Vinyl and Rubber Wall Base

Wally and Floora:

Wally Says:

Floora, these two materials cover most commercial jobs. Let me break down which one goes where.

• Rubber for busy hallways
  Rubber takes the hits. It flexes under carts and springs back. Schools, hospitals and gyms rely on it for impact resistance day after day.
• Vinyl for value
  Vinyl costs less and goes up fast. Offices and retail spaces lean on it for color choices and budget. It performs well anywhere traffic stays light.
• Use both on one project
  Many buyers order both. Put rubber in the corridors where carts run, and vinyl in the quieter rooms. One spec, two materials, right tool for each zone.

Buying Tip: Order corners in the same color as your base. Roppe, Johnsonite, Flexco and Mannington all sell preformed corners.

Floora Says:

Thanks, Wally! Both materials ship in coils and in strips. Here is what to keep in mind before you start:

• Coils for long runs
  Coils mean fewer seams on long corridor runs. Strips are easier to handle in small rooms. Match the pack size to the run length.
• Let the base warm up first
  Let the material reach room temperature before you uncoil it. Then it lays flat and bonds well against the wall.
• Check the gauge before you order
  Commercial grade runs 1/8 inch thick. Economy vinyl runs .080 inch. The spec sheet on each product page lists the gauge.

Buying Tip: Check the gauge before you order. Commercial grade runs 1/8 inch thick. Economy vinyl runs .080 inch.

Vinyl And Rubber Wall Base For Commercial Spaces

Wall base covers the joint where the wall meets the floor. It guards the paint from carts, chairs and mops. Rubber and vinyl handle that job in most buildings. Schools and hospitals lean on rubber for its impact resistance. Offices and retail spaces pick vinyl for value and color. See how to choose the right wall base. Or compare every material in our full wall base range.

Koffler stocks both materials from Johnsonite, Roppe, Flexco, Mannington and Armstrong. All five appear in our top 5 wall base brands list. Standard heights run 2-1/2, 4 and 6 inches. Roppe adds a 4-1/2 inch vinyl size. Our wall base size guide explains each height.

Toe options vary by line. Coved base carries a toe that runs onto the floor. That suits vinyl, tile and other hard floors. Toeless base sits flat for carpet. Roppe Sanitary base adds three toe depths, at 5/8 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches.

Rubber Wall Base Types: Thermoset, Thermoplastic And Blend

The ASTM F1861 standard sorts resilient wall base by type. Type TS is vulcanized thermoset rubber. Type TP is thermoplastic rubber. Type TV is vinyl. Your spec may call for one by name.

Thermoset rubber is vulcanized. Roppe® Sanitary | Butt | Long Toe Rubber Wall Base uses 100% Type TS rubber. Johnsonite Masquerade uses a vulcanized compound, too.

TP rubber is short for thermoplastic rubber. Roppe says it adds flex and holds its size. Rubber Wall Base by Armstrong is one TP option. Johnsonite Perceptions is another.

Blend base mixes rubber and vinyl in one strip. Try our Roppe 700 Series rubber/vinyl blend wall base. It's 1/8 inch thick. It ships in rolls or strips.

Commercial And Economy Grade Vinyl Wall Base

Vinyl base comes in two common gauges. Commercial grade is 1/8 inch thick. Economy grade is .080 inch thick. Heavier base stands up to more bumps, and it masks minor wall dents.

Flexco Vinyl Wall Base comes in both gauges, as Type TV vinyl in 61 colors. Vinyl Wall Base Edge by Mannington has a matte finish. It comes in both gauges as well. Roppe and Johnsonite ship in 1/8 inch, and Johnsonite offers 120+ colors.

Want a greener spec? Flexco vinyl base is an EnviroFlex product. It may contribute to LEED credits. Note that Flexco vinyl is for indoor use.

Need more impact protection? Try our InPro® high impact replaceable wall base. It uses a PVC bumper on an aluminum retainer. Installation is adhesive free. You can reuse it during a renovation.

Choosing Between Vinyl And Rubber Wall Base

Traffic and budget decide the pick. Rubber absorbs impact and stays flexible in cold rooms. It also forms tidy outside corners, which fits corridors and gyms. Vinyl costs less per foot and installs quickly. That suits offices, classrooms and retail floors.

Cleaning is simple either way. Wipe both with mild soap and water. For upkeep, see how to clean baseboards. For a full side-by-side look, see how vinyl and rubber compare.

Many projects use both. Put rubber where carts run, and vinyl in the quieter rooms. Need help splitting a spec? Just contact our team.

Specialty Vinyl And Rubber Wall Base

Specialty lines solve specific site problems. Johnsonite Tightlock has a 1/4 inch tapered thickness. It hides damaged drywall behind a straight face. Vent Cove Base lets air move under floating floors. It suits gyms and dance floors.

Glow in the Dark base stores natural or artificial light. Then it lights the way out during a power outage.

Installing coved sheet flooring? Our Johnsonite cove caps finish the top edge. They fit 1/8 inch sheet, .080 inch sheet and coved carpet.

Vinyl And Rubber Wall Base Specifications

Rubber and blend lines

Vinyl lines and caps

Frequently Asked Questions

Is rubber wall base better than vinyl wall base?
Rubber takes more impact and stays flexible. It also forms tidy outside corners. Vinyl costs less and suits lighter traffic. For heavy traffic, rubber is the stronger pick. Most projects mix the two by room.

What is the difference between Type TS and Type TP rubber wall base?
ASTM F1861 defines both types. Type TS is vulcanized thermoset rubber. Type TP is thermoplastic rubber. Each product page lists its material. Match that line to your spec before you order.

What is the difference between .080 and 1/8 inch vinyl wall base?
The difference is thickness. 1/8 inch is commercial grade. The .080 inch gauge is economy grade. Thicker base handles more wear. Flexco and Mannington sell both gauges.

What adhesive works with vinyl and rubber wall base?
Use an adhesive made for resilient base. Johnsonite, Mannington and Roppe Pinnacle all pair with our wall base adhesive. Flexco recommends its 1100 adhesive. Roppe 700 Series uses Roppe's own formula. First, read about wall base installation mistakes to avoid.

Does wall base come in rolls?
Yes, many lines do. Johnsonite offers 120 foot coils in 2-1/2 and 4 inch heights. Roppe ships 120 foot rolls. Mannington ships 100 foot rolls. Strips come in 4 or 8 foot lengths.

Is rubber wall base PVC free?
Some lines are. Roppe Pinnacle and Pinnacle Plus are both PVC free. So is Roppe Sanitary Toe base. Blend lines, like Roppe 700, contain vinyl. Ask our team if your spec calls for PVC free.

What fire rating does vinyl wall base carry?
It varies by line. Johnsonite vinyl base lists ASTM E84 Class B. Roppe vinyl base lists a UL-992 flame spread of 2.0 or less. Check each data sheet before you finalize a spec.

How do I install vinyl or rubber wall base? Start with clean, dry walls. Next, let the base reach room temperature. Apply adhesive, then press the base with a hand roller. Preformed corners save you from cutting miters on site.