Why choose rubber flooring? Why choose rubber flooring for your office, kitchen or bathroom over vinyl, lino or tiles? Why choose Dalsouple rubber over other rubber floorings? This page addresses these burning questions.

Most people think rubber flooring is a natural product. Yet most rubber flooring on the market today is made from synthetic SBR, or 'industrial rubber' – a by-product of crude oil. Dalsouple rubber flooring is usually made up in SBR rubber, but can also be made up in natural rubber upon request, at a cost of an extra 5-10% (depending on size of order).

Consumers need to be aware of 'greenwashing' by unscrupulous companies to ensure they’re really buying natural rubber products. We recommend asking the supplier as many questions as possible. You can find some useful questions to ask further on.

Where is Dalsouple Made?

No one makes rubber flooring in Australia anymore. The last company went off-shore to Sri Lanka about 5 years ago, where it later collapsed. There now exists only one company in Australia who manufactures recycled tyre rubber flooring. As a result, all other rubber flooring is brought in from overseas. Dalsouple's DalNaturel rubber flooring is made of high-quality, sustainable materials in a boutique factory in France. Dalsouple rubber is made from the latex from the rubber tree (Havea brasiliensis). In environmental terms, it compares more favourably than PVC, lino, and even marmoleum.

Most of our orders are made-to-order in the factory, as the factory only keeps small amounts of stocks (Please ask us to check if you need a small amount). By ordering a custom-made floor (in almost any colour imaginable), you’ll know you’re getting a brand new flooring that’s been freshly manufactured, rather than having been sitting in a warehouse for a couple of years. We will also deliver it straight from the factory to your door.

DalNaturel – The Natural Choice

DalNaturel boasts over 90% natural ingredients, with all the rubber content being natural. Natural rubber is a wholly renewable raw material – plus mature rubber trees are exceptionally efficient at carbon sequestration (the absorption of harmful CO2 from the atmosphere).

Cheaper SBR rubber is made in Korea or China, and you will be able to see, smell and feel the difference. The guarantees they offer are in most cases not valid or actioned on outside their country of manufacture.

Dalsouple rubber flooring is also superior in other areas – it’s warm and soft underfoot, anti-slip, safe for children and animals, and great for allergy sufferers. Dalsouple rubber tiles are also impervious to liquid, making them ideal for kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas.

In the past, linoleum has been popular because it’s also a natural product. While it’s cheaper than rubber, it’s also softer and can easily mark, scratch and dent. Another problem is that the surface can yellow as the flooring ages. In an 'ehow' article, the recommended solution is to rectify it with bleach! We do not recommend putting bleach on rubber flooring, and certainly do not recommend using a strong chemical such as this for cleaning.

See our FAQ page click here. If you have a new question, please contact us.

Why is DalNaturel better than PVC? click here

DalNaturel rubber flooring has been tested to have extremely low VOC's – in fact, it has one of the lowest on the market. Please view our test page to see the results for yourself.

Besides a huge range of available colour and texture choices, DalNaturel rubber flooring provides a long lasting and environmentally friendly flooring solution. It can also be recycled at the end of its life and will not end up in landfill, unlike vinyl or PVC.

Vinyl is not normally recycled in Australia after its life and ends up as landfill. Some vinyl can have offgassing and is not considered to be an environmentally friendly flooring. A big concern at the moment is about IEQ (Indoor Air Quality). See some info about vinyl and VOC's on the 'Build Your Green Home' website, Click here 

The Benefits of Dalsouple Rubber

Dalsouple DalNaturel sequesters 7kg of CO2 per m2 of flooring, while PVC or vinyl doesn't help with CO2 at all. Vinyl sheeting is also less likely than natural flooring products to enhance the monetary value of your home.

View the study done by Suzanne Barnes in the US – Rubber Flooring: Value and Beauty for the Long Term. Click here.

Barnes conducted a life cycle analysis comparing all flooring types, determining how much they will cost over time. Even when using natural Dalsouple rubber, we believe it to be the lowest cost option in the long run. After 15 years, carpet needs replacing 3 times and vinyl needs polishing and buffing every day, making rubber the most cost-effective option.

Dalsouple rubber is a good choice for people with asthma. It's also great for use with animals – unlike carpet or floorboards, it's anti-slip and easy to clean by vacuuming or mopping.

In the last few years, studies have been done on plastics and their effects on health. Some plastics contain BPA – Bisphenol A – which can mimic the body's own hormones and have negative health effects on both adults and children. Some vinyl floorings claim they are made from recycled products, but can actually use about 60% recycled PET bottles. You need to be sure the flooring your children are playing on is made from a healthy material, such as rubber. There was also a study done in Sweden that showed a correlation between vinyl flooring and autism. To read the study, click here.

Questions to ask carpet retailers or other rubber manufacturers are:

Where is it made?

What is is made of? Where is the evidence of its content?

What is the critical radiant flux and smoke generation test?

What is the VOC rating?

What is the date of manufacture?

What is the guarantee?

What is the slip rating?

Where is the list of installations in Australia?

How long has this product been selling in Australia?

Where can I see it in situ and walk over it?

All the answers to these questions and more can be found on our website. You will not find this much detailed information on any other rubber flooring company's website in Australia. If you have any other questions that aren’t on this list, please contact us.

Evidence of Dalsouple existing long term in Australia.

Have a look at our photo gallery of Hobart Customs or Technocity in our commercial photo gallery. Both installations have been down 15 years and look as if they will last twice as long. Dalsouple rubber has a guarantee of 10 years but you would expect it to last 15 to 20 years at least.

Rubber flooring has been down at Old Parliament House in Canberra now for over 80 years. You would expect it to be replaced before then, but it is now a heritage listed building and can't be touched! Rubber flooring has been on the aerobridges at Brisbane airport for 26 years. If it can last this long in commerical, heavy duty traffic areas, it could last at least 30 years in your house!