Across the flooring industry, experts predict that surfaces including LVT and carpet tile will continue the growth they have shown across the past two years. Hard surfaces such as LVT are expected to achieve double-digit growth rates and extend into every major market segment. LVT usage is expanding across all industry segments, particularly in healthcare and hospitality settings. There is also an increase of interest in LVT in the commercial market, following the current trend for commercial spaces to follow a more residential style aesthetic.
Early research figures show commercial flooring is on track to post similar numbers as last year. Specified contract is expected to retain both dollars and square footage at around 70% against 30% for Main Street. The overall commercial flooring market is in the middle of a very big transition with a lot of growth in hard surfaces. LVT surfaces are becoming increasingly popular. Research shows that the LVT sub-category saw both sales and volume rise 10% to 20% last year.
Modular carpet tile is taking over broadloom with estimates showing the material now has over 60% of market share. Part of the appeal of carpet tile is the ease and speed of installation compared with broadloom. Tiles remove difficult issues such as correct seam matching, seam diagrams, roll sequencing and the row cutting that exists with broadloom. From the installers’ perspective, broadloom issues like these can reduce profits if they arise during an installation, so carpet tiles are often preferred.
Other advantages include storage. Carpet tiles are easier to store and offer cost savings on storage because of the modular format compared to broadloom. Carpet tiles can also offer more intricate design patterns that are more difficult to achieve with broadloom.