vct flooring 1 year old

[ketas47]

I am on 1yr after installing my vct floor. The tile is holding up very well to snow melting off car and truck and all the salt and sand being dragged into the garage. Garage is 26 x 38 and infloor heat which i am heating around 50 degrees, in central Wisconsin. I usually try to mop it up every 1 to 2 weeks, the picture shows 3 weeks of snow,salt and sand. Overall I like it but you should mop every 1 to 2 weeks to keep it looking nice. The first 2 pics are from last year and the last three from today. As you can see I probably will need to wax it as soon as it gets nice out.

 

[mygarageone]

I am on 1yr after installing my vct floor. The tile is holding up very well to snow melting off car and truck and all the salt and sand being dragged into the garage. Garage is 26 x 38 and infloor heat which i am heating around 50 degrees, in central Wisconsin. I usually try to mop it up every 1 to 2 weeks, the picture shows 3 weeks of snow,salt and sand. Overall I like it but you should mop every 1 to 2 weeks to keep it looking nice. The first 2 pics are from last year and the last three from today. As you can see I probably will need to wax it as soon as it gets nice out.

Sharp floor , Tell me who's tile and details about it.
What are your thoughts about a clear epoxy coat on it ?

 

[bdamico]

Floor looks great after a year. I think it is a point worth considering for those going forward.

On my porcelain tile, I have experienced no maintenance other than blowing it out once and a while. I've steam mopped it just for fun once and pressure washed it while I was doing my house but both seemed totally unnecessary.

 

[Mpbsr]

No seperation of tiles due to car movement?

 

[ketas47]

Bought tile(vct), stripper, sealer, wax and glue at Menards for just under $1000(1000 sq. ft.) Garage does have infloor heat(about 55f degrees average temp.) Just clean floor very good before putting tile down,Took my son and I two days to do whole job! Heard some people put clear coat epoxy over tile to elimanate waxing, but some people complained about yellowing, I just wax ,looks like brand new when done.
Have not had any tile seperation or popping up, even with heavy load on pick-up.
I am very happy with the abuse the tile takes,(water, snow, salt, sand). We get snow here in central Wi, and drag alot of snow salt and sand into garage on pick-up and car! Remember this area goes from 90 f degrees,during summer to -20 f during winter,with rain and snow! EXTREME climate changes.
So saying that, cleaning up is required to keep looking nice.

 

[CobraJake]

curious as to what you did around your drains? I think in your original thread you said you had drains in the garage? I like this idea over the plastic tiles for my working garage but i have a drain in the middle of my floor. Guess i would just go around it?

and what did you do at the doors edge?

 

[Kevin54]

FINALLY.......Someone to post up how things are going with VCT and snow, salt, and grit.

I like the looks of various VCT, but it always seemed like either everyone was in a warm climate, they never parked any daily's in it, or just wouldn't report as to how it held up.

So with what you have said above, you haven't put anything on it other than the typial wax/sealer? And with that, what brand of wax and sealer do you use?

I'm almost certain that VCT is what we will go with on the house garage as the wife's car usually just sits in there during the winter and doesn't get moved. My garage may be a different story though.

And your garage looks super with that tile. I like it very much!!!!!

 

[509SC]

I have to agree with Kevin, I too have wondered how this type of flooring would hold up in a snowy climate. I've been going back and forth between porcelain,epoxy/poly and VCT. While I think porcelain would be the nicest looking surface, I don't think keeping it clean would be easy with all the grout joints capturing the sand and dirt, which is constantly wet, due to snow melt off. I don't think anything would be easier to maintain than a "smooth" surface. I like the ease of installation of VCT, don't have to empty out the whole garage at once, and the cost which is obviously the lowest. OP, what type of expansion joints do you have and how did you treat them before tiling? Also curious if you ever wash a vehicle, snow melt off is one thing, flooding a floor and rinsing it down after is another. Just curious if that becomes a limitation?

 

[bdamico]

I have to agree with Kevin, I too have wondered how this type of flooring would hold up in a snowy climate. I've been going back and forth between porcelain,epoxy/poly and VCT. While I think porcelain would be the nicest looking surface, I don't think keeping it clean would be easy with all the grout joints capturing the sand and dirt, which is constantly wet, due to snow melt off. I don't think anything would be easier to maintain than a "smooth" surface. I like the ease of installation of VCT, don't have to empty out the whole garage at once, and the cost which is obviously the lowest. OP, what type of expansion joints do you have and how did you treat them before tiling? Also curious if you ever wash a vehicle, snow melt off is one thing, flooding a floor and rinsing it down after is another. Just curious if that becomes a limitation?

