The second part of an article on the FacilitiesNet website on healthcare flooring discusses the questions to ask when considering carpet or vinyl.
Carpet used in healthcare must deliver high performance and appearance retention. It should be colorfast, stain-resistant, and as easy to clean as possible.
The pattern should hide soil, but should not be visually disorienting to patrons in a nursing home or elder-care facility.
The biggest issue with sheet vinyl flooring is indentations from wheels on heavy beds. Another concern is the welds coming out of the seam — sometimes due to moisture in the sub floor.
Vinyl tile in the form of VCT (vinyl composition tile) or LVT (luxury vinyl tile) comes in various shapes, including planks, which go down in pieces and may not be affected by moisture.