According to the National Education Association (NEA), “…over 50% of school buildings in America are older than 50 years old, leading to unsafe conditions …” Although the details of what makes the building unsafe includes things like air quality, it also speaks to physical infrastructure like school flooring. Flooring can contribute to unsafe conditions in a few ways. If you’re already thinking that it may be time for new floors, it probably is. However, if you’re not sure if you need to prioritize replacing yours in the budget, here are some signs you should.
Trip or Slip Hazards
Many older schools utilized vinyl tile squares. Over time the tiles begin to peel at the edges or lift off completely leading to uneven floors and trip hazards. When your school’s flooring is uneven or partially missing, you jeopardize not only student safety, but the staff’s safety as well. This is the most common and visible sign that it’s time for new school flooring.
Unhealthy Materials in Flooring
Did you know that many older schools have flooring that contains potentially unsafe levels of mercury? It is especially common in older gym flooring where a rubberized material was used in installation to make the floors more pliable. You can have your space tested to determine if this is an issue. In other schools, asbestos mastic was used to glue down vinyl flooring. This occurred as late as 1997. If you find a broken tile and there is a black paste remnant where the vinyl tile was, it’s possible that you have flooring installed with asbestos mastic. There are DIY asbestos testing kits available to confirm any suspicions. If you find either materials in your school’s flooring, it’s time for new school flooring.
Your Current Flooring Detracts from the Learning Environment
This can mean a variety of things. For one, many smaller private schools have carpet in their classrooms. On one hand it’s great at absorbing sounds, however, there are many more reasons why it should be replaced. Carpet, especially as it ages, contributes to allergies and asthma. Students who don’t feel great don’t learn as well. Another reason to replace carpet is older inferior products often have pulls or lifting seams which can lead to accidents.
Even resilient flooring, like commercial laminate and vinyl flooring can detract from your learning environment. If you have a preschool, vinyl flooring can be very slippery for little ones and, when they fall, it hurts. And, with recent studies showing that young children exposed to vinyl for prolonged periods daily are more likely to develop asthma, you may want to consider a different material. Rubber flooring may be a better option for new flooring in a preschool. Today’s rubber flooring comes in many colors and patterns and is easy to clean with minimal chemicals needed.
Your Flooring Needs a Lot of Cleaning & Maintenance
Some private schools installed porcelain or ceramic tiles because they are waterproof and look great when installed. However, over time the grout not only needs significant cleaning, but also re-grouting. Other schools with carpets end up utilizing a carpet cleaner far too often. Some older vinyl floors, especially vinyl tiles are constantly needing to be re-installed or replaced.
Need New School Flooring? Call Seer Flooring Today to Get on Our Summer Schedule!
Whether you need new school flooring in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, or Sarasota for a pre-school, private school, or something bigger, call Seer Flooring for your free consultation and quote. We’ll help you with a plan for replacing your floors in just a small portion of your school or the entire facility. Our team will help you choose a durable floor that works with your needs and budget. Call (727) 469-7963 or fill out our contact form today so you can get on our summer schedule for new school flooring.