Choice Of Replacement Flooring
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CHOICE OF REPLACEMENT
STORE FRONT FLOORING
Presented to
Name
Title
Company
Prepared by
Name
Office Manager
June 6, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
RECOMMENDATION
BACKGROUND
Problem: Replacing Existing Store Front Flooring
Solution and Alternatives: Laminate Flooring
Establishing Criteria for Selecting Laminate Flooring
ANALYSIS
Discussion: Evaluating Brands of Laminate Flooring by Criteria
Installation
Product
Warranty
CONCLUSION
References
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Purpose of the Report
The purpose of this report addresses the need to replace the existing store front carpeting and to select a floor product that will be more durable, reliable, and improve the stores image.
Update and Improve Store Front
The store front currently has carpet flooring which was installed seven years ago. In this short period, the carpet has worn quickly from customer traffic and environmental elements. The appearance of the store and the presentation of its products have lost their “wow” effect due to the current floor covering.
Several floor alternatives are available, including: vinyl, ceramic tile, wood floor, and laminate floors. The selection process of an alternative flooring involved evaluating total cost of the product, its appearance and quality, the ability of product self-installation, and its overall life and warranty.
Conclusion
The stores image and appearance would greatly improve with replacing the current flooring with an alternative floor product. Laminate flooring is the most logical alternative choice in meeting the companys budget and needs. Research of brand name flooring companies have led to the following recommendation:
Purchase Armstrongs laminate flooring with the snap and lock system.
Purchase the polyethylene vapor barrier to reduce moisture.
Self-installation of the product.
CHOICE OF REPLACEMENT
STORE FRONT FLOORING
RECOMMENDATION
The store fronts current carpet flooring has not held up to the customer traffic or to the exposure of environmental elements. Various floor products (vinyl, ceramic tile, wood flooring, or laminate flooring) are available which would be more traffic friendly and more durable than carpeting, yet not all these products are easy to self-install or cost effective. In considering the companys needs I have selected laminate flooring as a suitable product.
Manufacturers of flooring have produced various laminate flooring products for approximately 50 years. The time and experience spent on developing laminate floor products have improved its durability, reliability, installation and maintenance. Based on our companys budget and my review of three brands of laminate floor, I recommend we do the following:
Purchase Armstrongs laminate flooring with the snap and lock system.
Purchase the polyethylene vapor barrier for moisture protection.
Self-installation of the product.
BACKGROUND
Problem: Replacing Existing Store Front Flooring
The existing store front floor is currently covered with inexpensive carpeting which is beginning to wear and has some permanent stains. The carpet was installed when this store location opened seven years ago. At the time, this particular floor covering was selected based on the companys limited budget. During the past seven years, the floor has been easy to maintain daily but has not withstood the customer traffic as well as expected. Replacement of the floor covering should address our needs for a product that is durable, will upgrade the stores image, provide better lighting, and is easy to install and maintain.
Solution and Alternatives: Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is sold at retail carpet stores and home improvement center stores. These types of stores provide easy access and availability of this product. The brand name of laminate flooring sold varies depending upon the store.
Most manufacturers of laminate flooring have websites containing product maintenance methods, installation instructions, and additional product information which will be useful as we plan to install the floor ourselves. Home improvement centers offer more assistance to the do-it-yourself individual. Their sales staff has practical installation experience and product knowledge versus a carpet store sales staff that has only product knowledge. Home improvement centers also rent any necessary tools needed to complete the installation. The three brands of laminate flooring researched are: Armstrong, Wilsonart, and Kronotex.
Establishing Criteria for Selecting Laminate Flooring
To select brand name flooring, I established criteria based upon research obtained from the manufacturers websites, trade articles, and sales personnel at both carpet stores and home improvement center stores. The four groups of criteria