Finding flooring products that meet clients’ aesthetic and performance needs can be a challenge, especially if those applications see continuous use or demand ultra-green specs. We’ve gathered the latest flooring introductions designed to handle a range of tasks from heavy foot traffic in the emergency room to dampening the buzz in open-plan offices.
Pure Genius, Lauzon
More manufacturers are developing coatings and materials that purify the air without changing the look of the substrate. Canadian flooring manufacturer Lauzon designed a proprietary titanium-dioxide finish for hardwood flooring that it says decomposes bacteria and mold, and breaks down VOCs in the air into water and carbon dioxide when exposed to light. The Pure Genius finish resists water and is currently offered on the company’s Authentik red oak and Organik FSC–certified maple flooring collections.
Milestone, Masland Contract
A collection of six carpet styles from Masland Contract offers visual texture and low color contrast, making it a fit for applications such as senior care facilities. The broadloom designs made from solution-dyed 100% Universal Fibers Type 6,6, which are engineered to resist stains. Milestone is certified Gold by the National Science Foundation’s Sustainable Carpet Standard. Ten designs are offered (vitality, shown).
Garden, Crossville
Outdoor living spaces require products that can stand up to moisture and temperature shifts while blending seamlessly with the design aesthetic of furniture and fixtures. Crossville’s Garden series of porcelain tile offers the look of natural stone while the company’s Hydrotect light-activated, nontoxic titanium-dioxide coating helps it to resist dirt and bacteria while reducing airborne toxins. Offered in three colorways that emulate the look of stone materials such as volcanic stone and cobbled limestone. For use on exterior walls and floors as well as interior transitional spaces such as entryways.
Norament XP, Nora
Surfaces in high-impact areas of healthcare applications such as operating and emergency rooms don’t get a break. Nora designed its Norament XP rubber flooring to withstand continuous foot traffic and heavy rolling equipment such as medical carts and patient beds. The stain-resistant material features a hammered surface and complies with OSHA requirements for slip resistance. Offered in 13 colorways.
BuzziRug Wool, BuzziSpace
Wood and stone flooring finishes aren’t known for their acoustical dampening properties. Interior products design studio BuzziSpace, which makes noise-blocking felt products, is taking its designs to the floor. From in-house designer Sas Adriaenssens, BuzziRug Wool is made entirely from wool in warm and cool (shown) striped color palettes. Offered in dimensions of up to 4 meters wide and 6 meters long.
Mystique, Terra Legno
Terra Legno gives European oak a deep brown finish in the latest addition to its Quercia series of engineered interior wood flooring. The grains on Mystique’s 3mm-thick top layer offer low shade variance. The boards come in random lengths at 3.5” and 5” widths.
Vantage II, Teragren
A FSC-certified strand bamboo wear layer tops an FSC- and CARB II-certified eucalyptus plywood substrate in this series of engineered wide-plank flooring from Teragren. The Vantage II collection of tongue-and-groove boards uses a zero-VOC hardwax-oil finish. Chestnut, wheat (shown), chestnut wirebrushed, and wheat wirebrushed finishes are offered.
Mipolam Medical Symbioz, Gerflor
Symbioz, one of four options in the Mipolam Medical collection from Gerflor is a phthalate-free vinyl flooring that is made with a 100% bio-based plasticizer. The flooring is antimicrobial and resists stains. It is offered in 26 tone-on-tone and non-directional colorations.