What dirt in grout lines? I have no maintenance.

 

[JimVonBaden]

I have to agree with Kevin, I too have wondered how this type of flooring would hold up in a snowy climate. I've been going back and forth between porcelain,epoxy/poly and VCT. While I think porcelain would be the nicest looking surface, I don't think keeping it clean would be easy with all the grout joints capturing the sand and dirt, which is constantly wet, due to snow melt off. I don't think anything would be easier to maintain than a "smooth" surface. I like the ease of installation of VCT, don't have to empty out the whole garage at once, and the cost which is obviously the lowest. OP, what type of expansion joints do you have and how did you treat them before tiling? Also curious if you ever wash a vehicle, snow melt off is one thing, flooding a floor and rinsing it down after is another. Just curious if that becomes a limitation?

No joints in VCT to collect dirt. Mine has held up OK. I use it for a working garage, so I have some scrapes and stains, but in two years it is doing well.

Were I to do it again though, It would be porcelain with dark grout. Way less chances for stains and damage, and easier to clean even than VCT. Not that much more expensive either.

 

[CobraJake]

No joints in VCT to collect dirt. Mine has held up OK. I use it for a working garage, so I have some scrapes and stains, but in two years it is doing well.

Were I to do it again though, It would be porcelain with dark grout. Way less chances for stains and damage, and easier to clean even than VCT. Not that much more expensive either.

any pics? curious on the scratches and stains in a working garage

 

[509SC]

What dirt in grout lines? I have no maintenance.

Even with a narrow grout joint, it's still somewhat recessed from the tile surface. I would think if you sweept sand across the floor, some of it would catch in the joints. By the way, I've never heard of a maintenance free floor. How does that work, you push a button and a robot vacumns and mops your floor?

 

[bdamico]

Even with a narrow grout joint, it's still somewhat recessed from the tile surface. I would think if you sweept sand across the floor, some of it would catch in the joints. By the way, I've never heard of a maintenance free floor. How does that work, you push a button and a robot vacumns and mops your floor?

That's not how it works for me. And if you call blowing out the garage every couple weeks maintenance then ok. Other than that looks as good as new

 

[JimVonBaden]

any pics? curious on the scratches and stains in a working garage

A couple weeks after install:

Last month:

These tiles are tight enough that there are no gaps effectively.

 

[stanleyoutdoors]

I wish my plastic tile looked half that good after 1 year....

 

[JimVonBaden]

I wish my plastic tile looked half that good after 1 year....

VCT is not really plastic. It is Vinyl Composition Tile that is 1/8" thick and a very solid composition it is at that.

 

[CobraJake]

looks like the black would be better suited in the high traffic area's or under the cars. did you keep up with waxing / sealing it for the year?

 

[EOC_Jason]

The good thing about VCT (which we have in all our rental offices) is you can use a floor buffer and pretty much clean up even the worst looking floors to almost brand new. The worst spots were always where people's rolling chairs were that didn't put down a mat, it would grind right through the wax / sealer in no time. But once you strip & buff it good, you can re-seal and wax it and looks great.

My suggestion if you go with VCT is to make sure you have plenty of extra tiles left over, *just in case* you ever have to replace any. If you bought some a year ago, then go again today, you will be hard pressed to find some that match up exact. The tint & texture can vary a lot from one dye-lot to the next.

 

[lead_foot]

I use the **** out of my garage with VCT tiles. Snow, salt, sand, grease, oil, dropped tools & car parts. I build engines, transmissions, rearends in there. Easy to clean and make look good again with a broom and mop. And there's no way in hell I could have duplicated this look with porcelain or anything else for anywhere near the $1/sq ft I spent on the VCT.



Cleans up pretty good:

 

[CobraJake]

Im sold right there! what glue did you use?

 

[mygarageone]

I use the **** out of my garage with VCT tiles. Snow, salt, sand, grease, oil, dropped tools & car parts. I build engines, transmissions, rearends in there. Easy to clean and make look good again with a broom and mop. And there's no way in hell I could have duplicated this look with porcelain or anything else for anywhere near the $1/sq ft I spent on the VCT.



