David asked the other day:
We’re planning our basement finishing project and looking at VCT tiling options in the basement. Does anyone know where to find design ideas for Vinyl tiles? I’m seeing a lot for ceramic, but not many for VCT.
You ask, I deliver: Here are scans from 1950s Armstrong and Kentile catalogs.
The thing I like about the designs in my 1955 Armstrong dealer catalog is that they show the percentage of each color required. The Kentile designs come from a retail brochure, so you will have to do the math yourself.
Also remember: Armstrong still offers the the decorative shuffleboard. Come on — you only live once — get the shuffleboard, especially if you are doing a basement floor. I also like VCT like this for kitchen flooring. If you’re planning a retro remodel of your kitchen, be sure to start here to scope all the products, ideas and inspiration — for floors and much more — available.
Finally — Please know, readers — these designs are provided with the intent that you will use them with new vinyl composite tile (VCT). Always be sure, when you move into a house, to consult with experts to test all the materials in your house, including flooring, for stuff like lead and asbestos — and make informed decisions about how to handle these issues. For more info, see our Be Safe / Renovate Safe page.
READ THIS VIEWING TIP: I have inserted the images very large so you can see the designs well — I had to click on the image THREE times to get to the largest version. Then, use my back button to return to the post.
Trouble aka Shane says
I want to revisit this again. How often was the VCT found in bathrooms? It seems durable, colorful, and MUCH cheaper than tile.
Also, Gavin pointed out “Fashion Strips” I looked around on Armstorng and couldn’t find anything on them…
pam kueber says
I think that VCT was pretty common in mid century bathrooms. That’s what was in mine. Note, though, it is not waterproof. Mine was all grody (now there’s a blast from the past word) and rotted out. Ceramic = waterproof, and I believe we installed mine on blueboard (I think that’s what you call it) for further waterproofing. Some ceramic is not that expensive.
Phil Evans says
What a great site! I’m installing a 50s formica kitchen and have decided on some vinyl tiles for the floor. I love the Kentile inserts and wondered how i could access the full catlogue as the examples above are numbered in the 500s! any help would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Phil.
Jennifer Krupa says
Thankfully I have gotten my home investor boyfriend to LOVE MCM styles. Sadly, he gutted so many perfectly wonderful 50s ranches in Charlotte, NC before he met me. However, at this time, I am just recently living in my favorite of his–a rather large 1957 ranch with a basement. I have convinced him that he needs to put VCTs into the kitchen that he just updated for me with a new boomerang countertop (not with a metal edging however). With that said, if I post images of what the kitchen, would it be possible to get suggestions based on the Armstrong tiles that you have referenced above? I only specify this as I know we can find these locally. Unfortunately one of the links listed we called (I think it was amerock?) didn’t sell flooring just the subfloor.
I’d love to get feedback and ideas if that’s something Pam will allow. Thanks
pam kueber says
Jennifer, if you put your photos onto flickr or picasaweb or any photo-album site, and post a link, yes, we can look at them. Alternatively, send me a message thru the Contact Form (bottom of page in blue area, currently) and then I will give you the email to send me the photos. Glad you are working your mid mod magic on your BF.
SusieQT says
All three of the bedrooms in our c.1960 house have the square pattern shown in the bottom right of the top photo done in green and white. Cool to look at, yes, but not the warmest thing to put your toes on on a cold winter morning!
MrsErinD says
I just remembered about asking this, doh.
Thanks SO much Angela and Gavin!
I may go with this for my kitchen, I like the look, Angela, thanks for the link too, wow lots of pretty colors and textures, Yay!
Gavin, at almost 40 I do think of those things too :O0
atomicbowler-dave says
VCT cuts well in stacks of several at a time on a commercial-type “wet saw” used for cutting ceramic tile. The diamond blade does a good job and the water bath keeps the heat down. Some considerable care is required to be sure they will ALL come out to the EXACT dimensions needed…for pretty obvious reasons. Doing a SMALL area (a damaged stair landing) like this made me think there had to be a better way!
Dave
Mark says
Yes it is listed and sold as ‘commercial’ flooring.
I will back up the ‘dark colors showing the dirt’ I went with a dark blue which looks great but it does get dirty fast.
I rented the cutter and it saved me a lot of time and trouble, the cuts it makes are ‘almost’ factory smooth.
The possibility are endless with this stuff, it comes in a huge number of colors.
Really easy to work with as well, and the price is the best part!
Angela says
yes, the link I posted above is in the Commercial section.
TappanTrailerTami says
Reminder for anyone looking at VCT or Lineoleum – be sure to check the “commercial” sections of Forbo or Armstrong as the commercial sections have many many more colors available than what is listed under their “residential” flooring.
gavin hastings says
MrsED-Any place that sells linoleum or vinyl sheet flooring has access to these tiles. Lowe’s and Home Depot sell them in stock for 69 cents per tile. Armstrong Excelon. Lots of colors.
The upside is that properly installed, they last a lifetme.
The downside is that they are a “scrub and wax floor”. Will the home health aides of the future take care of the kitchen floor,too?
At 50-I now think about how decorating and maintenance will effect the next 25 years!
pam kueber says
gavin, my azrock cortina autumn haze is so neutral-ish, i doesn’t show the dirt or scratches much. i need to do a post on “low maintenance (read: easy to clean) mid mod.” i am not super expert on this, but my experience has been: the darker the floor, the more it shows dirt. when we moved in, we had cranberry/burgundy wall to wall carpet in the living room. it was in great shape. it showed every damn speck. i eventually replaced it with oak – with shows NO dirt whatsoever, yippee.