Forbo Flooring

Forbo Flooring Systems stands at the forefront of the flooring industry, renowned for its dedication to quality, innovation, and sustainability. As a global player, Forbo offers a comprehensive range of flooring solutions designed to meet the diverse needs of both commercial and residential spaces. Their extensive product line includes traditional linoleum, cutting-edge luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), versatile vinyl sheets, and durable carpet tiles, all developed with a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility and creating healthier indoor environments.

Forbo’s commitment to sustainability is evident in their pioneering use of natural and recycled materials, along with manufacturing processes powered by 100% renewable electricity. This focus ensures that choosing Forbo means investing in a floor that is not only visually appealing and highly functional but also contributes to a greener future. Products like their iconic Marmoleum, made from 97% natural raw materials, showcase their dedication to ecological practices without compromising on performance or design.

The Forbo Allura Flex 0.55 range is a prime example of Forbo’s innovative approach to Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT). Engineered for ease of installation, Allura Flex 0.55 features a unique loose lay system, allowing for quick fitting in areas up to 150m² without the need for full adhesive, although tackifier can be used for larger installations. This collection boasts a 0.55mm wear layer, ensuring exceptional durability and resistance to daily wear and tear. The second-generation Flex technology provides unprecedented dimensional stability, ensuring your floor remains beautiful and performs consistently over time. The range encompasses a wide variety of designs, from authentic wood effects that replicate the intricate grain patterns of natural timber to sophisticated material designs mimicking concrete, cement, and stone, often enhanced with pearlised and satin embossed structures. This extensive design palette, coupled with various plank and tile sizes, including options suitable for herringbone installations, offers immense creative freedom for any interior project, from modern homes to bustling commercial spaces.

Beyond Allura Flex, Forbo’s diverse offerings include heterogeneous vinyl, known for its endless design possibilities, lasting performance, and low maintenance, and homogeneous vinyl, a single-layer product celebrated for its vibrant colours, durability, and stain resistance, ideal for heavy traffic areas. Their Flotex flocked flooring combines the resilience of hard flooring with the warmth of carpet, being 100% waterproof and hygienic. For carpet tiles, Forbo’s Tessera range offers aesthetic styling and outstanding performance in demanding environments. Across all ranges, Forbo designs their flooring solutions to be easy to clean and maintain, ensuring longevity and lasting beauty. Many Forbo products also offer excellent impact sound reduction, contributing to a quieter and more comfortable environment, a key benefit for both residential and commercial settings.

Buying Guide

Choosing the right flooring for your space is a significant decision. This guide provides essential considerations when selecting Forbo flooring, helping you match the perfect product to your specific needs and preferences.

• Room Usage / Location: Forbo offers tailored solutions for every area. For high-traffic commercial spaces or busy family homes, durable options like Forbo Allura LVT or Homogeneous Vinyl are ideal due to their robust wear layers and easy maintenance. In moisture-prone areas like kitchens and bathrooms, their Luxury Vinyl Tiles and Novilon sheet vinyl offer excellent water resistance. For a natural, warm feel in living areas and bedrooms, Marmoleum provides both comfort and style.
• Lifestyle: Consider your daily life. For homes with children or pets, Forbo LVT and Flotex are excellent choices due to their durability, scratch resistance, and ease of cleaning spills. Flotex, being waterproof and hygienic, is particularly beneficial for allergy sufferers as it traps allergens which are then easily removed by vacuuming.
• Budget: Forbo offers a spectrum of price points, from cost-effective vinyl solutions to premium, long-lasting linoleum. While the initial investment may vary, Forbo’s reputation for durability and low maintenance often translates to significant long-term savings.
• Durability & Maintenance: Forbo floors are engineered for longevity. Their LVT ranges, like Allura Flex, feature robust wear layers for excellent resistance to scuffs and scratches. Many products are designed for simple cleaning with regular vacuuming and damp mopping, making maintenance straightforward and hassle-free. Safety vinyl ranges offer enhanced slip resistance for areas where safety is paramount.
• Material Type Pros & Cons:
  • Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT): Pros: Highly durable, water-resistant, realistic wood/stone/material designs, comfortable underfoot, excellent for high-traffic areas. Cons: Can be more expensive than sheet vinyl, requires a perfectly smooth subfloor for glue-down options.
  • Linoleum (Marmoleum): Pros: Made from natural, renewable materials (highly sustainable), durable, anti-static, naturally antibacterial, wide range of colours. Cons: Requires specific installation (often professional for sheets), can be susceptible to indents from heavy objects if not protected.
  • Sheet Vinyl (Novilon, Eternal): Pros: Cost-effective, easy to clean, good water resistance, available in wide rolls for seamless installations. Cons: Can be prone to tearing or gouging if heavy objects are dragged across it.
• Aesthetics & Style: Forbo provides an unparalleled variety of designs, textures, and colours to complement any interior aesthetic. From classic wood and stone looks to abstract patterns and vibrant solid colours, their collections offer immense design flexibility, allowing you to create truly unique spaces.
• Comfort & Sound: Many Forbo flooring solutions, particularly those with cushioned backings or multi-layered constructions like Allura Flex, offer enhanced underfoot comfort and excellent impact sound reduction properties, contributing to a quieter and more pleasant environment.
• Underfloor Heating: Most Forbo flooring products, including Forbo Allura Flex LVT and Marmoleum Click, are compatible with underfloor heating systems, ensuring a warm and cosy living or working space. Always check specific product guidelines for compatibility and installation recommendations.
• Installation: Forbo offers various installation methods. Allura Flex LVT is a popular loose-lay option for quick and easy fitting, reducing downtime. Other products may require glue-down or click systems. While some Forbo ranges are suitable for DIY, professional installation is often recommended for optimal results, especially for large areas or complex patterns, ensuring longevity and warranty validity.
• Sustainability: Forbo is a pioneer in sustainable flooring. Their commitment to using natural and recycled content, reducing emissions, and implementing Cradle-to-Cradle principles makes them a leading choice for environmentally conscious consumers. Many products are 100% phthalate-free and produced with renewable energy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is LVT flooring in the context of Forbo?

LVT stands for Luxury Vinyl Tiles. Forbo’s LVT collections, such as Allura and Enduro, offer highly durable, water-resistant, and aesthetically versatile flooring solutions. They are designed to replicate the natural beauty of wood, stone, and abstract designs while providing the practical benefits of vinyl, including ease of maintenance and long-lasting performance. Forbo LVT comes in planks or tiles and can be installed as “loose lay” (glue-less) or “glued down”.

What is Marmoleum flooring?

Marmoleum is Forbo’s unique brand of linoleum, a natural and sustainable floor covering made from 97% raw materials, including linseed oil, wood flour, and jute. It is known for its exceptional durability, natural antibacterial properties, and extensive colour palette. Marmoleum is typically available in rolls for glue-down installation or as Marmoleum Click, which features an easy-to-install click locking system.

Do I always need an underlay for Forbo LVT?

An underlay is not always necessary if your subfloor is perfectly level. However, Forbo strongly recommends using a suitable vinyl underlay for their LVT products, especially if the subfloor is not perfectly smooth or to provide additional sound insulation. Forbo underlays also act as an extra sound barrier, enhancing comfort.

Can you repair Allura Flex flooring?

Yes, planks and tiles in the Forbo Allura Flex collection are designed for easy removal and replacement if they become damaged. This feature allows for quick and efficient repairs, minimising disruption and extending the life of your floor. Having original tiles from the same batch is recommended for seamless repairs.

What are the key benefits of Forbo Allura Flex?

Forbo Allura Flex offers numerous benefits, including its unique loose-lay installation for quick fitting (up to 150m²), excellent dimensional stability, and high performance due to its functional layer construction. It provides design freedom with realistic wood and material effects, is 100% phthalate-free, produced with renewable electricity, contains at least 20% recycled content, and is fully recyclable at end-of-life. It also offers good impact sound reduction.