Dont sand b&w vct! 1109

[370z]

OK, i'm getting ready to put down 1109 bondtite clear epoxy on my fresh vct install. i went with 24"x24" a black and white checkerboard theme (armstrong vct).

i rented a floor buffer and went with 80grit screen to surface sand my new vct floor to get it ready for the 1109 clear epoxy. this is where my trouble started.

while sanding the floor the 80 grit screen starts to get clogged (by about 10' of sanding)with bits of black vct dust, then the dust turns to solid little slivers of vct on the 80 grit screen, THEN It SMEARS BLACK INTO THE WHITE VCT!!!

this method may work o.k. on one soild color vct floor ,but it ***** donkey balls for my black and white floor.

what i ended up doing (and what i suggest everyone else to do) is take my 6" random orbital buffer (7424xp porter cable) and got some velcro 100grit pads for it. luckily this seams to be correcting my problem.

It would have been much easier if i would have just started with my trusty 6" orbital, fist do all the white tiles then do all the black tiles. dont make the same mistake i did.

 

[rburke65]

I, being the "rookie" on vct instalation, why did you decide to, or do you have to sand the tile?

 

[370z]

you dont have to sand. if you dont sand and clear epoxy, then you just wax it every 4 months or so and strip and buff

 

[Cruzin90]

Another way to answer the question:

The VCT is very smooth. The clear coat has nothing to grab onto, like if you were to apply it to glass. By roughing up the surface (creating a "surface profile"), you provide more surface area and the clear coat can grab onto that rough surface.

 

[rburke65]

Cruzin90....thank you.

 

[370z]

sorry if my post was confusing. thats what happens when you have been sanding for 10hrs straight!

 

[AndrewBigA]

that *****. you shouldve sanded the tiles one at a time before installing. thats what i wouldve done.

 

[green.bubbly]

that *****. you shouldve sanded the tiles one at a time before installing. thats what i wouldve done.

I think he knows that now.

 

[370z]

i think the best way is to lay the vct wait 4 days or so, then sand with a 5" or 6" orbital. do all the whites, then do all the blacks, then go back and lightly sand any scuff marks on the whites. then clean with distilled water and brand new towels. then lay down the bondtite 1109. i am currently on the clean phase. pics latter i am taking a break, as i am flat worn out.

 

[green.bubbly]

i think the best way is to lay the vct wait 4 days or so, then sand with a 5" or 6" orbital. do all the whites, then do all the blacks, then go back and lightly sand any scuff marks on the whites. then clean with distilled water and brand new towels. then lay down the bondtite 1109. i am currently on the clean phase. pics latter i am taking a break, as i am flat worn out.

Why, the sander is doing all the work.

 

[tcianci]

that *****. you shouldve sanded the tiles one at a time before installing. thats what i wouldve done.

Don't thnk you want to do that either. You will end up rolling the edges of the tiles and when you lay them and clear them the job will look wavy. The only saving grace with this is that there is such a sharp contrast between the tiles, you may not pick up on the rolled edges.

 

[370z]

we will find out tomorrow

 

[370z]

epoxy down. i like the results! it was a ton of work!
it looks like you could dive right in!!
View media item 7725
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[rwhite692]

Looks awesome! I just might strip/sand/coat mine someday.

 

[370z]

thanks alot! i put down 10mils thickness. thats the thicker (as opposed to 5 mils option from alpha garage. but i couldn't imagine using any less material. 15 or 20 mils thickness would have covered any seam depressions.

 

[Mgrig]

Looks great!

 

[ssleepingbeauty]

To save everyone a ton of time in the future, here's a little secret. VCT comes with a cheap wax just for a preliminary protection on only one side of the tile. So all you have to do is install the VCT upside down. (Yes it will bond). Now you have raw tile facing up and ready for any top coats without ever sanding. Just make sure you keep a clean work area when doing this. Because the raw side of VCT get's dirty very easy since it has no protection.

Believe it or not, I have had request to install VCT this way for this very reason.

 

[370z]

how will that waxed side stick to the vct glue ? i dont think i would risk that.

 

[rickairmedic]

370 the floor turned out FANTASTIC I love the reflexions on the walls it does look like lite reflecting off of water .


Rick