3 Proven Strategies for Maximizing Your Carpet Investment

Maintenance is an important consideration if you want to maximize your carpet tile investment, once the right product for your new build or retrofit has been installed.

In this article, we will examine how to care for and maintain your carpet tile over its projected lifespan.

carpet maintenance and care

Carpet tile maintenance extends your long-term investment.

A good rule of thumb is to budget an extra 10-15% stock at time of purchase so that if a specific area becomes damaged or worn, individual tiles can simply be swapped out. This is especially apparent in heavy traffic zones like reception and under desk swivel chairs. Beyond regular wear and tear a maintenance program will also preserve appearance.

The Importance of Maintenance and Cleaning Programs

On an annual basis, there are three long-term maintenance strategies to protect your carpet, image and guarantee your overall investment:

1. If you maintain your carpets as per manufacturer guidelines, your 10-year appearance warranty will be met if any issues arise to the wear/appearance

2. The actual quality of the carpet appearance will last longer extending the life of your investment

3. A maintenance plan protects the image of your company on a monthly basis, rather than a once a year cleaning. Visible soiling and staining are reflected for the remaining 11 months and can cause damage

For general maintenance, modular systems can be easily cleaned by vacuuming. The backing commonly found on carpet tile allows for ease in spill and soiling removal. Staining is confined to the fibre rather than absorbent backing common in broadloom carpet. However, these simple steps may not be enough.

Toronto Carpet tile installation

Darwin Fisher carpet tile installation: IMAX Headquarters

Darwin Fisher’s trusted partner program, offers a comprehensive client maintenance package through Toronto-based  Interior Care. Established in 1964, Interior Care is owned and operated by the Linton family. Now in its  third generation, it is one of the largest privately-owned specialty cleaning services in Canada.

Staff maintain over 700 corporate offices in Southern Ontario, cleaning in excess of 10 million square feet of carpet each month. “Our maintenance plans remove embedded dust and allergens not reachable by your daily vacuum service,” says Graham Linton, General Manager of Interior Care.

All employees at Interior Care are certified. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC) is an established certification body for the textile cleaning industry. Its standards are endorsed and a requirement of carpet manufacturers worldwide.

carpet maintenance and care

Darwin Fisher carpet tile installation: IMAX Headquarters

Interior Care service technicians are required to maintain their certification status by attending three annual, two-day IICRC instructed in-class programs . Each individual is required to maintain a passing grade of 80% as part of their ongoing training.

“Regularly maintained carpet tile by an IICRC certified firm will ensure a healthier environment for your employees,” explains Linton. This is especially important through Covid. “Regular carpet care (as specified by all carpet manufacturers) can increase carpet investment two to four years past the expected eight to 10-year life expectancy. When ignored, abrasive and gritty soiling wears on fibre which shortens appearance retention and can cause premature wear over time.”

Scheduled Maintenance Benefits

Linton’s team will visit the client on location and develop a maintenance plan for monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly service. This is determined by the appropriate level of maintenance required for the specified office.

Commercial Flooring Cleaning and Maintenance Toronto

Darwin Fisher carpet installation: Entertainment One

This is reliant on a number of factors including:

  • Office traffic and number of employees
  • Colour of the carpet (lighter carpets show more dirt and spills)
  • Level of appearance required (i.e. a professional law firm or a training centre)
  • The actual location of the carpet that requires cleaning (entrance as opposed to second floor)

In addition to regular carpet care, seasonal weather patterns can require front entrance matting systems.

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Entrances, lobbies and heavy foot traffic areas require the most care.

Darwin Fisher and Interior Care supply custom fit traffic matting which has two purposes:

  1. Prevent slips and falls on a wet hard floor
  2. To absorb wet soiling specifically in winter. Each step on a traffic mat removes a high percentage of wet soiling that would otherwise be absorbed into the office carpet tile – another preventative maintenance step to better protect overall investment

See our other news articles outlining how to protect your flooring investment as we profile different applications throughout the remainder of the year.

For a free consultation on your next flooring installation please contact info@darwinfisher.com

For more information regarding Interior Care, please click here.

