These 15 VCT floor tile designs are manufactured using the same process
as vintage designs in place for at least 34 years,
likely longer
Breaking news: Azrock — the same company that manufactured the beloved Azrock Cortina Autumn Haze VCT flooring, the classic 1950s-style streaking vinyl composite tile that I put into my kitchen — has created a new line of flooring using the exact same process that includes a whopping 15 designs. The new line is called Azrock TexTile. Colors are a low chroma greyed out (no pastels), but, hey, I am not complaining: 15 colors = fantastic.
UPDATE: Azrock now part of Tarkett, see the retained lineup of products ala Textile here. I spoke to the Azrock brand manager for this flooring line on Friday, and interestingly, she told me that Azrock Cortina Autumn Haze has been in the lineup for at least 34 years — as long as she’s been at the company. Yes: This is a classic, classic floor for 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s homes — and beyond. And now: It’s coming back full force into the lineup again — hurray!
Azrock Cortina Autumn Haze is NOT discontinued
For this story, snaps to Sarah, who alerted me a few weeks ago that her flooring salesperson told her that Azrock Cortina Autumn Haze was going to be discontinued later this year. When I finally connected with the right person at the company, I was able to clarify: Autumn Haze [<-website link] is not going to be discontinued. The real story is: Azrock Cortina Autumn Haze will no longer be marketed to residential customers, but it will still be available to commercial customers. That means: If want it, you can still get it. Sarah, your salesperson wasn’t wrong per se — retailers have been told to start removing it from their displays, etc. — they will say it’s discontinued; but it’s not. In any case: See the TexTiles. Same process, same look, many more colors!
Thank you, Sarah, your tip led me to this discovery of the new TexTile lineup.
In any case, now we not only have Autumn Haze, we have a bundle more colors — with a bundle more undertones (not just beige/brown) to choose from.
Remember: If you get this floor, you must strip, polish and buff it regularly. I think that it’s most aesthetically pleasing if you install it in quarter-turns, tesselated. And one downside: The floor will last forever — that is, you will be sick of it well before you ever need to replace it.
The company sent me full-sized samples of each of the tiles — they exceeded my expectations. They are way more beautiful than shown in these images. This is a great lineup!
Link: See all the 1950s style Azrock TexTile vinyl composite tile flooring designs.
Suzanne says
Love the Azrock in my kitchen. (See Suzanne’s kitchen floor on this website.) Easy to clean with a dollop of white vinegar in cool water. Just make sure to wax it right after it’s installed & before you move in your vintage kitchen furniture & appliances.
–Suzanne
Michael says
This is going to make a lot of vintage Airstream owners very happy! I’ve seen many renovations where a modern day VCT is used, but it just doesn’t have the same vibe of these streaky ones. Perfect!!!
Ulrika says
My family’s summer cottage was built by my father in the early 60’s and the entire floor is of the streaky tiles supposedly to mimic marble. It’s held up beautifully all these years with extremes in temperature changes (this place is not winterized and there is some serious cold weather), lots of visitors, dogs, traffic, etc. Wouldn’t change it for the world!
Elaine says
We have this in our 1964 basement, in black, I have been wanting to change it for years and years, but it is still in perfect shape in most spots. Just last week, I finally came up with a design for the basement, a low cost finish. It included just polishing up that floor and adding a colorful outdoor rug to brighten it up. There is one spot in the utility area that needs patchiing, and here we have a source!
Andi says
This is going to be a weird question, but I don’t know where else to ask it, where so many folks who live with this type of flooring might see it.
I have four little dogs who spend the day in my kitchen when I am not home (they have run of the house otherwise).
They are housebroken, but one is getting elderly (14) and can’t always hold it until she gets outside before I get home. Would frequent “puddles” harm the professionally applied finish on this floor, or would it hold up to this kind of “christening” on a fairly regular basis? Anyone know?
pam kueber says
Andi, I recommend you ask the pros — the company that made your floor….
Sarah says
Vct is used in hospitals and schools for a reason, easy to clean and lasts forever! : )
Linda says
With what kind of adhesive is used on these floors? Pam, you mentioned you have this kind of floor. I like the look and colors. Our floor currently is vinyl and needs to be replaced. But I’m concerned about glues, smells, etc. because I am very sensitive to chemicals such as those in paint. I always buy non-VOC paint and it has changed my life! Can anyone help me with this?
pam kueber says
Linda, you need to check the recommendations from each manufacturer. I am sure this would be on Azrock’s website…
Maryanna says
I love the idea of using something like this in our basement, which is currently painted concrete. So many projects, so few hands! 🙂
Sarah says
As I’ve come to understand… One must use a hardcore paint stripper if you want to glue a flooring on painted concrete. This sounds like a pain and a mess! I have a painted concrete floor in my sunroom and my solution is to use that garage floor epoxy coating with those color chips. And you are not stuck with using the chips that come in the box, you can custom make a mix online. This solution is very cheap and can mimic the look of retro flooring. ( mine is sage green with pink yellow and ivory chips)
pam kueber says
Readers: Consult with professionals.
Glamorlux Nancy says
Great news!!! Since my kitchen is small, I’m still gonna go with the Corlon sheet, but this is a wonderful option! Bit-by-bit companies are coming back around to mid-century looks 🙂
Leslie says
These tiles are are beautiful. I still have the original VCT tiles from 1963 in my laundry room. Just thinking, would I have the grain/design go the same direction or alternate?
Glamorlux Nancy says
Leslie – Definitely alternate for a true retro look!
Sarah G says
I was browsing their website a few days ago and noticed this new textile line, I love that there are more options for us retro fanatics now! What I found even cooler, and I think deserves a shout out are the ‘Karim shapes’. Azrock has 4 different shapes available besides square! They have triangles, hexagons, this wave shape, and the ‘node’ shape (it looks like a biore nose strip). The node shape can make a groovy curvy stripe effect. It’s perhaps not truly authentic vintage but having more design options makes me so much happier and the results are very groovy. Very fun for 60s and 70s spaces.