All you ever wanted to know about VCT-----
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In many school and university facilities, high- traffic and classroom floors are covered in some form of tile. What’s the best type of tile for each application? What are some tips for maintaining flooring surfaces that will be trampled on by hundreds of feet wearing everything from clunky Doc Martens to pointy high-heels? Lucinda Kilpatrick, ASID, is the vice president of interior design at Steed Hammond Paul. From vinyl composition tile (VCT) to hardwood, quarry tile, terrazzo and everything in between, Kilpatrick has seen it and specified it. We recently talked tile with her, and here are her thoughts.
What's the best tile product for my building?
That isn’t an easy question to answer. It depends on many factors, including where it will be used and what furniture will be placed on it. Clients usually give us a good idea of what has worked for them in the past or what different products they are willing to try in a new building. Terrazzo is a timeless finish that most clients are familiar with and often desire, but it is costly and often not possible in today’s budgets. Recently we used linoleum—at a client’s request—in an elementary school. Some clients are interested in trying other products such as rubber flooring or quartz tile. However, VCT is the typical finish in classroom facilities because it is cost-effective, provides many color options and is durable. In specialty rooms, we may use a combination of carpeting and tile. While in lab spaces an impermeable surface that is resistant to chemicals, stains and abrasions is more typical.
What is VCT tile?
VCT is a product made mostly of limestone but contains plasticizers and other bonding agents. The color in the tile is “through pattern,” which means it runs through each portion of tile, lengthening its life. It’s considered a resilient flooring material—designed to retain its shape after having weight placed on it. VCT replaced a tile that contained asbestos (VAT) that was discontinued in 1980. VCT tile is softer than the VAT still on floors in many older school buildings. It holds color and conforms better to substrates than VAT, but may perform differently.
How well does this tile resist denting?
The industry standard requires tile be able to withstand 50-psi of pressure without causing a permanent indentation in the flooring. We take special care to ensure furniture used on the flooring has footers designed to distribute weight evenly and won’t mar the surface. Sometimes our efforts are hampered when students lean back in chairs, or when folding cafeteria tables are pushed down too hard onto the floor from the raised position.
What about black marks?
Black marks caused by foot traffic or chairs and tables sliding across a floor are one of the biggest problems that a client faces with a VCT floor. They are fairly easily removed, but can be an ongoing problem. The combination of tile, wax type, method of application, furniture style, glide selection and maintenance schedule are all part of the equation. A floor will always have some black marks, but dealing with them effectively with proper maintenance will improve the overall appearance of the floor.
How long will it last?
Most VCT is warranted for five years, but we’ve seen it last 20 years or longer with proper maintenance.
What are some tile maintenance issues?
The key to long floor life is appropriate maintenance. This includes installing walk-off mats to pick up moisture and grit as people enter the building. These mats should be both on the outside and the inside of the entrance and be as wide as the doorway. Mats should also be cleaned regularly.
In addition to using mats, regular sweeping, mopping, cleaning and polishing of VCT flooring is essential. Sweeping and damp mopping should be done on a daily basis. For heavier soil, cleaning and scrubbing is necessary. Most manufacturers recommend using a non-stripping cleaning solution (properly diluted) and scrub- bing with a single disk or automatic floor machine. Be sure excess cleaning solution is removed from the floor.
And what about polish?
Polish is essential to protect a floor, improve its appearance and make it easier to maintain. Select a sealer with a high concentration of solids (16-22 percent). For most floors, a minimum of three to five coats of polish is required to protect the surface. Also, adequate drying time is required after each coat, with no more than four coats being applied at one time. Additional coats of polish should be applied as necessary to maintain the floor’s appearance. It is also important to apply the polish with a clean applicator. We have seen good success with the pad-style applicator rather than the traditional “mop” head.
Are sealers necessary?
Sealers, which are applied before any polish, can improve stain resistance and provide a base for polishes. Generally, two coats are sufficient to seal the floor, but always follow both the flooring and polish manufacturers’ recommendations.
What are some installation issues?
When installing VCT in a new facility, concrete floors must be completely dry before the tile can be installed. Tests for alkali and moisture should also be conducted prior to installing VCT. After installation, manufacturers recommend waiting 72 hours before exposing a floor to rolling loads (like cafeteria or book carts). This allows adhesives to bond and dry.
Where can I get more information?
Several manufacturers have installation and maintenance tips on their Web sites, including Armstrong (
www.armstrong.com) and Mannington (
www.mannington.com).
22nd June 2005, 01:47 AM
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