Hot Tips (Life-Cycle Cost Analysis)

How Rubber Flooring Impacts Life-Cycle Costs

• By Tasha Hughes
• 06/01/18

The demands placed on flooring in educational facilities are significant. Steady foot traffic and heavy rolling loads can quickly compromise a floor’s original beauty and integrity. With increasing pressure to lower operational expenses, many learning institutions are turning to Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) to determine which flooring material offers the greatest durability and resilience, 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
  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 extremely dense surface of rubber flooring can withstand the pressure of heavy loads and is highly resistant to liquid spills and harsh chemicals.
• 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 inherently 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 schools lower expenses long-term while increasing the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff.

This article originally appeared in the School Planning & Management June 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.