Hello AT,
Here is one of the all-time classic flooring used equally successful (and useful) in manufacturing sites and high-end boutiques. I consider using it for my hallway as well. But before setting my foot on it, I'd love to know who actually designed this classic? Do you know?
Thanks, Alex
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Not sure who was the first to use them but Pirelli was the main manufacturer back in the day according to an old professor...
4 years ago I wanted to put it in a small bathroom, but I could not find it anywhere. Who carries it?
roppe, johnsonite, allstate rubber, pirelli. it is a standard pattern that comes in a few different variations depending upon which manufacturer. I believe that it only comes in tiles, though I could be wrong.
if you are in nyc try classic tile.
pretty sure it's pirelli. it was everywhere when i lived in italy
in the eighties.
rae is right. There are a variety of manufacturers for this rubber flooring including:
http://www.flexcofloors.com/rubber_text_radial.asp
http://www.roppe.com/4_product.asp?category=Floor%20Tile&product=Raised%20Design
http://www.johnsonite.com/products/roundel.htm
to name just a few.
you might check the other at sites, i'm fairly certain it was a recently question asked.
if i'm remembering correctly, the tiles are not suitable for home use as special machinery is needed to clean them.
or i might be trippin' again...
The tiles are rubber and just require soap and water to clean them, no special machinery. You may be thinking about vinyl composition tile (VCT), hippy mama, which does require buffing.
I used it in my mudroom. Excellent choice, it has held up well for six years so far, cleans easily with a mop and soapy water, and is beautiful. My local flooring store got it for me.
Crossville Ceramics also makes an extremely durable through-body porcelain tile with this same design. The finish is called "cross dot", and if you look at this web page, showing the "cross colors" series, a handful of the colors come in that finish-just click on the colors to see the available finishes.
http://www.crossvilleinc.com/products_series.cfm?SeriesID=8&ref=products
Though the porcelain tiles may ultimately hold up better, the one negative is the visibility of the grout lines, whereas the rubber product presents a more monolithic appearance. Here's a link to Crossville's cross dot product showing the grout lines:
http://www.crossvilleinc.com/gallery_thegallery_detail.cfm?PhotoGalleryID=266
I grew up with this floor in the family bathroomit was dark green and everything else was white. The window had a Marimekko shade...my parents were so hip!
They are known "in the business" as Pirelli tiles, so one has to assume that their designers got their first.
Sigh, Maxwell -- one more reason to miss the Trade Towers!
:-(
a great product! originally manufactured by pirelli rubber, it is now manufactured by many different companies. i've often specified the version manufactured by nora rubber [http://www.norarubber.com]. it comes in a multitude of colors, a few pattern variations, tiles and rolls.
FYI, I have two friends who've both installed this in their kitchens. Three years later they both say never again. Dirt collects in the low areas around each dot, even with regular mopping (Beige and white respectively).
I'd avoid pale colors, but in darker tones they'd work well I'd imagine, if you're willing to mop often.
Funny you'd mention seeing it at the WTC as a child.
I remember I first saw it at the airport in Luxembourg when I was 12 (early 80'S.) It was my first trip abroad, and aside from bidets, I distinctly remember this flooring (it was blue) and white Lutron light switches, because they were so European and cool. If I had a garage, I'd definitely cover the floor in these tiles.
my chic mother-in-law had these blue rubber tiles in her detroit foyer with mirrored closet doors - it looked great! and was good for all the wet boots etc. i love this pattern.
Its Pirelli, I just used a bit of their Ardesia ( faux looking slate.)
http://www.rubberflooring.ca/ardesia/ardesia.htm
in my entry way. I know that there is some over stock at Gray Flooring in New Kensington not too far outside of Pittsburgh. I talkd to them a few weeks ago. In some bold colors and some darks .no blue which I was looking for. I am sure Mr. Frock would give readers a good chance to take these from his stock.
Gray flooring
Roy Frock
724) 339-4729
I am fairly sure he can order as well.
I've seen these rubber tiles at Aronson's flooring on 17th street. My friend the beverly hills dermatologist put these tiles in his gorgeous modern office in white. Look great but they are impossible to keep clean.
We have this in our office building. It's very slip resistant and very hard to keep clean (white)
I still lust for it in dark gray for my entryway, however!
I remember when this came out. It was the early 80's and my Mom almost put it in the kitchen. I think Pirelli is right, but Johnsonite makes it now - lots of other companies, too.
They are the "Pirellis" which I bought from Aronson's in red for my kitchen. They do require an expensive two-part epoxy adhesive, and if that's not used or not used correctly (as was the case in my apt.) they'll start lifting up.
A better source for this kind of rubber tile (great colors, lots of pattern variations) is Dalsouple (dalsouple.com), but the shipping charges were going to cost more than the tile itself, so I decided against that.
I remember one of the first pictures that fired me up about interior design when I was much younger - it was an 80s kitchen with the walls, floor and counters covered in this flooring in BRIGHT GREEN with all the accessories in BRIGHT YELLOW - it was so 80s but so fabulous too!
For what it's worth, the Home Depot near my house carries these in Black, Red, and White in stock. I'm not sure of the manufacturer but I just saw them yesterday.
That's one of the products we have where I work (mostly aviation grade interior products). The company we get it from is Batiflex.
Well, David I. beat me to it - check out Nora florring - I've spec'd Nora products for many large projects and have been very happy with the results: http://www.norarubber.com/Products/Design/overview_us.cfm?pfamnr=110
Thanks to Alex for asking the question, to AT for featuring it and for all the reader responses. I have been day-dreaming about using this product if we ever bought a house with a garage or a basement or a mudroom and wondered how practical it would be. We may never buy that house but it is very interesting to get this info. which I will file away for reference. Thanks AT!
Sorry if I missed this, but what's the price per sq/ft that people have paid- this looks like an interesting solution for a mudroom/ high traffic entrance. Thanks!