What Is So Good About Amtico Form LVT Flooring?
Product Focus: Antimicrobial Flooring
What is it about the Form collection at Amtico that has us all talking? Well, among other things it is the antimicrobial properties of the range (minus Barrel Oak).With Covid-19 Restrictions beginning to be lifted across England and the UK, we move to a time where we are learning to live with the Coronavirus and we make long term provisions to deal with the challenges the virus presents.
Antimicrobial flooring solutions have been present across the arsenals of the leading flooring brands for quite some time but the products have been predominantly aimed at commercial installations. Antimicrobial, antibacterial and germ resistant flooring can be an important flooring option across commercial, domestic, industrial and even specialist environments. In particular, areas of high footfall such as hallways and entrances, restaurants, hotels, shops, leisure centers, educational facilities and receptions all come into contact with numerous microorganisms and considering the flooring type used in these zones may be one way to help manage the spread and exposure to employees, customers, friends and family.
Amtico Form Valley Oak in Basket Weave
In the times before lockdowns and restrictions became part of our everyday parlance, Amtico were already working with new technologies in flooring addressing issues of hygiene and ‘cleanability’ and were popular flooring choices for clinics, science labs, health centers and leisure facilities. We will specifically take a look at Amtico’s Form collection and the amazing options available with their Antimicrobial properties…we also love that it's made just up the road in Coventry!
Amtico: Excellence and Innovation
Born in the Midlands and now a global name, Amtico has a long history of innovation and creativity. Amtico's Antimicrobial technology found in their 'Form' range is one of several options available for residential flooring that takes into account both the practical applications of the technology as well as the design elements that is required for domestic flooring. Although specifically designed for domestic applications it can be used within a commercial setting on a smaller scale.
In their own words ‘Collaboration is the essence of our adventure at Amtico. We are driven to explore and have been pioneers of flooring manufacture in the UK for over half a century. Our customers inspire and challenge us every day to achieve their creative ambitions, with crafted design, agile manufacturing and expert industry knowledge. This is a story of continued success underpinned by our progressive, open and original values and determination to continuously improve.’
Amtico has a huge variety of products with five main collections aimed at the home and a further six collections designed specifically for Commercial spaces. They are;
Amtico Signature LVT Flooring
Amtico Signature Kura Dc310
This is the premium, made-to-order collection of LVT with a 1mm wear layer. The collection is design-led and features an exclusive selection of laying patterns created by a team of expert designers.
Amtico Form LVT Flooring
Amtico Form Cinder in Pavestone FP108
This versatile and practical collection is available in wood and stone designs so realistic you wouldn’t know it wasn't the real thing! Form has a substantial 0.7mm wear layer that makes it exceptionally comfortable underfoot and means you can rest assured that the floor will look great for years to come.
Amtico Spacia LVT Flooring
Amtico Spacia Bruges Oak SS5W3034
This collection is a simplified range of trend-led colours and sizes with a 0.55mm wear layer. The flooring in the Spacia collection is versatile and attractive suiting most environments.
Amtico Click Smart LVT Flooring
Amtico Click Smart Lyme SB5S2789
Click smart is a stylish option perfect for busy family life with its substantial 0.55mm wear layer and the fact it is waterproof - ideal for those little spills.
Amtico Décor LVT Flooring
Amtico Decor Chequer DC485
The newest collection designed with residential/domestic applications in mind. The Décor collection is a selection of delightful artisan designs taking inspiration from classic victorian tiling providing a beautiful decorative detail to any home.
Amtico First Collection Commercial Flooring
Amtico First Ceramic Flint SF3S2594
This collection is a 0.3mm high performance solution to commercial flooring with practical designs providing excellent value for money.
Amtico Marine Collection Commercial Flooring
Amtico Marino Linear Metallic Steel AM5ALA21
This collection meets the highest industry safety standards whilst also providing premium designs and thoughtful laying patterns. Perfect for creating bespoke flooring design.
Amtico Access Collection Commercial Flooring
Amtico Access Brixton Grey SX5S3080 and Camden Grey SX5S3079, laid in mixed scatter pattern.
This well designed collection provides attractive solutions for raised access flooring and commercial refits. Specialist flooring does not need to be devoid of style!
Amtico Cirro Collection PVC Free Commercial Flooring
Amtico Cirro Classic Walnut DR5W7610 & Exposed Concrete DR5W7610
This collection is a high performance, high resistant flooring which is comfortable underfoot and aesthetically pleasing. This collection also has a low environmental impact and meets stringent health and well-being standards.
Amtico Acoustic Commercial Flooring
Amtico Acoustic Wharf Oak AR0W8190
Amtico understands the need for commercial interior design to not only be attractive but also to work hard for the environment. Amtico Acoustic helps to ensure that spaces not only look great…but sound great too!
Amtico Safety Flooring
Kura Anise & Kura Caraway - in a Broken Bond Laying Pattern, from the safety Signature 36 + Collection.
