VCT and Expansion Joints

[Tom_C]

I've searched, and seen plenty of stuff for epoxied floors, but nothing on VCT (that I've seen)...

Will be doing one bay of my garage with VCT, but there is an expansion joint running parallel to the garage door, in the middle of the bay. Everything I've read says that the VCT telegraphs floor imperfections. I've also read that you shouldn't fill the joint in with solids due to the movement and subsequent cracking. People suggest Sikaflex a lot for the epoxy floors, but I am assuming it would be too flexible and show through the VCT. Is there anything you VCT guys have done to minimize the issue?

 

[Shea]

There are many polyurethane, epoxy, and polyurea based crack and joint filler products out there that dry hard yet have the elongation that you need. This will allow you to feather it in nice with a hand grinder so that the joint doesn't telegraph through. A few of the vendors here sell such products. Legacy Industrial and Wolverine are the first to come to mind.

If it's just one joint across the floor, the home improvement centers sell these in caulking tubes for less than $20.

 

[bullnerd]

Man ,the VCT tiles at my work look terrible where the e-joints shined through.

Not sure how old, 4 or 5 yrs but pretty heavy traffic.

I'll try to get pic.