Every Healthcare project starts with an upholstery vinyl. There are lots of options out there, but many projects make a number of common mistakes. Here we show you how to avoid common specification mistakes by understanding your vinyl.
Material that feels soft to the touch yet lasts?
You love your vinyl, but do you love all vinyls…? There are many upholstery vinyl products available in the market today, but not all products are the same. Hard wearing vinyls need to be tough but they don’t have to be tough to sit on. Well designed products ensure they retain a beautiful feel even after many sits! Some are hard and brittle; some have a bad handle, some quickly wear out over time, or are not designed to be cleaned regularly. Ensure the products you select are soft to touch but will also go the distance in high volume traffic areas, subject to regular cleaning.
Material that can be cleaned with detergents.
Disenfectants are harsh, they are designed to combat diseases and kill bacteria. They are a healthcare facility’s last line of defence when all else fails. Many vinyls will succumb quickly to regular cleaning with disinfectants, others are engineered to go the distance.
Material that is resistant to bacteria.
Some vinyls are scrubbable, some vinyls actively work to destroy bacteria. It really depends on the requirements of your and the client whether you actively disinfect all surfaces on a regular basis or introduce surfaces that actively disinfect themselves. With Skai vinyl we have both, anti-microbial vinyl and vinyls that can withstand heavy cleansing.
Material that is sunlight resistant.
UV light can have a significant effect on vinyls. Waiting rooms bathed in sunlight are healthy place to rest, but not always healthy for your vinyls and many other upholstery materials. When specifying an upholstery material it is important to understand the UV environment the material is in. Direct sunlight can cause lesser products to fade and the material to become brittle. Our Skai products cover all options, from outdoor marine grade vinyl to sensitive indoor products designed to breathe for prolonged sitting.
Material that looks amazing
As you are starting to understand Vinyl isn’t just vinyl. Skai make an artform out of designing products with synthetic materials. Stunning embosses / textures, a very wide colour pallet, and a mixture of matt and shiny finishes ensure the material pallet available to you is unrivalled in the market today. And yes we can also print on Skai materials to allow you unlimited design choice when planning your next project.
Material that delivers value.
Vinyl is not just vinyl, all healthcare vinyls are not the same. If you need a vinyl that can withstand uv, fight bacteria, survive regular soakings in disinfectants, withstand high traffic areas whilst also looking and feeling amazing, you need Skai German engineering. Skai products deliver outstanding value, and stand the test of time, where many lesser products have fallen by wayside.
