What Is VCT Flooring?
When it comes to owning a home, there is no shortage of decisions to be made. Everything from roof style and materials to your exterior wall choices, to the type of flooring that you would like in your home. These decisions don't come easy and are often very unique to the current homeowner. Let's focus on the decision of flooring. Choosing the right flooring can be challenging. There are tile choices, wood choices, and vinyl choices to name a few. Each type can often be categorized as luxurious or composite. What is VCT flooring? It is a composite flooring also known as vinyl composite tile. Typically used in commercial buildings.
Let's take a look below to see if it would be a good fit for your home.
What Is It?
VCT simply stands for vinyl composite tile. The composite material is used to minimize the amount of vinyl used with the limestone and other materials. Reducing the amount of vinyl will reduce the cost of production. Also, it ensures a good-looking product is maintained.
What Are The Pros Of Vinyl Composite Tile (VCT) Flooring?
As with any material that are pros and cons associated with them. Let's take a look at what the pros of installing vinyl composite tile are.
- Flexible - This material is durable and flexible for the interior and exterior of your home.
- Stability - Vinyl composite tiles have excellent dimensional stability and are considered impact-resistant.
- Longevity - Ultraviolet lights and radiation will not fade this type of vinyl material. Allowing the flooring to have a longer-lasting color.
- Resistant - This type of tile material will not expand due to water, or become slippery like other flooring materials.
- Design and Quality - High-quality slip-resistant surfaces and designs.
- Noise absorption - Vinyl composite tiles are great at absorbing noise pollution from people in the house walking around on them. This is also why they make great commercial flooring products.
- Strength - Inorganic fillers are added to these tiles, which make them stronger and longer lasting. The projection is a 15 to 20-year longevity with minimum damage.
Are There Cons Of Vinyl Composite Tile (VCT) Flooring?
Just like we stated above the pros of a vinyl composite tile floor, there are also drawbacks or cons. Let's take a look below at why we would not want to install a VCT floor.
- Removal is tough - Due to using a strong adhesive on the bottom of each vinyl composite tile, they become very difficult to remove when the time comes to replace the floor.
- Subflooring - Although installing a VCT floor is easy to do, making sure the underlying surface is clean and clear is key. Installing a vinyl composite tile floor on an uneven surface, or has humps, or even nail edges can cause the tiles to break down faster and reduce their longevity.
- Climate changes - Any extreme changes in temperature where the tiles are installed can cause them to fade faster. Although these tiles are known to resist fading due to UV radiation, any extreme temperature changes can cause them to lose their original shine.
- Improper installation - If the underlying surface is not cleaned and dust or dirt gets underneath the tile at the time of installation, this could cause the tiles to become brittle and break down.
How Much Does It Cost?
Installing VCT flooring is a low-budget choice. In most cases, the price for VCT flooring is around $2 per square foot installed. However, it is important to note that the maintenance costs of a vinyl composite tile floor add up. Waxing and polishing the floor will be necessary to maintain its longevity. Consequently, waxing and polishing too much can cause damage to the floor and increase replacement costs.
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you have an understanding of what vinyl composite tile is, you can begin to research what type of vinyl flooring is right for you. Keep in mind that in some cases, you can reuse vinyl flooring. Be sure to read up on all of the differences between the various types of vinyl flooring.
Next, if you have chosen to use vinyl plank flooring instead of vinyl composite tile, make sure that you read the manufacturer's guide to installation. Vinyl flooring is known to expand and contract with the temperature changes in your home.
Lastly, if you happen to have tile flooring and you would like to change the look by adding vinyl flooring, read up on how or if you can accomplish this project. Getting a full understanding of you can install vinyl flooring over tile is key.
When Do I Call A Professional?
Installing any type of flooring should be done by a flooring expert. You would not want to spend a lot of money purchasing the materials to install the flooring incorrectly. Although in many cases, flooring projects can be done as do-it-yourself projects, saving time and stress should be a priority. Also, if you aren't sure of a reputable flooring expert in your area, reach out to your local home inspection team. They can inspect your floors to ensure that you have purchased the right replacement flooring. Also, they can refer you to a reputable flooring expert.
Conclusion
When it comes to selecting your vinyl composition flooring or any other type of flooring, choosing the right style can be complicated. Installing vinyl composite tile flooring could be a great idea for you. Also, be sure to read up on the pros and cons listed above to determine if this type of flooring works for you. Additionally, consult your local home inspection team to see if your flooring investment makes sense in the current homeowner market. Reach out to Gray Home Inspections for a complete home inspection in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas.