Indoors, outdoors, and everything inbetween, these 12 flooring tech products offer solutions for a variety of projects.
1. Deconstructed metal
Patcraft
Carpet tile line is created through patent-pending manufacturing technology that exposes the primary backing as part of the product design, providing variation in fiber-pile heights for added depth and texture. Available in two 12x48-inch carpet tiles: Metallic Alchemy and Alloy Shimmer. Six yarn combinations and three metallic backings offer a total of 18 colors. Cradle to Cradle certified.
2. Grain Collection
Walker Zanger
Designed for high-traffic areas where a wood aesthetic is desired, this porcelain tile line replicates the look of wood in a contemporary European style, with clean lines and natural wood grains. The collection utilizes a subtle variation in four wood tones per color, as well as natural grain and texture, to create the look and feel of real finished wood. Available in wide planks or chevrons.
3. Galaxy RX
Ecore
Designed for healthcare applications, this rubber-backed resilient floor covering addresses three of the most common concerns related to hospital environments: sound, ergonomics, and safety. It features a 2mm vulcanized surface fusion-bonded to a 5mm recycled rubber backing. This surface reduces structure-borne sound, improves ergonomics for patients and staff, and lessens the severity of injuries after falls, says the maker.
4. Chateau Reserve
Marazzi
This wood-look porcelain tile line is modeled after European Oak and features lightly distressed graining, for richness and texture. Its slip-resistant surface is achieved with a flat surface, offering high cleanability and expanding its use to exterior applications and commercial spaces. Five colors: Hickory Grove, La Petit Greige, Rustic Lodge, Shadow Mountain, and Woodland Chalet.
5. Beauflor Luxury vinyl roll
Beauflor
Luxury vinyl roll combines the benefits of luxury vinyl tile and cushion vinyl roll into a new category of flooring. It is soft underfoot, water resistant, easy to clean and maintain, and offers superior sound absorption qualities, reducing noise noticeably more than either traditional sheet vinyl or LVT, according to the maker. Can loose lay up to 400 sf for fast installation in open-plan environments.
6. Arborart
Armstrong Flooring
Wood-look LVT is made using the company’s Diamond 10 Technology, a process that utilizes cultured diamonds to enhance the tile’s resistance to scratches, scuffs, and stains. Designed for retail, hospitality, education, and healthcare applications, the collection includes 24 colors in a range of contemporary, rustic, and exotic wood visuals. Three sizes: 6x48, 7.2x48, and 9x48 inches.
7. Engage Genesis
Metroflor
This LVT features an extruded, closed-cell PVC structural core for rigidity and strength, and to ease installation through proprietary locking technologies. The floating floor is 100% waterproof and provides sound insulating characteristics through its pre-attached acoustical underlayment. Its construction of embossed vinyl, PVC core, sound-deadening backing, and antimicrobial treatment is offered in eight, 12, and 20 mil wear layers.
8. Framework
J+J Flooring Group
LVT collection includes six wood-inspired patterns and contemporary colors. The 9x48-inch plank tiles are 5mm thick, which allows them to be installed adjacent to the maker’s modular carpet and textile composite flooring without the need for transition strips. For quick installation, a loose-lay option with perimeter glue is available. The FloorScore-certified flooring is made with post-industrial recycled content.
9. Allura VRT
Forbo
LVT collection offers a range of wood, stone, and abstract designs, with the durability, comfort, and sound-deadening qualities of LVT. The Allura Wood collection contains a variety of wood-plank designs with a matt surface and a natural-looking woodgrain and embossing. Allura Stone varies from contemporary concrete floors to cool steel and metal shades. The phthalate-free flooring is made with recycled raw materials.
10. Chromaluxe
Chromaluxe
Using the sublimation printing process, these flooring panels can be customized with virtually any color, graphic, and pattern, including artwork, photography, messaging, and company logos. The panels consist of specially coated sheets of moisture-resistant high-density fiberboard that are cut into workable panels. Two sizes: 16x24 and 24x24 inches. The panels are rated for commercial use and are Carb 2 compliant.
11. noraplan lona
Nora Systems
This resilient rubber flooring line offers a silk-matte finish that features splashes and droplets in a range of colors and accents that capture the momentum of artistic expression. Its maker developed technology that allows for a virtually unlimited range of custom patterns and designs. Offers the same stain/slip resistance, underfoot comfort, ease of maintenance, and sound absorption as with all nora rubber flooring products.
