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Lay the Groundwork A review of this season's resilient flooring product designs by Laurie Jones B right colours, hints of nature and lexible usage are the themes in the resilient looring industry for 2012. With eco-friendly products continuing to play a major role in design and construction materials, North American manufacturers are stepping up in style. To further strengthen its wide range of product designs, Johnsonite®, the commercial arm of Tarkett, is introducing a range of new and improved solutions for innovative and sustainable looring with its Azrock Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) and Azrock TexTile™ VCT collections. Ideal for high-traf ic areas, the new designs and expanded colour options for this classic product increase design lexibility with a modern palette and competitive pricing. "The standard Azrock VCT line has undergone a complete re-colouring, adding 50 new colours in a new visual, while keeping 23 of the most popular colours, for a total of 73 skus of standard VCT plus four solid-colour VCT options," says Kathy Holdridge, product manager. "In addition to these new options, the brand new Azrock TexTile™ VCT boasts a contemporary linear visual with the traditional value and durability of vinyl composition tile." Random patterning gives the look of striated yarns running directionally, and no two pieces are alike, allowing for a unique textile look. The trusted Azrock VCT construction together with the striated pattern marries durability and high performance with a striking pattern designed to hide tracked-in dirt and scuffs in high-traf ic areas and provides high-end function and esthetics at a VCT price. The Azrock TexTile VCT collection is available in two distinct sizes, including both 12-inch by 12-inch squares and 12-inch by 24-inch rectangles and 15 vibrant colours, for true modularity. Forbo Flooring Systems recently launched a special edition of its sustainable Marmoleum loor covering collection titled 'the Unexpected Nature of Linoleum.' Drawing on colours and patterns found in nature, this remarkable collection is as surprising and natural as the places that inspired it. "Unexpected Nature's luminescent hues and striking patterns re lect nature's brilliant shades of sea greens, stormy blues, volcanic coppers and mountain range ochres," says Jacco Vlaar, national sales manager, Canada. "The landscape inspirations include the Gunnison River in Colorado's Black Canyon, and The Wave in Arizona's North Coyote Buttes." Unexpected Nature features nine marbled designs that push the boundaries of traditional linoleum esthetics, creating a broad scope of imaginative installation. "The linear patterns are about contrast, different ways of colouring, and tones within tones, while the marbled designs combine rich hues, fresh pastels and evenly weighted warm and cool tones," says Vlaar. A truly sustainable looring choice, Unexpected Nature is made from natural, renewable ingredients and contains 100 per cent bio-based content. The Topshield inish provides occupancy-ready installation, reduced maintenance costs and improved esthetics. Unexpected Nature is inancially bene icial to LEED projects, and carries the most LCA-based certi ications of any resilient looring product. LSI Floors has found a way to make hard and soft looring materials seamlessly intermingle. Transitioning from carpet to hard surfacing could not be simpler than with LSI Loose Lay format vinyl tiles. The entire LSI collection of over 160 patterns and colours is now presented in a format that mimics the scale of carpet tile. The consistent sizing allows the two materials to integrate seamlessly, which is especially useful Right: Evolution rubber tiles from Dinoflex. Inset, above: LSI Loose Lay format vinyl tiles. Resilient Flooring p.28-33Resilient flooring.indd 29 JUNE 2012 /29 5/25/12 11:45:03 AM

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