Acoustics and Commercial Flooring – The Difference is Sound

Acoustics and commercial flooring are interdependent and will dictate the type of materials that are required for your unique installation.

The type of industry vertical will also dictate materials to be used as areas of high traffic will have different needs as opposed to less accessible, private locations. Other considerations include acoustic properties that relate to moving furniture, foot traffic or where the office or workspace is situated, which is constantly changing with today’s modular commercial work environments.

Commercial flooring contractors

Acoustics and Commercial Flooring Materials – The Difference is Sound

Armstrong Flooring reports “the absorption and transmission of sound energy in a built environment is directly impacted by the type of construction and building materials selected, and this is true for flooring as well. Careful consideration of the acoustic goals for your building spaces is essential prior to making construction and material selections, and flooring can play a positive role in achieving optimum indoor environmental quality for building occupants.”

Choosing the Correct Flooring Solution for Your Environment

There are many things to consider when choosing the correct commercial flooring to suit your acoustic needs.

  1. Acoustic Goals – What are the acoustic requirements and goals of the space? Does it need to be quiet or is it in a noisy area-  amongst metric considerations that may have to be adhered to.
  2. Building Layout – If a building includes a particularly noise sensitive space, opposite where more noisy areas need to be isolated.
  3. Building Construction – Determines many acoustical parameters, including STC and IIC needs must be taken into consideration if trying to minimize sound transmission between spaces by carefully considering both the building construction and flooring material.
  4. Acoustical Treatments –  Acoustical wall and ceiling treatments such as ceiling tiles are especially useful, given the large potential surface area, ease of installation, and the availability of high absorption materials.

commercial flooring contractors Toronto

There are 3 Ways of Measuring Sound

  • Surface Absorption: They can absorb sound, lowering background noise levels and reducing reverberation within a room.
  • Airborne Sound Transmission: They can serve as acoustical insulation and reduce transmission of airborne sounds, such as voices, between rooms.
  • Impact Sound Transmission: They can serve as impact sound insulation and reduce the transmission of impact sound, such as footsteps, from one room to another below or adjacent to it.

According to Armstrong, “the type of industry/vertical will also drive acoustic and sound transmission considerations. Delta Impact Insulation Class (IIC): ASTM E-2179, also known as the “Delta” test, determines the noise reduction that a product adds to the assembly. This test consists of two IIC tests conducted over the same concrete subfloor. One test is over the bare concrete subfloor (no flooring materials) and the other is over the concrete subfloor with floor covering material. The measured IIC values are compared to the reference floor levels defined in the standard and adjusted to provide the IIC the covering would produce on the reference concrete floor.”

Acoustics and Commercial Flooring By Industry Vertical

For specific industry segments the acoustical property requirements vary by class. See Figure 6, directly from Armstrong’s Dispelling the Myths of the Role Flooring Plays in Room Acoustics white paper below.

commercial flooring installation GTA

Source: Armstrong Flooring – Acoustic metric importance by industry

Healthcare Acoustics and Commercial Flooring

In hospitals and doctor’s offices, the most prevalent surfaces are hard, sealed floors due to its many inherent benefits. A recent study which included Health Care Without Harm and partners, and written by Jennifer DuBose • Amaya Labrador showed that when choosing flooring, “the four priority issues that went into flooring decisions for all of the user types were cleanability, aesthetics, durability and initial cost.”

Acoustics were secondary, however hospital facility structure can naturally lead to low sound transmission between levels. The issue that arises with these hard floors is structure-borne impact noise, particularly from carts and footfall. Such noise has been found to affect patient health due to the additional stress imposed.

International Building Code requires an IIC minimum of 50. 4 areas of hospitals, like hallways and waiting rooms. However, a recent study by the Center for Health Design at Palomar Health concluded that the combination of hard flooring and the addition of acoustical ceiling tiles may be more effective than carpeting at reducing maximum noise levels3 .

