When it comes to flooring, the medical community has distinct and stringent requirements. Each facility has multiple areas that must be accommodated and you’ll need to know which flooring choices are suitable for specific rooms. Below is an overview of the top flooring options for healthcare facilities.
Most visitors will enter the facility through the lobby, so this area gets a lot of foot traffic. The flooring used here should be durable and stain resistant but simple to clean. It should also allow items to be rolled across the surface and use a non-slip coating so that staff and patients do not fall and injure themselves. Therefore, the best flooring options for healthcare facilities include linoleum, VCT (vinyl composition tile), sheet vinyl or LVT (luxury vinyl tile).
Linoleum
Linoleum is an eco-friendly product that is comprised of jute fiber, linseed oil and cork dust. It has outstanding antimicrobial attributes and will combat germs. The surface is soft and feels comfortable to most that walk on it. Linoleum is also aesthetically pleasing since it can be installed in a multitude of colors or patterns, and is recyclable. The disadvantage of this flooring option is that it has to be frequently polished and is vulnerable to moisture damage and scratches.
(VCT) Vinyl Composition Tile
VCT is quite economical, and consist of limestone, thermoplastic binder, color pigments and fillers. Aside from its cost effectiveness, Vinyl Composition Tile is highly durable but does require lots of maintenance since it has to be waxed, stripped, polished and cleaned and its lifecycle must also be taken into consideration.
Sheet Vinyl
This vinyl flooring material can be purchased in the form of four-, five- or six-foot rolls with a two to three millimeter thickness. This minimizes the amount of seams which boosts aesthetics. Sheet vinyl is one of the most popular flooring options for the healthcare sector and has been used in hospitals for decades. The material may be flash coved, which means that a seamless and monolithic surface will result that is simple to clean and maintain, and like linoleum it is an excellent germ repellant.
(LVT) Luxury Vinyl Tile
LVT is prized for its resilience as it is long lasting and low in maintenance. Installing it is simple and it displays outstanding durability with a surface that is waterproof and well adapted to areas with high foot traffic. Additionally, Luxury Vinyl Tile incorporates a photographic based print procedure which allows for virtually endless design options. Its only real downside is the higher cost.
The LVT flooring option usually comes with an extended warranty that can last from 5 to 10 years. Another unique characteristic of this material is its ability to minimize noise. It accomplishes this by absorbing footsteps and the movements of rollers and other machines, which is ideal for hospital environments. In addition to being waterproof, it is also impervious to staining and doesn’t harbor mildew or mold.