Five Year VCT Tune Up

[Chuck W.]

After nearly five years after installing 960 square feet of VCT in my garage it was time for a tune up. Several tiles had small bumps from poor preparation and others had brown marks from tires. The white tiles also were yellowing. I keep the tiles waxed and burnished and polish the garage once a week. It always looks good but I knew it could look better.

I replaced about 60 tiles, mostly white ones. Then rented a low speed buffer and and stripped the wax off. And lastly, seven coats of new wax. I used almost six gallons of wax. I haven’t burnished it yet but I am more than pleased with the results thus far.

I used a new wax this time I got from CleanFreak.com. It is a sealer & wax with urethane. It was $23.77 a gallon plus shipping. It went down easy and looks great. We’ll see how it burnishes and holds up. I used a generic brand from the local floor supply store last time and I wasn’t impressed.

http://www.cleanfreak.com/Qstore/p000920.htm

 

[Munich77]

Chuck - that looks impressive. Many houses don't even have a floor that shiny.

 

[Familyof8kids]

My eyes are burning and you even installed mirrors!

You waxed your garage floor 260 times over the past 5 years? That is over $2,000 in wax. Did I read it wrong?

 

[sxk122]

If it's like our work floor, you put down your wax every once in a while, and then just mop and buff it in between. I bet he is waxing every 3 months or so......

 

[Chuck W.]

My eyes are burning and you even installed mirrors!

You waxed your garage floor 260 times over the past 5 years? That is over $2,000 in wax. Did I read it wrong?

Haaa. I could have worded that better. I keep a good coat of wax on it. I also burnish and polish it once a week.

 

[Familyof8kids]

That sounds much better. I was going to ask if you waxed it weekly for 5 years how thick was the coating. LOL

Nice to see another VCT happy customer.

 

[e30 Memorial]

I also burnish and polish it once a week.

What kind of polisher do you have?

 

[Chuck W.]

What kind of polisher do you have?

I have a NSS Charger 2500 20 Inch High Speed Burnisher. I found it on Craigslist in April of 2011 for $200. It needed a few parts and in the end I have about $325 into it. I was renting one every six months for $50 a shot so this one has paid for itself a few time over.

 

[Calvin415]

Chuck, been a few months, how are you liking the new product? Do you need to polish/buff it as often? I'm so sick of the stuff from Lowes/Home Depot, looks great at first, but doesn't last long, really scuffs and scratches easy... And noticed something strange, if water sits too long it looks blue as if it's disolving. What is worse, if there is anything on it when this happens, it destroys the finish. Wet news paper on the floor left a nice blemish this last fall. Anyone else experienced something like this???

 

[rlitman]

That sounds much better. I was going to ask if you waxed it weekly for 5 years how thick was the coating. LOL

Ha. I remember seeing a picture from a friend, taken in a school with VCT, where a mouse had died on the floor, and was waxed over. Probably 40+ years worth of wax buildup towards the corners, and tiles worn all the way through in spots near the centers.

 

[impala_631]

It sure doesnt look 5 years old,looks brand new!

 

[Chuck W.]

Chuck, been a few months, how are you liking the new product? Do you need to polish/buff it as often? I'm so sick of the stuff from Lowes/Home Depot, looks great at first, but doesn't last long, really scuffs and scratches easy... And noticed something strange, if water sits too long it looks blue as if it's disolving. What is worse, if there is anything on it when this happens, it destroys the finish. Wet news paper on the floor left a nice blemish this last fall. Anyone else experienced something like this???

It was worst than the rest. I ended up buying two gallons of generic wax from a local shop and it worked much better. I am still hunting for the right wax. We should start a new thread asking for suggestions.

I have had the same experience with water, but once it dries it look OK.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Wow, that's not a garage, that's a SHOWROOM! I just have to ask - when do you intend to install the mirrors on the ceiling? lol

Do you have any 'before' pics prior to the 'tune-up'?

 

[Chuck W.]

Wow, that's not a garage, that's a SHOWROOM! I just have to ask - when do you intend to install the mirrors on the ceiling? lol

Do you have any 'before' pics prior to the 'tune-up'?

Haaaaaaa... no mirrors on the ceiling. Drywall yes, mirrors no.

No photos of the before, but it was not bad. Just some brown marks and a few bumps from poor prep on my part.

I spend a lot of time in the garage. The time and money is well worth it for me. At times when it is windy or rainy it looks less than pristine. But with a little effort and a little over an hour of effort and I am back in business. And the best part, it is a labor of love. Just like waxing a car, it is a good feeling when you're done and stand back and look at it.