LVT dental office installation

Darwin Fisher Commercial Flooring healthcare installation

Education Acoustics and Commercial Flooring

As with the healthcare industry, most flooring found in schools are hard, resilient surfaces for functionality and durability purposes. Carpet can and is installed, especially inside classrooms to reduce impact noises such as chairs scraping against floors. Classrooms generally require lower background noise levels and lower reverberation times to ensure that students can clearly hear instructors, but absorptive materials with high NRC for achieving this in classrooms are more effectively placed on the ceiling or upper wall.

Corporate Office Acoustics and Commercial Flooring

Unlike healthcare and education, carpet has been a trend in the office segment for several years. Carpet, as well as ceiling tiles and partitions, is installed to address unwanted sound. In an office the main distracters are “people sounds”— phone conversations, throat clearings, vacuum cleaners — anything a listener can detect and that distracts. Background sounds, like an HVAC system, that are regular and predictable are easier to block out than disruptive sounds, like conversation over a cubicle wall. When ceiling tiles, which are highly absorptive, are used in conjunction with other highly absorptive products like partitions, they can play an essential role in office acoustics.

Natural Stone Flooring Toronto

Darwin Fisher Commercial flooring IMAX headquarters office installation

Acoustics and Commercial Flooring – Understanding Your Requirements

There are a number of different types of products on the market, when considering flooring materials.  Many manufacturers offer different performance ratios from one product to another, from the surface of the product to type of backing used and flooring underlays. Ensure your flooring installer is knowledgeable of the differences, quality and applications that would best suit your environment for design, maintenance, traffic and acoustic considerations.

For more information about acoustics and flooring installation solutions please provide details of your inquiry here or email us directly at info@darwinfisher.com.

For more information about the Armstrong white paper, please click here.

 

5 Reasons Why LVT Popularity Continues to Grow: Research

LVT popularity is increasing due to advancements in design and technology. New sizes, formats and patterns, combined with the fact that it is easy to install and less costly to maintain over time, makes it appealing to a variety of industry verticals.

 Verified Market Research, reports in its Global Luxury Vinyl Tile-LVT Market Size By Type, By End-Use Sector, By Geographic Scope And Forecast,  that  the LVT market was valued at USD 16.11 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 37.92 Billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 11.23% from 2021 to 2028.

Commercial flooring contractor Toronto

Verified Market Research – Global LVT Market

The report also states that, “Non-residential segment is anticipated to account for the highest market share. This can be attributed to the increasing demand for Luxury Vinyl Tiles from multiple end users such as hotel and hospitality segments because of the benefits they provide like sophisticated and aesthetic interiors and ease of cleaning. Hospitals also use LVT because they don’t react to chemicals and similar agents.”

Research and Markets reports The Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) Flooring market in the U.S. is estimated at US$5.3 Billion in the year 2020. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$8.3 Billion by the year 2027 trailing a CAGR of 13.7% over the analysis period 2020 to 2027. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 7.1% and 8.9% respectively over the 2020-2027 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 8.1% CAGR.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) Flooring estimated at US$19.6 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$38.9 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 10.3% over the period 2020-2027.

commercial lvt flooring contractor

Research and Markets global LVT flooring growth

Why has LVT  increased in popularity? Here are the top reasons.

LVT popularity has also increased as it has become a practical choice across many industries. According to a Floor Covering Weekly  report released on June 28 of this year the top brands and suppliers are as follows.

Darwin Fisher Commercial Flooring Contractor

Floor Covering Weekly top LVT brands

5 Reasons for the rise of LVT popularity:

  1. The Way It’s Made

LVT products are generally made of moisture resistant PVC or virgin vinyl. LVT is made up of five distinct layers:

  1. Polyurethane coating (sometimes re-enforced with ceramic bead, silica bead or aluminum oxide) to improve durability
  2. Protective clear layer known as the ‘wear layer’
  3. Print film layer (with your chosen design)
  4. Vinyl core
  5. Vinyl backing

This results in a flooring solution that is easy to install, durable and easy to clean and maintain. Typically, LVT wear layers range from 20-28 mm of thickness for commercial installation projects, with thickness selected based on requirements from low through to high foot traffic areas. (i.e. low traffic office space as opposed to building entrance areas).

