Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) continue to be the trend in commercial spaces, from corporate offices to healthcare environments. Many organizations see the advantages of the durable, low-maintenance wear layers and the flexibility of designs. Many decision makers take the plunge from soft surfaces to hard surfaces , but not all take the time to consider all of the aspects of the change until it is too late. 

1) Acoustics
One of the first noticeable changes in the environment of a space are the acoustics: how loud are the background noises of a space? Are there a lot of people in open spaces having phone conversations? Is there traffic noise? How many interruptions are there from people coming and going with doors opening and closing? Sound travels several ways: directly to your ears or it can bounce off surfaces until it dissipates. Soft surfaces help to minimize the sounds bouncing around, so as sounds travel to the carpet, they are dissipated by that soft surface. Removing that soft surface and replacing with a hard surface can create a louder environment than what occupants are used to hearing. 

If acoustics are not considered before making the change from carpet to LVT, the noise and disruption level in a workspace may have a negative effect. If there are other soft surfaces in the space- ceiling tiles, fabric furniture, drapery, etc., the change to a hard surface may not be much of a change at all.

3) Moisture
Whether moisture is spilled from the top or hiding in the subfloor, moisture can be a problem for LVT/ LVP. Traditional roll carpet is a breathable surface, allowing moisture to move through the material to evaporate; however, LVT/ LVP can trap moisture between the subfloor and the product, which can mean big problems. Care should be used in selecting an LVT/ LVP for kitchens, water filling stations, or other locations that have a lot of moisture and/or spill potential. Moisture that sits too long on the surface of the flooring can seep between seams and get trapped under the flooring. This can lead to adhesive and/or flooring failure. Subfloors, both wood and concrete, should also be tested prior to replacement for moisture levels  to determine if moisture is present. Natural springs, poor drainage, missing vapor barriers, and other factors can cause moisture to reside in subfloors. Checking the moisture levels in the subfloor can prevent future issues with the LVT/ LVP floors. ​

Lucas Commercial Flooring will be launching a new Social Media Campaign, celebrating the Kansas City Metro area's outdoor art on Wednesday, May 11, 2022! 

We are really inspired by the outdoor art provided in the Metro's communities, and we want to celebrate all that KC has to offer by sharing our inspirations. Every Wednesday morning we will share a palette of indoor construction materials, featuring flooring but including other interior finishes as well, along with snippets of an outdoor art piece.

The post will ask for Comments guessing the name and/or location of the outdoor art piece. At the end of the day, the art piece will be shown in combination with the inspired vignette, along with information about the art and it's location. 

Lucas Commercial Flooring will feature a different area of the Metro every 4-6 weeks, starting with their office location, North Kansas City. We are also accepting recommendations for accessible outdoor art pieces for future highlights. Please send a picture or link to information on the art piece to office@lucasflooringkc.com. 

Follow our Facebook, Linked In, or Instagram accounts to see what Outdoor Art will be featured this week!