Commercial Vinyl Flooring Options: LVT, VCT, and Sheet Vinyl Comparison

Vinyl flooring is an excellent, high-durability option for a wide variety of commercial applications including office buildings, healthcare facilities, schools, and more. There are many vinyl options available on today’s market, and they fall into three main categories: sheet vinyl flooring, vinyl composition tile (VCT), and luxury vinyl tile (LVT). If you are considering vinyl flooring for your building, here are some basic differences between the three types to help you decide which fits best with your specific needs.

Sheet Vinyl Flooring

Sheet vinyl flooring, as the name implies, comes in a continuous, flexible sheet of polymer materials in widths between six and sixteen feet. It is composed of several layers starting with fibrous backing, which is covered with a layer of digitally-printed mix of vinyl and plasticizer. The sheet is finally coated with one or more protective outer layers for durability. Maintenance requirements for sheet vinyl flooring are minimal. Lack of seams makes sheet vinyl an ideal choice for many applications, but this same property has one major drawback: if a small area of floor is damaged, the entire section must be replaced.

Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT)

VCT is a porous flooring option comprised of natural limestone, filler materials, pigments, and a thermoplastic binder. Due to its porosity, VCT requires layers of polish that require substantial maintenance and occasional stripping and refinishing to protect its surface and help prevent moisture penetration. Design, pattern and texture options are somewhat limited. VCT is usually the least expensive of the three options initially, but high maintenance costs can stack up over a lifetime and ultimately exceed the cost of sheet vinyl and LVT.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)

LVT is primarily made of limestone-based materials combined with various composites, topped with an adhered graphic film, and sealed with an outer wear layer. Though upfront costs tend to be higher than VCT and sheet vinyl, LVT provides the best long-term value due to its high durability and low maintenance needs. Design-wise, LVT is extremely versatile, with endless color and pattern choices, and can best-replicate natural flooring materials like wood, stone, and marble. LVT is available in various shapes and sizes including planks, which are commonly referred to as LVP. Luxury vinyl tile is well-suited for almost any heavy-duty commercial application, with the exception of heavy industrial areas and commercial kitchens.

SRI & Company provides expert design and installation of all types of vinyl flooring. For more information about LVT, LVP, VCT, sheet vinyl, or any other type of flooring, please contact us at (973) 832-7627.