12. Merit
American Olean
Glazed porcelain floor tile emulates the look of contemporary stone and features an anti-slip surface for outdoor applications. Created for open-concept environments where indoor spaces extend outdoors, such as patio restaurants, bars, and event venues. The tile line’s four colors—beige, brown, light gray, dark gray—feature realistic veining and variation. Two sizes: 18x18 inches and 12x24 inches. Matching porcelain mosaic available.
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
ULI: 'Old Normal' will not be a part of the housing recovery
As the U.S. economy recovers, emerging trends in demographics and consumer behavior will become major drivers of new housing opportunities, resulting in a residential market vastly different from the one that existed prior to the recession, according to Housing in America: The Next Decade, a new research paper authored by John K. McIlwain, senior resident fellow, Urban Land Institute/J. Ronald Terwilliger Chair for Housing.
| Aug 11, 2010
Billings increase less than a point in December, still in negative territory
The American Institute of Architects reported the December Architecture Billings Index rating was 43.4, up slightly from 42.8 in November. The score indicates a continued decline in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker said the inability to get financing is still the main roadblock to recovery.
| Aug 11, 2010
FMI: 2009 was the bottom for residential, non-residential construction still in freefall
While 2009 was likely the bottom in terms of percentage decline, 2010 will be the bottom in terms of dollar volume for non-residential construction, according to market analysts at consulting firm FMI. Residential construction is expected to begin recovering in 2010. The economy may show some signs of improving, but it is just the beginning of the downfall for nonresidential construction.
| Aug 11, 2010
SFI releases new sustainable forestry standard
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative has released a new standard. SFI 2010-2014 addresses climate change and bioenergy; strengthen unique SFI fiber sourcing requirements, which broaden the practice of sustainable forestry; complements SFI activities aimed at avoiding controversial or illegal offshore fiber sources, and embraces Lacey Act amendments to prevent illegal logging; and expands requirements for logger training and support for trained loggers and certified logger programs.
| Aug 11, 2010
Another steep decline in nonresidential construction activity projected for 2010
Despite signs that the overall U.S. economy is beginning to improve, nonresidential construction spending is expected to decrease by 13.4% in 2010 with a marginal increase of 1.8% in 2011 in inflation adjusted terms, according the American Institute of Architects' Consensus Construction Forecast. Commercial and industrial projects will continue to see the most significant decrease in activity. Thanks, in part, to federal stimulus spending, institutional building categories will fare better over the new year. BD+C, January 6
| Aug 11, 2010
WattStopper contributes freezer case occupancy sensor to DOE study
WattStopper has participated in a ground-breaking demonstration of solid-state lighting (SSL) technology combined with occupancy sensors in grocery store freezer cases. The project was supported under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solid-State Lighting GATEWAY Technology Demonstration Program. WattStopper contributed FS-705 Wide Angle PIR occupancy sensors to the project.
| Aug 11, 2010
Construction spending hits six-year low as employment declines in 324 of 337 cities
Construction employment declined in 324 out of 337 metropolitan areas over the past year as spending on construction projects dropped by over $137 billion in November to a 6-year low of $900 billion, according to a new analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of federal figures released recently.
| Aug 11, 2010
New data shows low construction prices may soon be coming to an end
New federal data released recently shows sharp increases in the prices of key construction materials like diesel, copper and brass mill shapes likely foreshadow future increases in construction costs, the Associated General Contractors of America said. The new November producer price index (PPI) report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics provide the strongest indication yet that construction prices are heading up, the association noted.
| Aug 11, 2010
Underwriters Laboratories, ICC Evaluation Service announce dual evaluation and certification program for building products
Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the leading product safety testing organization, and ICC Evaluation Service, Inc (ICC-ES), the United States' leader in evaluating building products for compliance with code, today announced a partnership that will provide the building materials industry with a Dual Evaluation and Certification Program for building products.
| Aug 11, 2010
The New Yorker's David Owen: Why Manhattan is America's greenest community
David Owen is a staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of 14 books, most recently Green Metropolis: Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less Are the Keys to Sustainability, in which he argues that Manhattan is the greenest community in America. He graduated from Harvard and lives in Washington, Conn., where he chairs the town planning commission.
