You Can Polish Your Vehicles till they shine or even invest in the most expensive fixtures, but if your showroom floor looks worn, you're not doing your merchandise justice. "The floor enhances whatever product you're selling," says Ed Sexton of Illinois-based Specifier Products, maker of Stonecarpet.

Superficial considerations are important, but choosing a floor that stands up to everyday wear and tear is key. "Dealers should be looking for a floor that is durable, attractive, and is easy to maintain," Sexton says. "[Dealers] would hopefully find a floor that has resilient qualities because it makes it easier for people working on the floor."

So what type of flooring is best for your dealership? Dealernews asked some dealers and manufacturers for their opinions. With the help of Jim Rasmus, president of the Retail Design Associates, and Dealernews columnist Christy Michaud, here's what we found.

TILE
Visual: 10
Durability: 9-10
Maintenance: 8
Cost: midrange to high

Out of all the different types of tile flooring available, the experts find that ceramic and porcelain tiles work best. "Nine times out of 10, we would recommend ceramic tile or porcelain floors," Rasmus says. He estimates that you can expect to pay from $4.50 to $6.50 per square foot, depending on where you buy it and what the labor rate is for installation.

For a real bargain, however, Rasmus urges dealers to conduct their own extensive research, to make the process of cost negotiation easier.

"I've had dealers who've done their homework, and they purchase tiles for less than $1 per square foot," Rasmus says.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are visually appealing, yet they come with certain downfalls that need consideration. How much time are you willing to spend on maintenance like buffing and spot-cleaning? For Lynn Nathan, owner of Powersports East in Bear, Del., the upkeep of tile was reason enough to switch from tile flooring to Stonecarpet (detailed below).

"We had tile from 1995 to 2006," Nathan says. "We had to pay to have the floor professionally cleaned four times a year because tires [from display vehicles] would leave marks. Tile absorbs all of it."

Darris Blackford, director of marketing at A.D. Farrow in Columbus, Ohio, states that showroom bikes are put on rubber kickstand pucks to prevent them from damaging the tile floor. Tiles are also susceptible to cracking, whether due to a building settling or someone dropping something heavy directly on the floor. The plus side, however, is you can replace individual tiles instead of the whole floor when this happens.

"If it cracks, it takes 15 to 20 minutes to replace a tile," Rasmus notes.

Generally, steer clear of vinyl tiles, no matter how cheap the price tag (usually priced at $1.50 per square foot or less). Vinyl tile looks cheap, and maintenance, says Rasmus, is a major headache. It doesn't stand up to bleeding and requires constant cleaning.

If you have your heart set on vinyl, Michaud suggests learning more about Centiva, a company that designs quality vinyl flooring that looks like stone or wood, among other things. Centiva backs its products with a 20-year commercial warranty. "You have to touch it to believe that it's not stone or wood," Michaud says.