Commercial Flooring

Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT)

Vinyl composition tile is primarily used in a commercial setting, for example office buildings, banks, retail outlets etc. This form of tile is very tough good for high traffic areas, but it does require maintenance. Depending on the traffic flow these floors do require a strip and wax at least once a year to maintain a high luster and clean appearance.

Though a bit of information that may not be known, do find out how long a particular tile may have been down because in the past this tile was utilized but it used to be known as VAT or Vinyl Asbestos Tile. This can be dangerous to be around and can be considered a hazardous waste material. VAT has been around for years. The best scenario for this situation is to not mess with it and go over the existing floor if there is no major flaws in the floor that would make the appearance of the new floor seem flawed or not put down correctly.

If VAT is found and is friable, which means crumbling or decaying in to a powder form the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should be notified of this because of the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that can be introduced to the air quality. This process is usually found in older schools that go under remodeling and/or additions. If this is found a thorough cleaning of the area after removal has to be done.

Overall, the new VCT tiles are great for retail and commercial applications due to the high traffic it will hold up to as well as the maintenance it takes to keep it looking good is minimal.