Installing Comfort Flooring for a School Refurbishment Project

The Challenge: Replacing Ageing School Flooring with a Durable, Low-Maintenance and Student-Safe Surface

Klostermark School, originally designed by Henning Larsen in 1960 and opened to students in 1963, required significant refurbishment after decades of continuous use. Although staff and students had maintained the building carefully, the effects of time resulted in deterioration of the concrete structures and roof, requiring a comprehensive renovation. By 2015, the refurbished buildings were ready to welcome students once again, with flooring renewal forming a critical part of the upgrade.

The school covers approximately 8,000m², with refurbishment plans incorporating both traditional and modern flooring systems. Linoleum was installed across half of the facility, while SofTop Comfort SL polyurethane flooring was specified for the remaining 4,000m². The project aimed to identify a long-lasting flooring solution capable of withstanding the demanding daily activity created by nearly 700 students.

School environments present unique flooring challenges. Students frequently move between indoor and outdoor areas, often bringing in dirt, sand, gravel, snow and salt during winter months. The flooring needed to maintain appearance, safety and durability despite exposure to heavy wear, mobile equipment movement and intensive cleaning routines. The system also needed to resist damage from large movable items such as table tennis tables and mobile walls.

The Solution: Seamless Polyurethane Comfort Flooring Designed for Durability, Safety and Acoustic Performance

SofTop Comfort SL polyurethane comfort flooring was installed to provide a flexible, seamless and resilient surface tailored to the operational demands of modern education environments. The system’s seamless construction eliminates joints, reducing the risk of dirt accumulation and improving overall hygiene and maintenance efficiency.

The polyurethane comfort flooring incorporates a flexible membrane beneath the self-smoothing top layer. This design creates a cushioned walking surface that improves comfort for both students and staff while significantly reducing sound transmission throughout corridors, classrooms and communal spaces.

The system also delivers excellent resistance to heavy object movement, helping protect the surface from damage caused by regularly repositioned equipment and walls. Its robust composition ensures the flooring maintains its appearance and structural integrity even under continuous use.

Maintenance performance was a critical consideration for the school. The comfort flooring allows dirt, salt and moisture to be removed efficiently using routine cleaning methods. During winter, when students frequently enter with snow-covered footwear, the flooring can be dried quickly with standard mopping procedures, helping maintain safe and clean surfaces.

The Results: A Long-Lasting, Comfortable and Easy-to-Maintain Flooring System for High-Traffic School Environments

After two and a half years of daily use, clear performance differences were observed between the SofTop Comfort SL flooring and the linoleum surfaces installed elsewhere in the school. While the linoleum flooring showed visible signs of wear and was estimated to have an expected lifespan of approximately 15 years, the polyurethane comfort flooring maintained its appearance and performance with minimal visible deterioration.

Based on observed durability, the comfort flooring system is estimated to deliver approximately double the service life, with a projected lifespan of around 30 years. The flooring has demonstrated strong resistance to wear caused by heavy foot traffic, outdoor contaminants and the movement of large equipment.

Cleaning efficiency has also improved significantly. The seamless surface enables faster removal of winter contaminants such as salt residue and dirt, helping maintain hygiene standards while reducing maintenance effort. The system continues to support safer walking conditions through its cushioned surface and slip-resistant performance.

The installation has delivered a flooring solution that enhances comfort, durability and long-term cost efficiency for the school while supporting improved acoustic performance throughout the facility.