Rohit Sharma from Bona discusses how sustainable, high-performance flooring solutions can be achieved by renewing resilient floors in a variety of sectors
Popular due to its low-cost, hard-wearing properties, as well as the ergonomic and acoustic factors, resilient surfaces are the go-to flooring choice across many sectors. PVC, vinyl, linoleum, LVT, and rubber are commonplace, particularly in environments that are subject to high footfall such as education, health and social care, and retail.
Longevity is one of the key attributes, yet when a floor reaches the ‘end’ of its product lifecycle, it is often immediately written off for the scrap heap. Resilient surfaces that exhibit severe wear and tear, or even surfaces that perhaps no longer match the interior aesthetics, are removed and replaced with a brand-new surface. However, recent developments in the flooring industry are driving change.
The emergence of resilient floor renewal is a significant turning point which aligns with drivers for sustainability and cost-efficiency, and enables architects to pursue a different pathway to the traditional brand-new flooring replacement. With millions of square feet of resilient flooring replaced every year, it’s time for a more sustainable option that renews surfaces without compromising look, design, or function. Renewal enables architects to rethink approaches and introduce more sustainable, cost-effective developments into designs.
Refurbishment projects typically overlook the possibilities of renewing existing flooring, yet for commercial projects, this is a development that architects can use to their advantage. The renewal of surfaces has progressed enormously in recent years and innovative product development has seen specialist floor solutions enter the market, drawing the attention of architects and their clients. It’s a simple flooring technique, and one that can set architecture apart from competitors. This is because resilient floor renewal enables architects to meet a range of design, performance, maintenance, and budget needs.
For example, if an existing resilient surface is heavily damaged with deep holes, cracks, bubbles or fading, renewing that surface is a viable option; a safe, quick, cost-effective and environmentally better choice. The material can be renewed to change the colour, add design elements, and even mimic the appearance of stone or terrazzo.
Key benefits
There are also sizeable savings to achieve, as resilient floor renewal is approximately 50% cheaper compared to a brand-new installation. Equally, the results look ‘as new,’ and even the most trained eye cannot easily spot the difference between a brand-new installation and a renewed surface.
A recent study by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute offered a cradle-to-grave assessment quantifying and verifying the positive effects of floor renewal, the first-of-its-kind. The results are compelling and identify that renewing a surface reduces the carbon footprint by 92% compared to replacement, as well as providing a 90% savings in resources including transport, electricity, consumables, and materials. Lengthening the lifetime of products before being disposed of is an effective way to reduce impact on climate change and improve resource utilisation, and floor renewal supports the journey towards a more resource-efficient and circular future.
There is also less disruption during the renewal process compared to a new installation. Replacing an entire surface in a building can easily take several days or even weeks, causing upheaval. However, the renewal process is quick and easy, reducing downtime by up to 50%. The first step is to strip and remove any old polish from the floor’s surface. Next, the floor is abraded and cleaned to prepare it to receive its new look. Finally, the surface is coated using a roller with either a new colour or chip combination, or a protective clear coat to bring back its original look. Once the final layer has been applied, flooring can be used the same day.
There are additional, post-renewal benefits that architects can give their clients too. For instance, renewal is low maintenance. The time, effort, and amount of cleaning products necessary to maintain an old, worn floor can be significant. Not only does this impact budgets, it creates inconvenience for clients when areas of the building are closed off to facilitate work. However, the flat surfaces created during renewal require significantly less time to clean and maintain as well as fewer cleaning products.
Likewise, the creation of a monolithic, flat surface removes any cracks, seams, or creases in which bacteria thrive. This is a highly effective way to improve both floor hygiene and maintenance to help prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses, which today is more important than ever especially in sectors such as education and health and social care.
This is a relatively new concept which is gaining acceptance in the architectural industry, architects are increasingly recognising the benefits of resilient flooring in a new light. There is a clear shift in approach that new doesn’t necessarily mean better; instead there is an appetite to renew, rethink and upgrade; an alternative way to restore resilient floors to their original beauty while also prolonging their life.
Rohit Sharma is resilient sales manager at Bona