The commercial market loves its hard surfaces, as evidenced by its second straight year outshining soft surface to reach $3.5 billion in sales in 2021, according to Floor Covering News research. Resilient flooring represents approximately 57.5% of those hard surface commercial sales and remains the fastest growing category. So, it stands to reason that while flexible LVT, namely glue-down, remains the workhorse for the commercial industry, the rigid core construction —the powerhouse on the residential side— would begin to gain ground. What’s more, these products now boast water-resistant capabilities to meet growing market demand.
To give commercial designers and end users the stylish, performance-laden options they need, commercial flooring suppliers pulled out all the stops for their latest waterproof rigid core introductions. Following is a curated collection of the hottest waterproof flooring products with a rigid core construction available for the commercial market today.
Happy Feet: Urban Design
Urban Design is available in four versatile flooring specifications—Urban Design click; Urban Design loose lay; Urban Design glue-down 12; and Urban Design glue-down 20. Users can select different lines to fit the individual needs of the space they are working in to create a cohesive look without compromising style. Urban Design’s specially engineered surface, coating and thick wear layer make it antimicrobial, waterproof, pet-proof and kid-proof. It’s also scratch and slip resistant, making it particularly useful in commercial spaces.
Kährs: Impression collection
Kährs’ Impression collection offers extra-large format, rigid core construction with unique visuals. Starting from handpicked material specimens, this collection recreates real wood and stone looks through registered embossing. Adding to the impression, the large formats of the product add a step-up in size to the Kährs LT portfolio, with 8.66 x 72 wood look planks and 18 x 36 stone look tiles. With a ceramic coating, 6mm thickness and 22-mil wear layer, these waterproof floors stand up against everyday wear, tear, scratches and spills.
Shaw Contract: MineralFloor
Shaw Contract’s MineralFloor, with its robust mineral core, is available in two styles: the comforting wood visuals of Origin, a 6 x 48-inch plank; and the subtle stone and linen patterns of Basis, a 12 x 24-inch tile. The high-performing line resists scratches, stains and water damage. Uniquely positioned between rigid resilient and porcelain tile, MineralFloor offers durability and ease of installation, establishing itself as a prime choice for waterproof, rigid core commercial applications.
Parterre: 5mm Rigid Core Click
Created with ease of installation in mind, 5mm Rigid Core Click combines the durability of rigid core in a glueless click format with an innovative locking system with Uniclic technology. With its natural water-, scratch- and stain-resistant properties combined with an attached 1mm IXPE acoustic backing, Parterre 5mm Rigid Core Click is an ideal flooring solution for multi-family and light commercial environments.
AHF Contract: Nod to Nature
Within the Nod to Nature contract collection, every design comes in three distinct structures: Rewildin, dry-back LVT; Individuality, loose lay thick LVT; and Visionary, SPC rigid core. The same designs, including wood, linen and stone visuals, are offered in multiple constructions so the customer can select a look and construction that best suits their needs. Each format delivers proven performance thanks to HartGuard Ultrashield, which not only provides resistance to dents and stains but makes it easy to clean. The collection features a 15-year commercial warranty, plus the floors are FloorScore certified and include the exclusive Cleantivity antimicrobial technology.
Mannington Commercial: Parkland 20 USA
Made in the USA, Parkland 20 USA is a 5mm, 20-mil rigid core product available in 10 wood visuals. The collection, ideal for light commercial use, comes in 7 x 48-inch planks. Low maintenance and waterproof, Parkland 20 USA is available with matching accessories and moldings. It also comes with a 10-year light commercial warranty.
Tarkett: ProGen
ProGen rigid core, waterproof luxury vinyl flooring from Tarkett features next-generation technology and advanced engineering. The product boasts heavy-duty resistance to high heels and rolling luggage while offering a fast locking click system for easy installation and comfort underfoot. ProGen, targeted for the hospitality market, also features a quiet disposition—with an IIC impact sound reduction rating of 68.
Mohawk Group: Taking Root
Taking Root is Mohawk Group’s latest biophilic collection for the commercial market that draws inspiration from the connection to nature and the grown world. The Zone Lines style from the collection is available in a 9 x 59 plank and offered in 2.5mm and 4.5mm thickness options, as well as a 6mm (5 mm + 1 mm attached pad) rigid click LVT. The visuals for Zone Lines draw inspiration from spalted maples. (Spalting is a natural process that occurs when fungi, including mycelium, begin to grow in the wood.) This process creates intricate details and patterns that evoke pencil-drawn marks on the wood grain, resulting in a unique and organic look.
AVA by Novalis: FAVE
Bringing the best and most popular designs back for another run, AVA FAVE takes your 10 favorite AVA designs and brings a Made in the USA impact. FAVE’s High Density Core (HDC) provides a true waterproof rigid core performance in large 5.75 x 47.75 click planks with attached acoustical backing that provides superior sound control performance. AVA’s proprietary AMP Advantage coating makes FAVE the perfect solution for heavy-traffic areas that need durability and ease of maintenance. FAVE is the ideal flooring for a variety of commercial applications.