This collection is a culmination of the market-leading designs by Amtico combined with antimicrobial technology and slip resistance creating Safety flooring trusted the world over.
All of the collections from Amtico contain exceptional designs and properties specific to certain spaces and requirements. We want to take a closer look at Amtico Form LVT Flooring.
What is Amtico Form LVT Flooring?
Amtico Form is the LVT flooring collection from Amtico which contains both contemporary and traditional designs. One of the most prominent comments we receive about Amtico Form is that the wood and stone effect flooring is almost indistinguishable from the real thing!
Form by Amtico has both wood and stone flooring designs which contain the same charm and character found in the real thing. Amtico Form is versatile and looks incredible in any number of locations. This collection can work almost anywhere, this is down to the variations of colour, pattern and design across the range meaning a flooring can be found for an elegant dining room or a modern bathroom or a traditional kitchen or a quirky living room…all within one collection!
Across 36 wood and stone designs there is sure to be the style to suit your project. Form encapsulates the spirit of natural materials whilst providing the practicalities of luxury vinyl tile flooring.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring is a product that can look like genuine stone or wood flooring in a range of styles, effects and designs. Most commonly found in the form of Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) or Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP), this flooring type is indistinguishable from the real thing!
With a multi-layer construction of; a solid vinyl backing, a rigid core, the print film layer and a clear protective layer finished with a Polyurethane coating, it will withstand the toughest of environments.
Image credit: Amtico.com
Due to the protective wear-layer of Luxury Vinyl Flooring, your stylish and hardwearing floor requires minimal maintenance in the form of mopping and sweeping as-and-when needed, to maintain that as-new look.
One of the more exciting properties of Amtico Form is the high performance antimicrobial technology which is part of the construction of the flooring and that is proven to reduce surface bacteria by more than 99% over the course of 24 hours. It should be noted that ‘Barrel Oak’ is the only option in the Form range which does not contain the antimicrobial characteristics.
Why Choose Amtico Form LVT Flooring?
So, what is it about Amtico Form that makes it such a good flooring solution for 2022 and into the future?
Form is made locally in the Amtico Coventry Factory utilising the ionic silver identified by the research and development team as an effective antimicrobial agent. The way that ionic silver works is that the process harnesses the natural antimicrobial properties of the material and builds it into the multilayer construction of the LVT. Ionic Silver has been used for years to protect against germs and bacteria and it helps to protect against the spread and inhalation of potentially harmful bacteria - pretty cool huh!
Amtico had independent testers assess the range and found that an incredible 99.99% reduction of bacteria over 24 hours was reported. As part of testing they also undertook accelerated aging tests which demonstrated that even after 10 years, the properties of the ionic silver were just as effective as the day it rolled out of the warehouse! General wear and tear does not affect the antimicrobial effectiveness nor does intense cleaning using abrasive or harsh chemicals such as alcohol/solvent based cleaners, MEK or Bleach. That's pretty impressive!
Amtico’s Antimicrobial Form Collection: How Does It Work?
Essentially the ionic silver additive is mixed with the urethane coating which creates a surface where bacteria can’t multiply or survive. Through testing it has been found that this process leads to a 99.99% reduction of present bacteria across a 24 hour period.
Image replicated with credit to Amtico.com
The proof is in the pudding - or in this case the globally recognised standard ISO 22196:2011(Antibacterial activity of non-porous surfaces). It should be noted that with any antimicrobial products are not supposed to entirely replace the need for cleaning and disinfection, they instead provide an additional barrier and protection between cleans which is especially useful in high traffic areas.
Valley Oak, FS7W9040 - in a Basket Weave Laying Pattern.
The addition of the ionic silver does not affect the other brilliant characteristics of Amtico luxury vinyl flooring such as low maintenance, water resistant, highly durable etc and all antimicrobial flooring from Antico retains the high levels of performance against everyday challenges such as sunlight, heavy foot traffic and day-to-day wear and tear. The ionic Silver embedded in Amtico Form flooring is an inorganic additive which is safe for the environment because it is enclosed within the layers of the flooring and is unable to leak or contaminate the environment. Amtico so trusts the microbial additive and sees the value in its antimicrobial characteristics that it has also been introduced into the Marine range in Amtico’s commercial collections.
The pandemic has taught us many things, one of which is the importance of keeping ourselves and our families safe and that our health is so important. Technology like the antimicrobial additives in Amticos Form LVT flooring contributes to peace of mind and the knowledge that we are doing all we can to protect ourselves and others - and it doesn’t hurt that the range is incredibly stylish and striking!
Luxury Vinyl Flooring at Hamilton Flooring
Hamilton Flooring are your local flooring specialists and LVT installation experts and are here to help you with any project big or small, residential or commercial and everything in between. To find out more about our Luxury Vinyl Flooring services and to book a consultation and find our more about Amtico Form Flooring, get in touch today