OVF Commercial Underfoot Newsletter
September, 2023
Did you miss the August newsletter? Well, me too! The month of August was rough on me. I have had 2 surgeries! The first was scheduled and the other, 6 days later, was an emergency. I have spent the last few weeks resting and recovering. No worries! I am OK now though and look forward to soon getting back into “normal” activities such as my work with Ohio Valley Flooring and assisting our A & D communities with flooring specifications. Thanks to all those who extended kind wishes during my recovery days.
Floors in the Healthcare Environment
Friends who know me understand wherever I go, I am usually looking at the floors. I’m always curious and wondering what kind of floor it is and I usually comment if it looks good or needs help. While I was confined in the hospital last month, I had plenty of time to look around at all the different floorcoverings in the various spaces I found myself. I thought now that I am back, it is a good time to reflect upon and discuss some of the various flooring types we find in healthcare facilities.
Yikes! Here’s a patient bathroom. Carefully installed flash coved vinyl should never show cracks!
Flash-Coved Sheet Vinyl
Typically reserved for the most extreme sanitary conditions such as ORs, flash cove flooring makes it easier to prevent water and moisture damage, as well as the growth of dangerous bacteria. With the simple innovation of creating an unbroken seem between the floor and the wall, the flash cove method vastly decreases the opportunity for bacteria and mold growth, and improves the sterility and cleanliness of the facility. But it must be installed carefully and correctly.
Essential Accessories! Use of Cove Caps:? When it is necessary to flash cove your flooring materials, Johnsonite Cove Caps can finish the project for a safe and sanitary installation. Designed to complete the finishing edge in critical environments, these caps provide a contemporary finishing touch. Available in multiple sizes to accommodate differing thicknesses of flooring, and in 39 colors that allow you maximum flexibility and creativity. When you specify flash coved sheet, take time to specify your coordinating cove cap. Don’t leave the outcome to chance.
KEY FEATURES:
Available in 6 profiles
Protect top edge of material up to 9/32" thick.
Quiet Environments to Promote Healing
Looking for a quiet and comfortable homogeneous vinyl sheet? Here’s iQ Granit Acoustic by Tarkett.
In addition to contributing to better indoor air quality, iQ Granit Acoustic features a foam backing that improves underfoot comfort and reduces impact sound by 15 dB, making it an ideal choice for corridors and patient rooms where noise dampening is required. This curated palette is calming as well, designed to support moments of stillness and quiet reflection. iQ Granit Acoustic is extremely durable and resistant to wear, stains and abrasions. Floors are easily restored to their original appearance with a simple dry buffing—no refinishing needed for the life of the floor.
Download your copy of Tarkett’s Healthcare Environments brochure:
?Specialty Flooring for Healthcare:
Hospitals have some very specialized spaces with highly technical electronic equipment. The floorcovering in these spaces need to support the function of this equipment yet still be durable and simple to maintain. Here is where we may find static dissipative flooring. In case you are un-familiar, let’s look at how this flooring type actually works:
?A static-dissipative flooring can ground built-up static electricity without running the risk of channeling the charge to sensitive or vulnerable equipment and materials. Electrostatic-dissipative materials create a controlled environment in which static electricity can easily be grounded and neutralized. The perfect example of this type of flooring is Tarkett's Granit SD. This is a permanently static-dissipative vinyl flooring for use in heavy-traffic laboratories, clean rooms and ESD-sensitive areas in hospitals. It delivers the perfect combination of stable and reliable conductivity alongside the proven durability of the iQ flooring range. It is specially designed to coordinate with the colors of the other products and accessories of the iQ Granit multi-solution family.
KEY FEATURES:
Available in 14 colors that coordinate with iQ Granit and iQ Granit Acoustic
Permanently static-dissipative.
iQ means no wax no finish construction.
Available in tile or sheet.
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Flooring Decisions for the Long Term
Floorcovering is a significant investment for any facility owner. When it comes to making decisions about what type of flooring to select, many factors should be considered. Not only is there the initial cost of the product and installation, there is the ongoing cost of maintenance for as long as the floor is in place. What may look good as the up front cost may turn out to be a very expensive decision after 30 years.
?Did you know that more than 90 percent of a floor's lifecycle cost is spent on long-term cleaning and maintenance? Tarkett offers a calculator designed to help you weigh the costs of each type of flooring at every stage-from purchase to installation to maintenance-and determine which?material is right for your space and your budget. In just a few simple steps, you'll have the information you need to make the best decision that meets both short and long-term goals. Enter your project information and select and compare up to three flooring types at a time. Costs shown on the calculator are based on national averages gathered from third party sources. The calculator is a quick and simple way of helping you see the bigger picture and budget for flooring decisions.
Give it a try: https://tarkettlcca.hilemangroup.com/
For Faster Healthcare Flooring Installation, Consider Adhesives!
Tarkett RollSmart is the ideal solvent-free adhesive perfect for flooring installations in healthcare environments. RollSmart is easy to apply and is specifically formulated for installing many popular Tarkett flooring products such as Acczent sheet, Acczent Wood, Aria sheet, Granit Safe-T, iQ Granit sheet, iQ Optima sheet, Melodia sheet, Performa HE Sheet, and ID Latitude LVT. The adhesive is applied using a 3/8” nap paint roller and dries quickly to facilitate fast installation. Sheet products may be heat welded immediately. RollSmart eliminates unsightly trowel marks, telegraphing, and is approved for use under hospital beds.
Thanks for reading and please reach out anytime I can be helpful in your flooring specifications.
Until next time!
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