Cleans up pretty good:

Very impressed ! The more I see these kind of floors the more I am leaning that direction , living in Michigan's U.P and We have some of the harshest winters in the country and I do believe this type of floor would hold up.

Tell me is your tile commercial grade or res and is it peel and stick ?

 

[Wingnut65]

Sharp floor , Tell me who's tile and details about it.

I didn't see a reply, but Menards sells Armstrong VCT. So does Home Depot and Lowes. Lowes also carries Tarkett VCT.

Armstrong is one of the industry standards for vinyl floor tile.

 

[bullnerd]

Yeah I like that too.

 

[nitrohog]

I think you guys have me sold. Is it possible to lay this over broom finish concrete or will I have to diamond grind it first? I'm also interested in how the op trimmed out his drains as I have a very similar setup.

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[mygarageone]

I think you guys have me sold. Is it possible to lay this over broom finish concrete or will I have to diamond grind it first? I'm also interested in how the op trimmed out his drains as I have a very similar setup.

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I am sure you'll have to grind your floor , I think in my case I am going to taper the tile on the back side were it meets up to my drain . But then I am going to use commercial VCT and adhesive ,so if done right it should lay right.

 

[CobraJake]

which tile did everyone use? seems to be many even under the same brand name?

no Menards in my location…wonder if HD will match them

 

[mygarageone]

There is a web seller of Armstrong tile at a very decent price. I can not remember the name but do a search . I found a commercial grade glue down for 97 cents a tile.

 

[Mpbsr]

Looks great, but to me it's also looks slippery when wet.

But with that said, do they sell 24x24 tiles? I would rather not put 4 together to make a 4 ft sq.

 

[JimVonBaden]

VCT is all Armstrong, all 1/8" thick, all 12" square and all glue down, I used Armstrong glue. I found mine surplus on Craigslist for $0.37 a tile, new.

It is available at HD and Lowes, but depending on your color choice it runs near $1 a Square Foot.

Any peal and stick tile is substandard to VCT. A relatively smooth floor is a necessity. If you have a brush finish, best to go with Porcelain or Ceramic tile. The cost to diamond grind will eat up the difference. I saw Ceramic tile for $0,57 at HD last weekend.

 

[lead_foot]

Im sold right there! what glue did you use?

Very impressed ! The more I see these kind of floors the more I am leaning that direction , living in Michigan's U.P and We have some of the harshest winters in the country and I do believe this type of floor would hold up.

Tell me is your tile commercial grade or res and is it peel and stick ?

I have commercial grade tile, but I mix/matched brands. The gray tiles are Mannington and the black is Armstrong. Found the gray on craigslist for 50 cents a tile and the black from HD for around 80 cents I believe. I used the Henry adhesive that Lowes sells b/c that's all I could find locally, and I wish I'd have gone with the Armstrong brand. I think the Henry stuff is inferior, and for some reason it didn't work as well with my gray Mannington tiles like it did with the black Armstrong. I have a few gray tiles that I'm going to have to replace this spring where water sat on them for weeks from all the snow runoff from the daily drivers. But again that's the beauty of this stuff, it's a piece of cake to replace them.
As far as slickness goes, it really depends on your shoes more than anything. All VCT polish has anti-slip properties (required by law I believe). I can dance around on my soaking wet floor in my tennis shoes and it's not slick at all. Now a pair of flat bottom flip flops would send you flying I'm sure. You just have to use some common sense here.....

If I had it to do all over again, I'd buy all Armstrong tiles and use Armstrong glue. I should also mention that my garage is heated and never drops below 58ºF air temp.

 

[mygarageone]

Thanks for all the info , it helped me make a decision for VCT tile.
It can be easily repaired , it takes abuse , it' s not very costly , it looks good

Though , I really like the looks of the Epoxy floors . I am very concerned with repair issues down the road.

Like you I have a heated garage and lots of road **** , so what I am going to do is get one of those car floor mats to help keep all that **** off the floor or at least most of it.

 

[romad275]

Lead foot
Did you install the car lift over the tile or tile around the lift?

 

[lead_foot]

Lead foot
Did you install the car lift over the tile or tile around the lift?

I tiled around the lift. I scored the line I wanted to cut on the tile, then cut it out with tin snips. Actually worked pretty well and I was able to make pretty intricate cuts to fit tight around the lift posts.

