Fab Flooring

Although it’s there to be walked all over, flooring is not something to be taken for granted. Rather, it may be one of the first things a prospective renter notices—especially in an otherwise empty apartment. While it does not necessarily need to be replaced at each turn, the condition of the flooring in an apartment can make or break a prospect’s decision to rent. To that end, managers should ensure that carpeting is stain-free and freshly vacuumed, while hardwood flooring should be freshly sanded and stained. Several companies offer attractive, inexpensive options that can even contribute to the eco-friendliness of a unit.

Smart Floor by Arbor Carpet allows a certain “forgiveness” factor for mismatched carpets. By using the system, companies have been able to save about 25 percent on their annual floor covering replacements. Within the carpet industry, estimates are that two-thirds of the carpeting that is replaced in apartment bedrooms is done so by default because it was nearly impossible to match new living room, dining room and hallway carpet to the existing carpet in bedrooms. Utilizing a patent-pending doorway transition piece, Arbor has overcome this challenge (www.arborcarpet.com).

InterfaceFLOR recently introduced three new products. Permian’s (pictured top) geometry is achieved by brief nuanced shifts in texture and is available in 16 colors. Distressed is a pattern with the DNA of jeans. Its 100 percent non-virgin yarn results from a partnership with a global supplier who combines reclaimed carpet fiber from InterfaceFLOR’s ReEntry 2.0 processing with yarns yielded by salvaged fishing nets and recycled post-industrial content. Combining Distressed’s non-virgin fiber with Interface’s GlasBac RE backing system delivers a product with a minimum of 29 percent post-consumer recycled content and a minimum total recycled content of 77 percent. Twelve color choices are offered. Matrix is an orderly, linear pattern that shares a range of 12 color options with Silurian. Both products are constructed of post-consumer content type 6,6 nylon yarn that is 100 percent solution-dyed. The total recycled content is 48 percent, with InterfaceFLOR’s GlasBac tile backing system incorporated (www. interfaceflor.com).

Parterre’s Reside Domestic Floor offers the multifamily market superior performance and practicality. Users can choose between wood (available in nine colors: Natural Teak, Vintage Mahogany, Berkshire Maple, Sherwood Oak, Natural Cherry, Manor House Oak, Euro Maple, Classic Oak and Heritage Oak) and stone (available in five colors: Sanibel White, Aspen, Coronado Sand, Natural Travertine and Antique Travertine). The wood flooring is available in 4″x36″x2mm, while the stone solution is available in 12″x12″x2mm or 12″x24″x2mm. Parterre Flooring Systems contain 25 percent post-consumer and 20 percent post-industrial recycled content and are 100 percent recyclable (www.parterreflooring.com).

Armstrong Commercial Flooring’s new sheet flooring collection, Rejuvenations, offers a versatile range of floor covering designs. Each sheet begins with real stone, wood or tile that is digitally reproduced. The Ambigu collection includes tweed, pearlized and end-cut wood grain visuals. The StoneRun line (pictured) features the look of travertine and concrete. The TimberLine collection presents realistic wood looks that range from maple, oak, walnut and cherry to more exotic woods like merabau and bamboo. All styles are part of the Armstrong Continuum, a collection that is made to coordinate in color and design. While the range of products in the new vinyl flooring lines is extremely wide, many of the styles can be combined in a single space to achieve powerful results. Although Armstrong is billing the line as the perfect choice for healthcare (where porous surfaces are a no-no and durability is key), it is more than suitable for modern apartment lobbies, hallways and common areas. The sheets have a low-maintenance, UV-cured polyurethane coating that eliminates the need to polish or spray buff. Armstrong sheet products are low-VOC, FloorScore-certified to California Section 01350 and comply with LEED EQ4.3 for Indoor Air Quality (www.armstrong.com).

Beaulieu has brought back its Beaulieu Property Management Solutions series. Solutions V (pictured) and VI are made with PET solution-dyed polyester fiber, meaning that the color never fades. The fiber is made with 50 percent recycled content, and 3M Scotchgard protection comes standard. Beaulieu also recently introduced three new broadloom collections from its Hollytex Quick Ship Program: Canvas, Brush and Paint. Canvas is a 100 percent BCF solution-dyed nylon that is made in a densely constructed loop style. Its textured pattern is reminiscent of an old world cobblestone street with deep, rich colors that reduce the appearance of soiling and wear. The small-scale pinstripe design gives Brush the look of expensive European textiles. This 26-ounce solution dyed nylon graphic loop pattern uses metallic yarn to create the effect in 12 colors. Paint is bold with its use of organic colors and dynamic patterns. All new Beaulieu carpets have the company’s Magic Fresh built-in, odor-reducing treatment to rid the air of pet, cooking or smoking smells (www.blissflooring.com).