Meeting teacher and students needs for classroom floors

Vinyl ticks all the right boxes.

Durable, soft and warm underfoot, waterproof, easy-to-clean, quiet and non-slippery, vinyl flooring provides all the benefits that teachers and students deem important. See how vinyl can change the classroom experience. 

In two informal surveys conducted recently, both students and teachers revealed that, when asked about the floors in their classrooms, the most important factors to teachers and high school students were as follows:

Vinyl flooring meets all these needs and more

Durable

A well-maintained Polyflor vinyl floor will last 20 years or more. Special PUR coated vinyl enhances durability and allows easy, hygienic, dry-cleaning, ensuring less water and electricity usage while still coping with classroom traffic (see our water-wise booklet). This PUR coating ensures lifelong polish-free maintenance and results in a maintenance-cost saving of 48% over 20 years.

Soft and warm underfoot

Unlike ceramic tiles or screed flooring, vinyl floors are warm and softer underfoot. They provide comfort without compromising on ease of maintenance and hygiene.

Waterproof

Vinyl floors cope extremely well with water and other wet spillage and dirt. The floor remains undamaged, unstained and the liquid can easily be cleaned off the floor.

Easy-to-clean

Contrary to popular belief, dry-cleaning methods are more efficient for vinyl floors than wet-cleaning methods.  Daily cleaning can be done with a microfiber mop covered with a masslinn cloth. A slightly wet microfiber mop (with or without detergent depending on the stain) should only be used when stubborn stains need to be removed (see our water-wise booklet).

Bacteria thrives on warmth, moisture, dust and grit. Unless done very meticulously, wet-cleaning provides the ideal environment for bacteria to spread whilst dry-cleaning of vinyl floors ensures superior hygiene.

Quiet

Vinyl is by design a quiet floor and it performs by softening or minimising underfoot noise. Specialised acoustic Polyflor vinyl floors are available for areas where noise absorbance is important (music rooms, auditoriums, studios, libraries, classrooms, passages, etc.).

Non-slippery

Vinyl is by nature more slip-resistant in a dry setting than many other floor coverings. For wet-areas such as change rooms, dining halls and laboratories, specialised Polyflor slip-resistant vinyl floors are available.

Additional benefits to using Polyflor vinyl in an educational setting

Aesthetics

Polyflor vinyl floors are available in a vast range of colours and designs including wood and stone effects. Research indicates that light colours and warm floor surfaces together with the stimulation created by different colour options is important in today’s learning environment. The vast array of vinyl available enables the creation of this environment.

Multi-functional

The versatility of vinyl flooring allows a room to be used as a classroom, science lab, function room or multi-purpose sports hall, meeting multiple needs and uses.

Branding

Vinyl allows bespoke design, enhancing a school’s ability to promote their branding, messages and create a presence and sense of belonging.

Clean-air

Through modern manufacturing, vinyl has a low environmental impact. Low VOC emissions and hygienic properties ensure good quality air in schools, enhancing the health and learning environment. Polyflor floor coverings have passed the most stringent VOC emissions tests including FloorScore® and have achieved a GOLD rating on the ‘Indoor Air Comfort’ scale. 

In the words of a South African architect who designs for educational spaces:

“Vinyl works in education because it just ticks so many of the boxes”

Vinyl floor coverings are ticking the boxes and revolutionising schools across the globe. Is it your product of choice in schools? Read more here.

 How does vinyl flooring fare in a triple bottom line analysis? Download our eBook on sustainability to find out.