  1. Affordability by Design

LVT, through technological innovation, is now available in many different finishes, including those that mimic wood and stone. Designers are offered a large array of options at more affordable price points than natural materials. Designers are also drawn to the newly available patterns, colours and variety of designs offered as application pattern technology progresses.

  1. Low Maintenance

Upon initial purchase, LVT is more expensive than vinyl composite tile (VCT) products, however LVT has a lower maintenance cost over time due to its built-in protective layer, offering much more comprehensive and long-lasting protection. The protective layer doesn’t need regular waxing and polishing like VCT. However, this top layer will wear over time and may need to be reapplied for heavy traffic areas.

Each organization’s LVT cleaning and maintenance requirements will vary based on traffic. Inclement weather will also affect cleaning requirements. LVT only requires regular sweeping and mopping to remove dust and dirt which is much easier for cost-conscience maintenance budgets.

Toronto LVT Commercial Flooring

Darwin Fisher Commercial Flooring LVT IMAX installation

  1. Return on Investment: Durability

LVT popularity is driven also by the fact that it is protected by a clear layer which helps to maintain its appearance over long periods of time. The wear layer varies in terms of thickness. Thickness must be chosen in conjunction with the traffic area as heavy, long-term wear will affect appearance.  It will not expand and contract in humid or dry seasons and is a fraction of the price of stone or real wood. LVT is less likely to scuff, indent or scratch with regular use and wear and tear through foot traffic and furniture movement. This makes it a solid flooring investment choice for the long-term, combined with the fact that it requires very little maintenance.

  1. Acoustically Sound

Studies have shown that elevated noise levels from hard surface flooring can negatively affect the health and well-being of employees. LVT offers better acoustic properties than hard surface flooring like ceramic tile and it won’t chip or discolor.

Armstrong Flooring reports that building materials and furnishings can affect the acoustics of a building in three ways through information gathered on acoustical data:

  • Sound Absorption: They can absorb sound, lowering background noise levels and reducing reverberation within a room.
  • Airborne Sound Transmission: They can serve as acoustical insulation and reduce transmission of airborne sounds, such as voices, between rooms.
  • Impact Sound Transmission: They can serve as impact sound insulation and reduce the transmission of impact sound, such as footsteps, from one room to another below or adjacent to it.
Commercial Flooring Examples Toronto LVT

Darwin Fisher Commercial Flooring LVT installation at Entertainment One

In healthcare, we’ve seen a trend towards installation of newer finishes like LVT over traditional ceramic. Flooring decisions in healthcare depend on how it will affect patients, safety, indoor air quality and infection control. Floor surfaces also need to be slip resistant and offer smooth transitions from one area to another for staff/patients and related equipment. Part of the reason beyond new finishes and designs, is that these technologies offer sound transmission protection. Dentists and doctors stress the need for soundproofing. Walls, ceiling and flooring materials selected need to help protect patient privacy and hinder sound travel.

According to Verified Market Research “increase in disposable income, beneficial properties of Luxury Vinyl Tile and the increase in construction and remodeling activities are some of the major factors driving the market. The increase in disposable income of consumers had led to changes in their lifestyle choices and preferences as well. Moreover, this has also led to an increase in the number of construction-for residential as well as office space, and remodeling activities. The beneficial attributes of LVT-ease of installation and application, easy to maintenance, cost-effectiveness, resilient to chemical reactions and provides an aesthetic appeal to space make them much more popular for use in residential as well as non-residential construction.”

Many Finishes and Manufacturers

There are a number of different types of LVT products on the market. Many manufacturers offer different performance ratios from one product to another. This includes the surface of the product, to the type of backing used, in addition to thickness of the tiles. Ensure your flooring installer is knowledgeable of the differences, quality and applications that would best suit your environment, including projected wear from foot traffic/furniture, installation, and maintenance and acoustic considerations.

For more information about LVT flooring installation solutions please fill out this form on our website or email us directly at info@darwinfisher.com.