CoreTec
What Is CoreTec Flooring?
COREtec is the brand that pioneered the rigid-core WPC luxury vinyl category, and today it is part of Shaw Industries, one of the largest flooring manufacturers in North America. FlooringInc is an authorized COREtec retailer: we stock the planks, tiles, and matching trim, and you buy them from us with our own service and support behind the order.
If you have never shopped rigid-core vinyl before, here is what the name means for you. A rigid-core plank is built around a dense, waterproof core, so the plank itself will not swell, warp, or lose its shape when it gets wet. That is why COREtec floors are rated 100% waterproof and can be installed in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements, and on any level of the home. The rigid construction also makes the planks more forgiving over minor subfloor imperfections and gives them solid dent and impact resistance under everyday traffic.
Why Buyers Keep Choosing Rigid Core
Beyond the waterproof core, most COREtec floors we carry share a few features that show up again and again across the catalog:
- Attached cork underlayment on most plank lines, for a quieter, warmer floor underfoot with no separate underlayment to buy or install.
- Floating installation with coordinating snap-in moldings, which keeps the project firmly in DIY territory.
- Realistic wood and stone visuals, from painted-bevel edges that mimic real hardwood to high-definition printed textures.
- Residential and commercial ratings on many collections, with certifications like GREENGUARD Gold and FloorScore called out on qualifying products.
COREtec is the established name in waterproof rigid-core vinyl: a floor that looks like wood or stone, shrugs off water, and installs without a contractor.
CoreTec Vinyl Flooring Lines at FlooringInc
We carry 125 COREtec products spanning the brand's main plank and tile families, plus the matching trim to finish every one of them. All of them live in our vinyl flooring catalog, and most fall under rigid core vinyl and waterproof vinyl.
COREtec Plus and Plus Enhanced
The classic COREtec family: COREtec Plus in 5" and 7" widths, Plus XL in 9", and the Plus Enhanced and Plus XL Enhanced collections that add a painted bevel on all four edges for a look closer to real hardwood. All are 100% waterproof with attached cork underlayment, and Plus Enhanced carries GREENGUARD Gold certification and natural resistance to odor-causing mold and mildew.
COREtec Plus Premium and Grande
The step-up tier. Plus Premium comes in 7" and 9" planks with a heavy 30-mil wear layer for active homes, and the Premium 9" line is phthalate free. COREtec Grande mixes 28", 55", and 82" plank lengths in one floor for a varied, natural layout, also with a 30-mil wear layer.
COREtec Pro Plus, XL, and HD
The Pro series is built for both residential and commercial use, which is why several of these collections also appear in our commercial vinyl lineup. Pro Plus and Pro Plus Enhanced planks use a dense solid polymer core for high-traffic durability; Pro Plus XL stretches to extra-long planks for a grander sense of scale; and Pro Plus HD adds high-definition visuals in 7" and 9" widths. Pro Plus Enhanced is also available as stone-look rigid core tiles, GREENGUARD Gold and FloorScore certified.
Matching Trim and Moldings
Every COREtec floor we sell has coordinating 94" moldings — quarter round, T-molding, reducers, baby thresholds, flush stairnoses, and stair caps — each vinyl-wrapped around a waterproof core so your transitions hold up like the floor itself. Find them all under trims and moldings, or browse the full plank selection in vinyl tiles and planks.
Why Buy CoreTec From FlooringInc
COREtec is sold in a lot of places, so it comes down to who's standing behind the order. FlooringInc has sold flooring online since 2007, with more than 125,000 verified customer reviews collected on independent third-party platforms over that time. Our Tennessee warehouse holds the planks and their coordinating moldings in the same building, so a COREtec order does not arrive in two shipments a week apart, and there is a service line to call at every stage: before you order, while the floor is in transit, and after it is down.
Vinyl is also a floor you should see in your own light before you commit. Wood-look visuals shift noticeably between a product photo and your actual room, and the difference between two oak tones can decide the whole space. That is why we offer free samples: order the COREtec colors you are considering, set them against your cabinets and trim, and buy with confidence instead of guessing from a screen.
One more practical advantage of buying the floor and the finish work from the same catalog: because we stock the coordinating COREtec moldings alongside the planks, you can order the quarter round, reducers, and stair parts that were designed for your exact collection in the same cart, in matching colors, instead of hunting for close-enough trim after the flooring shows up. If you are not sure which COREtec line fits your project or how much trim you need, call us — helping you sort that out is what the team is there for.
CoreTec Flooring FAQ
Who makes CoreTec flooring?
COREtec flooring is made by Shaw Industries, one of the largest flooring manufacturers in North America. COREtec began as the brand that pioneered rigid-core WPC luxury vinyl and is now part of the Shaw family, so its floors carry the backing of a major, established manufacturer.
Where can I buy CoreTec flooring online?
FlooringInc is an authorized COREtec retailer, and you can buy genuine COREtec flooring online from us with free samples shipped before you commit. We stock 125 COREtec planks and tiles plus the vinyl-wrapped moldings designed for each collection, so the floor and its matching trim arrive from the same order.
Is CoreTec flooring waterproof?
Yes. COREtec's rigid-core construction is 100% waterproof, and the planks will not swell when exposed to water. That makes them suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, and any other level of the home.
Does CoreTec need a separate underlayment?
Generally no. Most COREtec plank collections we carry come with a cork underlayment already attached, which makes the floor quieter and warmer underfoot and lets you install directly without buying a separate pad.
How does CoreTec install?
COREtec is a floating floor: the planks are not glued or nailed to the subfloor, and the attached underlayment means there is no separate pad to lay first. Some collections also install with no acclimation period. Transitions finish with coordinating moldings that snap into an included track, keeping the whole project DIY-friendly.
Can CoreTec be used in commercial spaces?
Many lines can. The COREtec Pro series is built for both residential and commercial use, and several other collections carry light-commercial ratings — COREtec Galaxy Plus, for example, is approved for residential and light commercial use. Check the individual product listing for the rating that applies to your space.
CoreTec Plus vs Pro Plus: what's the difference?
The families differ mainly in plank size, wear layer, edge treatment, and duty rating. COREtec Plus is the classic waterproof WPC line; Enhanced versions add a painted bevel on all four edges for a more hardwood-like look; Plus Premium and Grande step up to a 30-mil wear layer, with Grande mixing multiple plank lengths; and the Pro series uses a dense solid polymer core built for higher-traffic residential and commercial use, including XL extra-long planks and HD high-definition visuals. For a deeper look at how those two core types compare, see our SPC vs. WPC rigid core guide.
Does FlooringInc carry matching CoreTec trim and moldings?
Yes. We stock coordinating 94" COREtec moldings for the collections we sell — quarter round, T-molding, reducers, baby thresholds, flush stairnoses, and stair caps — each vinyl-wrapped with a waterproof core and color-matched to its plank line, so stairs and doorways finish as cleanly as the floor.
Can I get a sample of CoreTec before I buy?
Yes, we offer free samples. With COREtec the stakes are usually oak tones — the difference between two similar oaks can decide the whole room, so order the colors you are considering and check them against your room's light, cabinets, and trim before committing.