Any experiences with VCT (vinyl tile)?

[tkyes]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with the vinyl tile squares often called VCT?

We are thinking of putting it in our mudroom. It looks so cute and retro when they do a checkerboard pattern, it comes in so many different colors too.

Just wondering how it cleans up and overall impressions of it.



Tamie

 

[pjlla]

We bought the Traffic Master self sticking 12 x 12 vinyl tiles from Home Depot in our mudroom about one year ago. We have been so happy with them that we put them in the kitchen, hall and downstairs bathroom a few weeks ago. This particular brand is rated for commercial use, so it is pretty heavy duty. It looks like ceramic tile.

One word of advise about installation.... lower the temperature in your house to about 58-60 degrees F while you are installing. THat way, if you end up with any seams that aren't perfectly tight, they will tighten up more when the house warms up to normal temperature. Be sure that the tiles are that temp. also. It worked well for us. THe only thing I wasn't happy about in the mudroom was a few of the "less than perfect" seams, but I have virtually eliminated that problem in the kitchen with the "temperature trick". Also, be sure to prep the surface really well.... otherwise the adhesive won't be as strong as it should be! Let me know if you have any questions.....................P

edited to add: I had a real strong "preconceived notion" about how cheap and cheesy "peel and stick tiles" looked. But I have been very happy with these.

 

[tkyes]

Well our builder would be putting them in, not us so I don't have to worry about the installation part.

These don't look like ceramic tile though. The are much "duller" looking.

Here's a link to a builder's website. I love the look of the red and white checkerboard in the mudroom here.

http://www.cottagewoodpartners.com/slide/page404.html#slide

If your bored, check out the pictures on this builder's website (no it's not our builders, maybe in my next life it will be) they do some beautiful things!

Thanks for the advice.


tamie

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Tamie, are you talking about vinyl composition tile like they have in businesses and other commercial places? Like this here?

People do put them in their homes, but it does require a bit more maintenance than normal vinyl tile, such as waxing.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I have no advice, Tami, but I wanted to say that I love the red and white look!

Thanks for the idea!

 

[tkyes]

Yes - Obi they are considered commercial. Exactly like those, they use the Armstrong brand ones. Waxing huh? They aren't shiny though. There are different kinds do you need to wax the dull ones too?

I can ask our builder too about maintenence. They have put them in a lot of people's homes.

Isn't that cute Jenn? I love the cubbies too for the kids coats.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Red and yellow are my favorite color combination. Those cubbies are great!

I have a friend who painted her laundry room pink. I thought it would be nasty, but it looked really good! She said her DH didn't like it, but he was never in there anyway so too bad for him! LOL!

We are building a house in 2 years so I am collecting ideas.

 

[pjlla]

Funny you should mention "duller". That was one thing I didn't like about the vinyl tiles... most of them are INCREDIBLY shiny! And I don't care for that look. The ones we used are very matte finish. ...........................P

 

[mickeyfan1]

VCT, or vinyl composition tile, is generally used in commercial applications. You will find it in school cafeterias, grocery stores, Target, KMart, etc. It does require waxing to make it shiny and it requires stripping of the old wax at least once a year and starting over, if you want to keep it looking good. It is ideal in a mud room as it is quite a bit thicker than your normal viny peel and stick or glue down tile. There are several alternatives to VCT; one that your builder may not have heard of, and is NOT available on the retail market (sold to contractors only) is NORA Rubber Flooring. It comes in sheet goods and in squares, and as the name implies, it is a rubber product. There are several different styles of NORA, and it also comes in many colors. Look at www.nora.com for more info.

For anyone who is looking for a very durable (20 year warranty) vinly tile floor that looks as good as the best hard wood, or slate, or if you have wild design ideas, go to www.amtico.com for some great idea. Their products are very expensive, but well worth the money. If you are a fan of the Today Show, you might have noticed the beautiful blue floor with the flat globe in it in the main studio shots. That is an Amtico floor, my husband did the installation of it.

VCT is a lot less expensive than peel and stick, but should be installed by a pro. Expect to pay between 50 cents and one dollar a square foot to install, depending on where in the country it is being done. It can look good, but you do have to keep after it if you want it to stay shiny. You can see examples of VCT at any large flooring store, Home Depot and Lowes also carry a limited variety.