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Proper installation is imperative to long-term

cost savings. For example, one of the innovations that changed the laminate industry was the creation of glueless technologies. While offering quicker installation, this technique isn’t appropriate for all projects. “We know that the rigors of commercial installations require a stronger, tighter joint than most glueless products can deliver long term,” Phillips says. Glued floors also allow installation in certain healthcare applications where glueless floors can’t be installed due to moisture resistance issues.

Most laminate manufacturers insist that life cycle costing is very important in the selling cycle of laminate flooring due to the low maintenance requirements. Most commercial grade laminate flooring products will install in the $6.00 to $9.50 per square foot range. This pricing is not inclusive of floor preparation and moldings.

It adds up

Recent industry studies have determined that over the life cycle of flooring, products with lower initial costs did not remain cheaper than products with higher initial costs. Over a 15-year timeline, it was shown that products with a higher initial cost were the products that were less expensive overall. But remember, there is no flooring product that is suitable for every application.

“It is very important for architects to look not only at initial costs of materials and installation, but also to consider savings that stem from eliminating or slowing down the need to replace structural components over the life of the installation,” says Cacciari.

Stone tile. Courtesy Florida Tile.

Consider the example of ceramic tile versus carpet. You need to analyze initial cost of the product, number of times the product must be replaced during the life expectancy of the installation and cost of maintenance over the lifetime of the installation. Studies have shown that although the initial cost for installed tile is higher than for installed carpet, the carpet will have to be replaced multiple times during the life of the installation, thus yielding a higher life cycle cost. You also need to factor in loss of use costs to a commercial facility incurred while carpet is being replaced during business hours or the premium cost of labor if being done after business hours. “Although ceramic tile and stone is attractively priced, the real value of an installation is recognized over many more years of serviceability,” says John Turner, Sr., General Manager, Commercial Sales/National Accounts for Daltile, Dallas, Texas. “A ceramic or stone installation, installed properly and maintained properly will last many decades. The choice to remove and replace such an installation in future years will be more of a design decision than a decision necessitated by lack of performance.” Turner reminds us of the various orange, olive and tan decors of the 1960s and 1970s that were replaced for fashion instead of function.

So what questions should be asked when considering hard surface flooring? Joseph Patterson, Director of Commercial Sales for Florida Tile, Lakeland, Fla., suggests six areas to consider.