Floors and entranceways may be the most obvious areas in the public realm, but walls around telephones and water fountains should attract special attention because visitors, students, administrators and faculty typically spend more time there. The resulting scuffs are unsightly and difficult to clean up. Eventually, he says, you have to repaint the wall just for a few scuff marks. One way to keep this area looking nice is to provide a small section of wainscoting. Ceramic or vinyl products work well, Spoonemore says.
Restrooms offer some of the biggest challenges to maintainability.
From vandals to persistent use of cleaning chemicals, restrooms can receive a lot abuse. Yet, they are important areas for establishing an image, Getz says. Well-grouted ceramic floors and walls offers both aesthetics and maintainability. If restrooms look nice, they are less apt to be vandalized. If the materials are durable and easily cleaned, then the work of vandals will be that much easier to remove.