Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) is a resilient flooring product manufactured from a blend of limestone, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plasticizers, and pigments, pressed into 12"×12" tiles. For decades, VCT was the dominant commercial resilient flooring product, appearing in virtually every school, hospital, retail store, and institutional building in the United States.
VCT's dominance came from its combination of low material cost, proven durability, and ease of replacement. Individual tiles could be swapped out when damaged without disrupting an entire floor. The product's dense composition made it resistant to heavy rolling loads from carts, wheelchairs, and equipment. And its porous surface accepted commercial floor finishes (wax) that could be stripped and reapplied to maintain appearance over many years.
Over the past decade, LVT has steadily displaced VCT in new commercial construction. The reasons are straightforward: LVT installs with no wax maintenance requirement, offers significantly more realistic visuals, and is available in larger format tiles and planks. VCT remains competitive on price-sensitive projects — primarily schools and healthcare facilities with existing VCT programs — but its market share in new commercial work has declined substantially.
VCT is sold and estimated by the carton (typically 45 SF per carton) or by square foot. Standard waste factor is 5–8%. VCT requires fully adhered installation with pressure-sensitive or hard-set adhesive. Because VCT is a porous material, moisture emissions from concrete substrates must be verified before installation — high moisture can cause adhesive failure and tile lifting.
Novi Bid is built for commercial flooring stores — from takeoff to signed contract.
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