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

  • Miami University Approves New $242M Multipurpose Arena

    Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, recently announced that its Board of Trustees has approved construction of a new multipurpose arena at Cook Field, according to university news. The $242-million project will serve as a new centralized hub for student life and create space for economic development on campus.

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • Photo credit: Elkus Manfredi Architects

    University of Virginia Selects Design-Build Team for New Residential Complex

    The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., recently announced that it has selected a design-build team for a new upper-class residential development on campus, according to a news release. Capstone Development Partners—in partnership with Elkus Manfredi Architects and the Hoar Construction/Hourigan construction team—will move forward with the three-building, 310,000-square-foot housing facility.

  • Arizona District Breaks Ground on Community Training, Learning Center

    The Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD) in Tolleson, Ariz., recently broke ground on a new Training & Learning Center (TLC) for both district professionals and the community at large, according to a news release. The 90,000-square-foot facility has an estimated completion date of spring 2027.