Floating Floor Surfaces
Alternatively, repairs in the center of a large flooring area can also be made by cutting out the tongue and grooves along the edges of the damaged piece and installing a new piece with the edges similarly cut off. In this case, instead of relying on the interlocking mechanism for this piece, double sided carpet tape can be used to hold the replacement piece in place.
Conclusion
Properly specified, installed, and maintained, interlocking floating vinyl resilient flooring can be a superior choice for many design installations. It provides a durable and versatile flooring option for many high traffic areas without the need for any glue or adhesive. It meets or exceeds code and safety standards for fire and egress requirements. Installation can be scheduled at the very end of construction to avoid scheduling and work conflicts and can be carried out quickly and efficiently. Installation over existing floors is possible, further reducing installation time and expense. Care and maintenance are similar to any vinyl flooring allowing maintenance staff to work with a familiar product. And if changes are ever needed or desired, it is inherently easier to do so with a floating system than with an adhered system. Overall, designing with and specifying this premium flooring system contributes to good design, efficient construction, and satisfaction by the building owners or users who can look forward to many years of reliable and attractive flooring performance.
| T-Mobile Cafeteria Flooring Upgrade |
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Location: T-Mobile call center in Thornton, Colorado Flooring Upgrade: Change from a common commercial sheet vinyl to a locking floating vinyl plank system with a wood floor appearance Completed: February 2011 Cost: Approximately $30,000 ($6/ sq. ft.) Analysis: T-Mobile operates this large national call center as a 24 hour a day /7 day a week operation employing approximately 4,000 people. The original flooring installed in the 5,000 square foot cafeteria area was a sheet vinyl that was a basic off-white color with multi-colored speckles. The condition of the existing sheet vinyl was nearly new and in exceptional good condition, but created a rather “institutional” look and feel that was unwelcomed. The goal was to change the look and feel of this interior environment by replacing the existing floor covering with a wood look to provide a "warm and home-like" feeling. Challenges - The cafeteria was required to be fully functional and operational during the process. Because of round the clock functioning of the building there could be no closure or disruption to the operation. The cafeteria area included several vending machines, a beverage dispensing counter and numerous tables and chairs, most of which needed to be accessible to employees during the flooring upgrade work. Solution - After investigating several options, it was determined that a floating, glueless vinyl plank system with a wood grain appearance would be best suited for the scope of work. Deciding factors for using this type of flooring included:
Outcome - Installation of the new floating vinyl plank flooring was completed in just 2 days. During the installation, the vending machines were temporally relocated to a nearby hall-way while tables and chairs were stacked and placed on an outlying wall. As soon as the flooring was in place the tables and chairs were immediately placed back into the dining area. Vending machines were also put back into place after base trim was installed. The realistic appearance and feel of real wood provided the exact "warm and home-like" feeling the customer wanted to achieve with minimal disruption. Several employees expressed how impressed they were to have such an immediate change to the environment by just changing the flooring. Many found it hard to believe it was not real wood. Maintenance- Daily/weekly - sweep and mop the floor per manufacturer’s recommendations Final thoughts - This was a solution-based job with several key factors that needed to be understood and addressed during the decision making process. In the end, there was no other product that could have achieved or addressed all these concerns so completely with such an elegant and efficient solution. |
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Additional information on topics covered in this article is available from the Resilient Floor Covering Institute at the online links below: Resilient Flooring Standardshttp://www.rfci.com/index.php?option=com_content & view=article id=37& Itemid=46 Flooring Removal issues when adhesive is used:http://www.rfci.com/images/pdf/rfci-rwp-final%20oct2011.pdf Static Load limits:http://www.rfci.com/index.php?option=com_content& view=article& id=40& Itemid=49 Flooring Maintenance:http://www.rfci.com/index.php?option=com_content& view=article& id=38& Itemid=47 |
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EarthWerks® -- Flooring Inspired by Nature is a major flooring supplier headquartered in Houston, Texas and distributed widely in the United States and in over 40 countries worldwide. The magic of Mother Nature is captured in their distinctive branded line of designer flooring -- luxury vinyl planks and tiles that vividly capture nature’s realism in hardwoods, stones and slates. www.earthwerks.ca |
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