Questions about prep, finishing, edging for VCT

[tommya]

I have the same concerns as cult hero about the etching process for the floor but I will be doing VCT. This is a 6 month old concrete floor, never driven on, no moisture, no sealers. Do I need to etch for VCT using the S-750 Armstrong adhesive?

Also I've read the post on polyurethaning and posts on epoxying the VCT. Any opinions on which is better? Is this clear epoxy a 1-part finish? This will be a used garage, cars going in and out wet, snow, etc.

Next what did you put on the edge of your VCT where the cars get driven in?

It's cold here in NJ and I'm going to try infrared heat lamps to heat up the floor. I took someone's advice here and got the $20 (w/discount coup) infrared thermometer from Harbor Freight Tools, neat gizmo.

 

[tommya]

sorry I just want to add that the garage is otherwise heated and has ceiling fans. I can get it to 75 w/o the infrareds, was just going to use them to add heat to the surface of the concrete before, during, and days after installation.

 

[speedminded]

I'm not too familiar with coating the VCT but hot tires will normally pull it up when you pull in plus leave rubber marks you'll never be able to get off. I've seen it used in everything from home garages to auto shops to go-kart race trailers and it always ends in the same result.

Has clear coating been able to prevent this?

 

[joecaver]

I put VCT down about 7 months ago. So far there has been no problem with tire heat affecting the tiles, and this is GA where the summer days are close to 100 deg.

I did not etch the concrete. I used Zep Sidewalk and Driveway Cleaner and a good stiff scrub brush. I did that twice rinsing good in between and let it dry good. Then I put it down following the Armstrong directions. I use the Armstrong products to keep it clean and shined. I've seen here that a couple of guys recently coated their VCT with poly or clear epoxy. If that ends up holding up in the long term I may try it. For now it seems unproven IMHO.

 

[tommya]

Joecaver- waiting to see if the coating over VCT has a proven record makes sense to me. Which armstrong sealer dod you use and does it provide a watertight seal around the tiles? Also what did you use at the entrance to the garages?

 

[SteveB]

Armstrong transition strips will do a nice job in filling the area between your laneway and the edge of the VCT tiles.

http://www.armstrong.com/commflooringna/article14065.html


I used the VT8. Here is the story of my Armstrong VCT install.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/281382/14

 

[SteveB]

Like Joe, my install is about 6 months old. Summer temperatures around these parts can routinely hit 95-100+ degrees. Even with sticky high performance tires I have had no tile lifting.

I continue to use the Armstrong cleaning/polishing products as they work well and are easy to use. Right now I don't have the inclination or nerve to apply something as permanent as a poly or epoxy to my new VCT floor.

 

[RichardNorman]

Like Joe, my install is about 6 months old. Summer temperatures around these parts can routinely hit 95-100+ degrees. Even with sticky high performance tires I have had no tile lifting.

I continue to use the Armstrong cleaning/polishing products as they work well and are easy to use. Right now I don't have the inclination or nerve to apply something as permanent as a poly or epoxy to my new VCT floor.

Nice miatas. I've owned a few myself. Here's my current car.

www.cardomain.com/id/rnorma1

I'm actually on the fence right now about the VCT. I would like to do it but I do a lot of work on my car in the garage. Do you work on your cars on that floor? If so, how is it holding up to things like jack stands and and floor jacks?

 

[tommya]

I'll be putting down my VCT in a week or two and as far as the jack stands I've read here to use either extra loose tiles under them or a small piece of plywood, maybe 1/2", to take the pressure. What I really like is that even if a tile gets damaged to the point that you will need to replace it, just run a heat gun over it it'll lift easy. This may not work for me because I'll be using the Amstrong S-230 2-part epoxy adhesive but the color is thru the tile. I'll be posting a full chronology with pics of the whole process when I'm finished.

 

[SteveB]

I use a 1/4" piece of metal under jack stands and the jack wheels, especially in the warmer weather, slices of carpet remnants under the tires for winter storage. I didn't the first time for a 2 minute job and the jack wheels left slight indentations which eventually disappeared.

As I have stated in another thread VCT may not be for everyone. I don't weld, roll real heavy equipment around in my garage or am prone to use loads of nasty liquids. I have spilled synthetic oil and soaked it up with paper towels and washed it with an Armstrong floor cleaner. Like any garage it sees the usual gunk including antifreeze, various car cleaning products, tire marks, beer/whiskey/pop stains (all automotive related of course) and survived just fine.

 

[tommya]

I use a 1/4" piece of metal under jack stands and the jack wheels, especially in the warmer weather, slices of carpet remnants under the tires for winter storage. I didn't the first time for a 2 minute job and the jack wheels left slight indentations which eventually disappeared.

As I have stated in another thread VCT may not be for everyone. I don't weld, roll real heavy equipment around in my garage or am prone to use loads of nasty liquids. I have spilled synthetic oil and soaked it up with paper towels and washed it with an Armstrong floor cleaner. Like any garage it sees the usual gunk including antifreeze, various car cleaning products, tire marks, beer/whiskey/pop stains (all automotive related of course) and survived just fine.

Steve-
Have you heard of anyone using the 2-part epoxy adhesive S-230 for moisture resistance instead of the S-750? My only concern is snow slush falling onto and melting on the tiles.

 

[SteveB]

Tommy, that particular product was never offered to me by my local dealer. He said that the S-750 was perfect for my application. Typical weather in these parts tends to be hot and dry.

The S-750 took about 4 hours to turn clear after I trowelled it on (the indication that you can begin to lay the tiles) in 90 degree July conditions.

We store our Miatas in the winter so that the VCT doesn't see snow/slush. If you're more comfortable using the S-230 and all else being equal, go ahead and do it.