How to receive top marks in flooring from Carpet & Flooring

With, on average, 282 pupils per primary school and 965 pupils per secondary school, the flooring installed throughout the premises must be hardy enough to withstand a large footfall, yet be easy to install.

Here, Lisa Tomlin, CEO of Carpet & Flooring, provides her top tips for specifying flooring in an education setting:

Timings

At a time when many educational facilities across the UK are being obliged to use technology to teach remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic and many school buildings are under-utilised, now may be the ideal time to consider upgrading flooring to avoid any disruption to students and the day-to-day running of school life when schools re-open fully.
With many flooring companies holding online consultations via video conferencing software, advice can be provided on product ranges and specifications at any time of the day.

Wear & Tear

Whether you work in a pre-school, primary or secondary school, such educational establishments experience a very high footfall, and this is something that must be considered when choosing appropriate flooring. A robust floor covering that can withstand increased footfall is paramount to ensure not only that it remains in peak condition for as long as possible, but that it does not become damaged and prove a safety risk to children and students.
Moreover, classrooms are incredibly busy places, often subject to paint, ink, and liquid spills. Installed tiled carpet or LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) avoid the need to replace the whole roll of flooring if just a small section is damaged. This is an important consideration for both budgets and logistics in a public sector building.

Style and colour

As well as being robust enough to withstand a class of 30 children, flooring in schools must be stylish enough to impress and to complement the established branding or educational establishment colours. By using carpet tiles, an accent colour can be incorporated into floor design, giving a nod to colours associated with the establishment, without being overbearing.

Installer

It is of paramount importance that you use a quality installer when replacing the floor coverings within a school. Even when using a top-quality product, using the wrong installer can result in an inadequate and potentially unsafe installation. We suggest using a recommended installer with experience in educational establishment installation to ensure your project is completed on time and within budget.

Recommended Flooring Types

Fibre-Bonded Carpets
The chances are that, when coming in from outside, pupils do not wipe their feet. Installing a fibre-bonded carpet in an entranceway to capture any soil and debris walked in from outside will protect the rest of your interior floor finishes.
Carpet Tiles
Offering endless design opportunities and available at various price points, as well as being great for limited budgets, carpet tiles offer durability, sound reduction and clean-ability. Whether a drink has been spilt or paint dropped, carpet tiles can be easily lifted and replaced without the cost of replacing the whole flooring.
Luxury Vinyl Tile
With large amounts of footfall in educational buildings, Luxury Vinyl Tiles rise to the challenge of being easy to clean with a slip resistance to prevent any slips and falls. They also offer noise reduction, minimising the sounds of heavy footfall and background sounds.

CASE STUDY:
The University of Salford required a flooring solution to their refurbishment of Peel Hall, a historic Victorian building with original features housing the University’s lecture theatres. Despite the extensive refurbishment, the main entrance to Peel Hall was left untouched. In 2018, the University decided that the beige flooring throughout the hall was not “on brand”, or of the same high standard as the rest of the building so turned to flooring specialist, Barratt and Hughes, to help them find a solution.
The University provided a clear brief to Barratt and Hughes. Because of the high volume of traffic in the area, the flooring needed to be hardwearing and be able to hide the inevitable stains. It also needed to look modern yet still be in keeping with the original period features. In addition, as the flooring was going to run up and down the stairs, the University wanted a flooring that would create a clear walkway for students and staff.
Barratt and Hughes selected “CFS Precision Txture” tiles after using the product in a store refurbishment project and being impressed with the quality. By specifying the flooring in the colour, Rioja, they were able to complement the Hall’s existing interior design scheme. Due to the flooring being comprised of single tiles, affected areas can easily be replaced in the event of damage, cutting down potential refurbishment time and costs for the University in the future.
“CFS Precision Txture” is designed to enhance any room with a modern aesthetic, meaning it can fit the brief exactly. The product is also manufactured from recycled yarn with a high tuft density, ensuring that a heavy commercial rating is achieved and making it the perfect fit for a room where heavy footfall is expected.

Voted Contract Flooring Journal (CFJ) Distributor of the Year for four years running, Carpet & Flooring offer a comprehensive range of flooring solutions. To find out more about Carpet & Flooring’s extensive product portfolio or to request a free sample, contact us on customer.services@carpetandflooring.co.uk,
01527 511860 or via our website.

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