Armstrong Primer for vinyl tile

[natedogg]

Hey guys. I'm a new guy that has been lurking on here for a month or so. I'm installing VCT in my garage over the weekend. I picked it up from home depot and the guy there recommended i put on this primer first. It says that it's good for all concrete surfaces but I'm a bit hesitant to use it because I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere on this site.

Does anyone know anything about this stuff?

Thanks in advance.

Nate

 

[katoom400exc]

I used to install tile, and unless we are talking about a leveling compound, chances are that you don't need it. if your floor is smooth and free of oil, just clean it really well. use a trowel to spread the armstrong adhesive, and let it set up for 30minutes to an hour, until you can run your finger over it and it doesn't stick to you.

http://www.woodsracer.com/garage/

 

[ssleepingbeauty]

First off I would like to say Hello. I am also new here, what a awesome site.

I am a commercial flooring contractor, and have been doing VCT for 23+ years. I have literally installed 100's of thousand Sq ft of VCT over the years. You do not need a sealer for VCT over concrete, unless you are having some type of moisture problem. Good luck with your floor. And if you need any tips, I would be more than glad to assist you.

 

[natedogg]

Hello, and thanks for the quick responses.

The feeling I'm getting is that the primer is not needed, but since I already have it and it will only take me few minutes to apply it the real question is, would it be beneficial for me to use it?

I'm leaving work in a half hour and I should be ready to go in 2 or 3 hours so if you have some advice now's the time.

Thanks

 

[ssleepingbeauty]

Just waisted time would be the only reason for it. If you needed to do floor prep, like putting a skim coat over the entire slab to give the slap a smooth finish, then I would maybe use it. But I really don't see any benefit in it with the slab you have.

When you spread your adhesive put a fan blowing on it when you are done spreading the glue. It will cut the drying time in half. If you are using the clear thin spread (yellow glue) don't worry about it drying out (working time) As long as you keep it dust free it will alway's stay sticky. You can even finish laying the next day with no problems. It may not still fill sticky to your hand, but it has it's own chemical reaction with the vct over time.

Good luck

 

[natedogg]

I just got finished rolling the stuff on. It's really wierd, it's like rolling skim milk or something. It's white, but it goes blue as it dries and then turns kind of clear. It's on now so hopefully everything goes well tomorrow when I lay the tile.

Wish me luck.

 

[ssleepingbeauty]

Let me guess, the guy at the hardware store advised you to roll it on. This will work, but a trowel with about 1/16" teeth would give you much better transfer. By rolling it on, you may get a crackling sound in your floor as you walk and/or drive on it. And the tiles won't adhere as well.

 

[Wizard600RR]

No primer's necessary. Just the adhesive and the tile. Anything else is just to pad the bill.

 

[natedogg]

Let me guess, the guy at the hardware store advised you to roll it on. This will work, but a trowel with about 1/16" teeth would give you much better transfer. By rolling it on, you may get a crackling sound in your floor as you walk and/or drive on it. And the tiles won't adhere as well.

Oh man, that is NOT what I wanted to hear. I haven't heard the crackling sound yet, that's probably because I layed it on pretty thin.

I'm ****ing pissed off now. I guess that's what I get for listening to what some Joey at the store told me to do as opposed to what I researched online.

Thanks for the heads up anyway.

 

[6t7gto]

nate,
what does the can say for applying this product?
david

 

[natedogg]

nate,
what does the can say for applying this product?
david

I don't have it with me right now (I'm at work). But it did say that is was suitable for above and below grade concrete slab, so I figured I would try it.

All I can do now is wait and hope for the best. I have my bike on it right now but I won't move my car in until this weekend so it will have had a week to set. That will be the real test.

 

[ssleepingbeauty]

Nate you should be OK for now. But it's long term that I would be concerned about. Recommendations are 68+ degress 72hrs before, during and after installations. But in the real world about 58 degrees should be OK. But the 1/16th teeth is basically something that the tile can adhere too. Over a period of a couple of days, there is a chemical reaction between the VCT and the adhesive, where as the glue actually melts to the VCT. As a comparison, if you did a test with 1 tile with the glue rolled on and another tile troweled on. You would be able to pop the rolled on tile right up. Where as the troweled tile would have to be heated up with a torch or scrapped up with a demo machine to remove. Time will tell.

Good Luck
Sid

 

[natedogg]

I put the primer down, let that dry for a day, and then troweled on adhesive, let that turn clear, and then laid down the tile. Hopefully that will be OK.

One thing I will do is turn up the heater in the garage, the temp out there is probably a bit on the low side.

 

[6t7gto]

Sid,
i don't think the old portion of my garage has a vapor barrier under it.
could i use the VCT on this portion of my garage?
i think i would have problems with the epoxy floor coating.
thanks,
david

 

[rasputin]

I used to install tile, and unless we are talking about a leveling compound, chances are that you don't need it. if your floor is smooth and free of oil, just clean it really well. use a trowel to spread the armstrong adhesive, and let it set up for 30minutes to an hour, until you can run your finger over it and it doesn't stick to you.

http://www.woodsracer.com/garage/

On that note, you mentioned a "Leveling compound." I assume this is something that can be used to take car of unlevel sections where one crack lifted higher than the other? Where can I find this? Thank you.

One other question I had while we are on the same subject I am interested in, as to temp. What is the lowest temp you can safely/properly install VCT?

 

[ssleepingbeauty]

6t7GTO unless you have a high water table underneath your garage you should be fine with VCT. I assuming the existing portion is a couple of years old.

rasputin you can get floor patch at any Home Depot / lowes etc. In the flooring dept. You can even get something at your local lumber/ hardware store.
As for tempatures look at post #12

Sid

 

[6t7gto]

Sid,
the existing floor is 20 yrs.old and definitely above the water table.
it sweats when the humidity is high and my new addition w/vapor barrier doesn't sweat at all.

thanks for the reply.

david

 

[ssleepingbeauty]

Just to be safe I would put on some type of concrete sealer to make sure that the moisture isn't coming fron underneath.