 

[jethrodawg]

Thanks for all the info , it helped me make a decision for VCT tile.
It can be easily repaired , it takes abuse , it' s not very costly , it looks good

Though , I really like the looks of the Epoxy floors . I am very concerned with repair issues down the road.

Like you I have a heated garage and lots of road **** , so what I am going to do is get one of those car floor mats to help keep all that **** off the floor or at least most of it.

I find it interesting that even with advantage of a heated floor to keep moisture down you still get issues with replacing tiles.

Your post gives me reason to consider VCT for my unfinished basement but for the garage, I'm sticking with my bare concrete for now.

 

[mygarageone]

I find it interesting that even with advantage of a heated floor to keep moisture down you still get issues with replacing tiles.

Your post gives me reason to consider VCT for my unfinished basement but for the garage, I'm sticking with my bare concrete for now.

I am not concerned about the moisture on the tile , but the damage to the floor from dropped tools , rolling work tables etc. the VCT can be repaired if need be.
Not sure that's that esay with the Epoxy floor.

 

[Bryanm]

I would avoid buying any glue that is second hand unless you know it is fairly new and has not been sitting in the freezing weather. Also, when buying tile , keep in mind , if you get tiles from different manufactures the dementions will be different. It is all 1X1 tile but they will vary by millimeters causing irregularities in your patterns and stair stepping when laying it out. This can be compensated for by trimming tiles when needed. That said, if you get the tile cheap enough then it can be worth the extra work to make everything fit.

 

[mygarageone]

My intention is to buy all the same manufactures tile and from one seller , hopefully eliminating issues.

 

[ketas47]

I tiled(Armstrong 1/8" thick VCT) right over broom finish and expansion joints. If there is some high spots of concrete you may have to knock them down because big concrete inperfections may show through tile. I didnt put anything in expansion joints and you cant see them through tile. I use the garage daily with two vehichles going in and out everyday, dragging in snow salt and sand. The concrete was 4 yrs old when I installed tile, all I did was wash floor 2 to 3 times,shop vacuumed it couple times and made sure there is no stones left behind because even the smallest ones will show through. Make sure floor is dry and there was no stains left behind. I did NOT grind floor or do any acid cleaning.The floor looks pretty disgusted/terrible after 2 weeks of NORTHERN weather!(outside temp ranges from -20 to 90 degrees in a year and Salt, Sand Snow,Water abuse.)BUT after a sweeping up of sand,salt,water, then mopping the floor looks like new. My floor is constantly heated ( in floor heat) to 51 to 53 degrees f. Overall I think it is best/easiest floor for the money!!!! And We also use our garage as a rec. room and when friends/ visitors see the floor they are AMAZED at how well it looks.
Also for the drains I do have some pitch to drains and all I did was heat up the tile a little before laying so they cut easier and take shape to pitch, then caulk around drain.

 

[mygarageone]

I tiled(Armstrong 1/8" thick VCT) right over broom finish and expansion joints. If there is some high spots of concrete you may have to knock them down because big concrete inperfections may show through tile. I didnt put anything in expansion joints and you cant see them through tile. I use the garage daily with two vehichles going in and out everyday, dragging in snow salt and sand. The concrete was 4 yrs old when I installed tile, all I did was wash floor 2 to 3 times,shop vacuumed it couple times and made sure there is no stones left behind because even the smallest ones will show through. Make sure floor is dry and there was no stains left behind. I did NOT grind floor or do any acid cleaning.The floor looks pretty disgusted/terrible after 2 weeks of NORTHERN weather!(outside temp ranges from -20 to 90 degrees in a year and Salt, Sand Snow,Water abuse.)BUT after a sweeping up of sand,salt,water, then mopping the floor looks like new. My floor is constantly heated ( in floor heat) to 51 to 53 degrees f. Overall I think it is best/easiest floor for the money!!!! And We also use our garage as a rec. room and when friends/ visitors see the floor they are AMAZED at how well it looks.
Also for the drains I do have some pitch to drains and all I did was heat up the tile a little before laying so they cut easier and take shape to pitch, then caulk around drain.

How about some pic's ?

The more I hear about VCT in the northern ciliates , I more convinced I am about doing my garage this way.

 

[Kevin54]

How about some pic's ?

The more I hear about VCT in the northern ciliates , I more convinced I am about doing my garage this way.

He's posted pics. Go all the way to the top and there they are!!!!