special report
Flooring
a love affair
with the look of F
wood
Would you use wood
Áooring in 'wet areas?'
You could. Wood-look
porcelain, that is.
By Ron Treister
78
CommerCial ConstruCtion & renovation — january : february 2013
inally, it has become accepted that
porcelain tile is an ideal floor finishing
material for commercial establishments
that have high foot-traffic areas. Shopping
malls, airport terminals, hotel lobbies,
healthcare facilities, and much more, now
depend on these products because they
are virtually indestructible – and exceptionally easy to maintain.
Americans love the look of wood. This is
very evident, as wood flooring not only continues to be selected for residential applications,
but also in noteworthy commercial projects.
Next time you visit your local enclosed shopping mall, check out some of the retail clothing
franchises focusing on the young "in crowd."
For hospitality installations, especially
guestroom "sleeping areas," more American
hotels are emulating the European design
mindset and having wood flooring specified
in those spaces. It would be great if that