I've got a checkerboard VCT floor in my garage, and I've been having an issue where the adhasive is coming up between the tiles! When I laid the floor, I followed the directions, let the adhesive skim over, then laid the tiles. Not sure if it's fluids from my car that have seeped in and liquified the adhesive or what, but it's annoying as hell! Any ideas or recommendations?
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VCT: Glue coming up between the cracks?!!
- Thread starter Batman
- Start date
bje31
Well-known member
this happened to me, only it happened in my refinished basement..anyway, an installer told me certain tiles with certain factory glue is not made to be used below grade or on concrete floors with a moisture problem...does this help?
Itzkwik
Well-known member
How cold was it when the tile was put down? If it was too cold, the adhesive takes forever to set up. I've found with most directions, they tell you to put down too much adhesive. This will cause the excess to come up between the tiles. Also, if the tiles are laid before the adhesive is cured enough you will have problems. You said you let it skim over. How long of a time between applying the adhesive and putting down the tile? The adhesive needs to be just barely tacky before laying the tile. It should turn almost clear to the point you almost can't see it.
Initial laying of the tile was done in the summer, so that wasn't the problem. It went from that pastel yellow to almost a clearish yellow-brown snot color (if that makes any sense) before putting the tile down. Wierd thing is that when it comes up, it's almost like it's a bright yellow liquid! Not sure if it's an auto chemical (oil, ATF, brake fluid, or power steering fluid) that seeped in between the tiles and is breaking down the fluid, but it's really disconcerting!
Itzkwik
Well-known member
Sounds like you did everything right when you laid the tile. Is the problem all over the garage or just in certain areas, like under the car? If just under the cars, you could probably narrow it down to a fluid leak. If its all over the garage,did you clean the floor with anything harsh?
ssleepingbeauty
Well-known member
Not that I may know much, but....... I've only been installing VCT for 24 yrs in commercial contracting.
You should be using no more than a 16th x 16th x 16th notch trowel. That's width, depth & distance between the teeth of trowel. You let the adhesive COMPLETELY DRY before installing VCT. You can lay VCT on any grade concrete as long as there is less than 6lbs of moisture in the slab. (You can buy moisture test at most floor suppliers.) The heat is for the VCT not the glue. I know they reccomend it to be about 65*, but realisticly you can get away with upper 50's. In about a 72 Hour period there is a chemical reaction between the tile & glue where as the two actually start to melt together.
You may have a fluid leak from your vehicle that drips onto the tile and seeps into the seems. And causes a chemical reaction to the glue, which will cause the glue to seep back up through the tiles.
The best solution would be to put a couple of coats of wax on the floor to seal the floor so fluids cannot get into the joints of the tiles.
Hope this helps you out some on figuring out the problem.
You should be using no more than a 16th x 16th x 16th notch trowel. That's width, depth & distance between the teeth of trowel. You let the adhesive COMPLETELY DRY before installing VCT. You can lay VCT on any grade concrete as long as there is less than 6lbs of moisture in the slab. (You can buy moisture test at most floor suppliers.) The heat is for the VCT not the glue. I know they reccomend it to be about 65*, but realisticly you can get away with upper 50's. In about a 72 Hour period there is a chemical reaction between the tile & glue where as the two actually start to melt together.
You may have a fluid leak from your vehicle that drips onto the tile and seeps into the seems. And causes a chemical reaction to the glue, which will cause the glue to seep back up through the tiles.
The best solution would be to put a couple of coats of wax on the floor to seal the floor so fluids cannot get into the joints of the tiles.
Hope this helps you out some on figuring out the problem.
mpraddict
Well-known member
Do you know that you have a vapor barrier under your slab? How old is the slab (the old visqueen vapor barriers disintegrate over time)
1320stang
Well-known member
Yeah, I'm guessing no vapor barrier.
Itzkwik
Well-known member
I don't think its a moisture/water problem. I do a lot of tile work in 7-11 stores where they have leaks, broken pipes, etc. The moisture will cause the tiles to pop up, but it doesn't cause the adhesive to turn to a liquid.