Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/137453
High Traffic Area New options in resilient flooring give designers the freedom to spread their wings by Laurie Jones 3. 4. 2. 1a. T 1. he resilient flooring market for 2013 is all about creative choice. From tiles and planks to sheet rolls in a rainbow of colours – both Canadian and U.S. manufacturers are offering a touch of class and realism to any application. To give designers more choice when it comes to coordination and creativity, flooring company Tarkett has introduced its I.D. Freedom Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and Plank collection. "The luxury vinyl flooring market is crowded. With so many choices available, selecting one product or brand can be challenging," says Jeremy Salomon, product manager for Tarkett. "But with I.D. Freedom we have given designers the opportunity to express their creativity. Our coordination capabilities are truly unmatched across all resilient flooring and accessories in 5. the Tarkett commercial portfolio." Adding to the design flexibility of I.D. Freedom is a range of plank and tile sizes, with six sizes available for the planks and two available for the tiles. The range of looks includes wood, stone, abstracts and metallics with hard-wearing reinforced polyurethane surface treatment, as well as a 20-millimetre wear-layer and 1/8-inch gauge. When it comes to alternative flooring, the Dinoflex Group, located in Salmon Arm, B.C., offers a wide variety of recycled rubber flooring options to suit commercial, sport, exterior and specialty applications. One product, Dinoflex Evolution, has had a high-profile installation at the Okanagan College in Penticton, B.C., home of the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Building. "They wanted a product that would be durable, provide underfoot comfort and 4a. be suitable for use with in-floor radiant heat," says Liz Burdeniuk, technical manager. "Compared to polished concrete, rubber flooring is more comfortable for teachers who stand for hours and it also offers good sound absorption." In developing the centre, the design team targeted the goals of the Living Building Challenge, considered a step up from LEED Platinum. "Working with the designers, Dinoflex created a locally-produced custom recycled rubber flooring product," says Burdeniuk. One of the reasons people are turning to a rubber flooring option is lifecycle cost evaluation comparison. "With other options such as cork, hardwood and ceramic tile there can be higher maintenance cost," says Burdeniuk. "Along with the durability and ease of maintenance, an added benefit of our interlocking rubber tiles is the ability to turn them over. This virtually doubles the life of the floor." In 2012, Dinoflex introduced 40 new colours that have been received well by the company's customers When it comes to easy-maintenance flooring that is resistant to wear, abrasions and chemicals, including those in most cleaning products, Mondo is proud to have introduced its Harmoni Smooth flooring. "Harmoni Smooth gives architects, designers and contractors a durable, easy-to-maintain, smooth-flooring product in a variety of colours to fit a wide range of commercial applications," says Latasha Pittman, director of marketing and communications. "We conduct extensive research to develop high-performance contract flooring that is environmentally friendly and helps end-users create a superior working, learning or healing environment. The new Harmoni Smooth is a perfect example of this and because it's made from rubber, which is sustainable, Harmoni Smooth contributes to LEED initiatives." Harmoni Smooth has been installed in a number of Canadian hospitals, including Markham Stouffville Hospital and Women's College Hospital, both in Ontario. Other commercial clients benefitting from Mondo flooring are fitness facilities, churches, retail environments, schools and light industrial 1 and 1a. ICE by LSI Floors. 2. GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified Noraplan Environcare by Nora Rubber Flooring. 3. Zebra by Forbo Flooring Systems. 4 and 4a. Dinoflex's Evolution Tile was installed at the Okanagan College, Penticton, B.C. Photos by Ed White Photographic. 5. Harmoni by Mondo America Inc. as shown at the Tampa Bay General Hospital. Resilient Flooring p18-25Resilient Flooring.indd 19 june 2013 /19 13-05-30 1:59 PM