RFCI Board of Directors Sees Continued Share Gains for Resilient

Newport Beach, California, October 27, 2026–Despite a prolonged flooring industry downturn and limited expectations for a meaningful recovery in 2027, resilient flooring continues to gain marketshare, according to members of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) board of directors.

The meeting begins today in Newport Beach, California.

In a discussion with FloorDaily’s Kemp Harr, Zach Zehner, vice president of hard surface at Mannington Mills; Barron Frith, president of CFL Flooring North America; and Jennifer Zimmerman, chief commercial officer of AHF Products, pointed to continued product innovation and resilient’s growing acceptance across residential and commercial applications as reasons for optimism.

While resilient flooring experienced a decline in 2025 following years of growth, the executives largely attributed the slowdown to broader market conditions rather than a loss of momentum for the category.

However, expectations for 2027 remain subdued. Persistent inflation, elevated housing costs and weak residential construction activity continue to weigh on demand, with little indication of a near-term turnaround. The executives suggested that suppliers achieving low-single-digit growth in the current environment are likely gaining share from competitors.

The market also remains divided by price point. Premium resilient products continue to attract consumers willing to pay for better design, realism and performance, while the middle of the market faces greater pricing pressure. Zimmerman pointed to similar differences at AHF Products’ Cartersville, Georgia, SPC facility, where demand is concentrated in builder-grade products and thicker, premium offerings for specialty retailers.

On the commercial side, healthcare and education remain relatively stable, supported by demographic trends and institutional investment. However, the executives noted increasing project delays and a moderation in activity compared with the stronger conditions of 2024 and 2025.

Domestic manufacturing also remains an important consideration, although the executives do not anticipate a dramatic shift in resilient flooring’s roughly 80% import share. Domestic production offers advantages in supply chain stability, service and responsiveness, but price competition continues to influence sourcing decisions.

The discussion also highlighted RFCI’s expanding role in establishing technical standards, promoting responsible manufacturing and addressing product quality concerns as resilient flooring constructions become increasingly complex.

Looking ahead, the executives emphasized that continued innovation, improved product performance and industrywide quality standards will be essential to sustaining resilient flooring’s growth, particularly as manufacturers compete for market share in a challenging economic environment.