ceramic floor tile, glazed porcelain tile, mosaic tile and unglazed por- celain ALL have a 50-year expected life. But even though the installed costs of these five tile products are considerably higher than carpet, at $3.22 or VCT at $3.91, the durabil- ity of the ceramic finishes means these other floors are replaced five to eight times more frequently than a ceramic floor, resulting in a lower cost over the life of the floor for ceramic and porcelain tile. It’s no surprise that commercial clients and residential homeown- ers want to save money on their finishes, and so an alternative floor that appears to have a lower ini- tial cost has immediate appeal. But consulting the table shows the actual cost of the product over its life. This is a powerful tool in your arsenal when talking to customers. Looking for more information? Visit Tile is the Natural Choice at www.tilethenaturalchoice.com/ for resources and information on using low-impact tile in construc- tion projects. And visit the Online Store at tile-assn.com to purchase a TCNA Handbook (NTCA members in good standing receive one free each year) or go to tcnatile.com to purchase directly from TCNA. TECH TALK –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Because a tile installation will last as long as the building it’s installed in, its environmental impacts are minimal when compared to other surface coverings that would have to be replaced numerous times over the life of the building. This also means tile costs less per square foot over the long haul, whereas carpet, vinyl, and other floor coverings are significantly more expensive due to their replacement, maintenance, and refinishing requirements. Construction cost consulting firm Scharf-Godfrey compared the life-cycle costs of various flooring types. The per year cost for each flooring type includes installation, maintenance, and removal costs. Their comparison, provided below, shows why ceramic tile is the natural choice for sustainable design and long-term value. Life-Cycle Costs for Floor Finishes (per square foot) Floor Finish Installed Cost Life Cycle Cost Expected Life (y) Cost Per Year Quarry Tile $ 6.83 $16.13 50 $0.32 Glazed Ceramic Floor Tile $ 7.00 $16.30 50 $0.33 Glazed Porcelain Tile $ 8.34 $17.64 50 $0.35 Mosaic Tile $ 8.20 $17.50 50 $0.35 Unglazed Porcelain $ 8.30 $17.60 50 $0.35 Natural Hardwood $ 9.31 $20.80 50 $0.42 Travertine-Turkish $12.50 $21.80 50 $0.44 Marble $21.00 $30.30 50 $0.61 Laminate $ 8.84 $17.77 25 $0.71 Man-Made Hardwood $ 9.58 $18.51 25 $0.74 Portland Cement Terrazzo $14.88 $24.27 30 $0.81 Stained Concrete $12.40 $24.60 25 $0.98 Carpet $ 3.22 $ 6.50 6 $1.08 Resin Terrazzo $ 8.50 $16.53 15 $1.10 Sheet Vinyl $ 6.90 $13.90 10 $1.39 Poured Epoxy $ 8.18 $15.18 10 $1.52 VCT $ 3.91 $18.35 10 $1.83 TCNA GREEN REPORT LIFE-CYCLE COST STUDY TCNA GREEN REPORT LIFE-CYCLE COST STUDY 54 TileLetter | August 2017