costs. Going through the process can ensure
that facility professionals maximize the dollars
spent on their purchase.
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.