The Hindu Business Line : ‘Customer preferences guide flooring patterns’

Bangalore, July 11 A recent report from Cushman & Wakefield, real estate services firm, states that the specifications used by developers in providing facilities have been changing to suit the market trends. This is especially true in the case of flooring patterns, which have seen a sea change in customer preferences.

The report adds that wooden flooring and vitrified flooring, which were termed as luxurious in 2002, are now considered standard. Almost all developers provide these types of flooring in semi-luxurious apartments, it says. Specifications in superior-quality apartments with regard to flooring are being upgraded further to include Italian marble flooring. Mr Mahesh Kalro, Associate Vice-President, DivyaSree Developers, says that earlier the client chose between marble and ceramic tiles. “Now with a wide range available and high customer awareness, the choice ranges predominantly between vitrified tiles, marbles (Indian and imported), wooden floors, granites and also carpets in stray cases.”

The commercial flooring scene has also undergone a sea change. According to Mr Raj Menon, Country Manager - India, InterfaceFLOR, manufacturer of modular commercial flooring, the flooring market for the commercial segment is completely different from that of the residential segment. The shift in preferences is “from the traditional hard flooring of ceramic tiles being replaced by vinyl flooring to the now soft modular flooring of carpet tiles,” he says.

Major Chunk

According to him, the size of the Indian soft flooring carpet tile industry would be about 1.75-2 million sq metre per year.

The modular carpet segment has taken over a major chunk of the flooring industry, he says.

“With companies becoming conscious of their role in the environment, today most facility managers and developers prefer to use environment-friendly products.” With the construction boom, he adds that there is a strong desire among corporates to build greener buildings.

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