VCT install pics - start to finish
- Thread starter dipper
- Start date
75Shark
Active member
Dipper...beautiful floor. I am in the process of finishing off my walls (just have to mud and tape) and will then do the floor. I also plan on doing the tiles similar to yours. Are your services for rent?
75Shark...My services are currently used up by 2 Jobs, Wife, 3 boys, and a father recovering from a stroke and I can't forget the 150sqft new patio and 200sqft existing patio that needs to be layed/relayed by early june....but I do have 3 boxes of the mannington tile I used leftover that i need to get rid of....so keep that in mind when you are thinking about buying some tile.
Good luck with the mud & tape.....boy i remember those days
Maybe this summer when I get my patio project and walkway into the garage finished I will
have a chance to rent the buffer and I will do a before/after of my floor so we can all see how good the VCT cleans up after literally getting some good use for a year or so. The floor is really getting abused now with this paver project I got going on.
Good luck with the mud & tape.....boy i remember those days
Maybe this summer when I get my patio project and walkway into the garage finished I will
have a chance to rent the buffer and I will do a before/after of my floor so we can all see how good the VCT cleans up after literally getting some good use for a year or so. The floor is really getting abused now with this paver project I got going on.
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Tony B
Member
dipper, floor looks great ! I'm one of those who is thinking about VCT for their next floor as well. You say you used Mannington tile, is that the brand name ? What is the color code ? If I do VCT I would do the same color, LOOKS GREAT ! Thanks for all of the informative posts !!!!! Really helps a new guy like me out !!!
Tony B
Member
Dipper,
I see the color code in a previous post, thanks !!!!! Steve B, your floor is great too !
I see the color code in a previous post, thanks !!!!! Steve B, your floor is great too !
Due to having my sons 2nd birthday party yesterday, that meant the garage floor had to be cleaned; so I took last Friday off and rented the 13" buffer machine and had at it.
This is the first time that i did a full strip and wax on the floor. There has been many projects done on the floor over the last 2+ years.
The process was relatively easy, although somewhat time consuming:
Step 0: Rent buffer and buy stripping/polishing pads, $40 total
Step 1: Mop stripper solution on floor and allow to soak for 5-10mins.
Step 2: Use black stripping pad on floor machine to clean/strip the floor.
Step 3: Rinse and dry the floor, used some full strength purple power cleaner
on stubborn areas.
Step 4: Mop on wax and allow to dry.
Step 5: Mop on #2 coat of wax and allow to try.
Step 6: Use White buffing pad to buff and polish the floor.
Step 7: Mop on #3 coat of Excelon wax and allow to dry
Step 8: use White buffing pad to buff and polish the floor.
I wish i'd had more time to put more coats of wax down before polishing but i was running out of time. I'm going to clean up the garage tonight from having the birthday party and mop on a few more coats of wax before pulling my truck back in.
Sorry for the cell phone pics but it's all I have until I get a new camera:
Before:
After Stripping and Rinsed/Dried:
Waxed/Polished
This is the first time that i did a full strip and wax on the floor. There has been many projects done on the floor over the last 2+ years.
The process was relatively easy, although somewhat time consuming:
Step 0: Rent buffer and buy stripping/polishing pads, $40 total
Step 1: Mop stripper solution on floor and allow to soak for 5-10mins.
Step 2: Use black stripping pad on floor machine to clean/strip the floor.
Step 3: Rinse and dry the floor, used some full strength purple power cleaner
on stubborn areas.
Step 4: Mop on wax and allow to dry.
Step 5: Mop on #2 coat of wax and allow to try.
Step 6: Use White buffing pad to buff and polish the floor.
Step 7: Mop on #3 coat of Excelon wax and allow to dry
Step 8: use White buffing pad to buff and polish the floor.
I wish i'd had more time to put more coats of wax down before polishing but i was running out of time. I'm going to clean up the garage tonight from having the birthday party and mop on a few more coats of wax before pulling my truck back in.
Sorry for the cell phone pics but it's all I have until I get a new camera:
Before:
After Stripping and Rinsed/Dried:
Waxed/Polished
JimVonBaden
Well-known member
Looks great! I need to strip and wax mine one day.
Jim
Jim
964haus
Well-known member
What a great install (and even better reporting - thanks for the great pictures and clear installation / cleaning instructions)
Any idea how these would work on a shed floor? I have a plywood floor and I'm looking at these as a way to finish it better. It's a really sturdy base so there is little/no flexing...
Thanks,
Matthew.
Any idea how these would work on a shed floor? I have a plywood floor and I'm looking at these as a way to finish it better. It's a really sturdy base so there is little/no flexing...
Thanks,
Matthew.
Well it's been a while since I have updated this thread, or cleaned my VCT floor.
Spent a few hours last week cleaning using ZEP heavy duty commercial floor stripper and a green scrubby by hand. I'm hoping in April that I can rent/borrow the flooring machine and give it a good strip, wax and polish. I also have a few tiles that need replacing so i need to see if I can source the same ones or something close before i do that.
I need to go back and see if I can re-host the images since the photobucket is down.
It's going on 10 years old and will still look pretty good once cleaned up.
Spent a few hours last week cleaning using ZEP heavy duty commercial floor stripper and a green scrubby by hand. I'm hoping in April that I can rent/borrow the flooring machine and give it a good strip, wax and polish. I also have a few tiles that need replacing so i need to see if I can source the same ones or something close before i do that.
I need to go back and see if I can re-host the images since the photobucket is down.
It's going on 10 years old and will still look pretty good once cleaned up.
Attachments
JR 42
Well-known member
Looks like it's holding up well!
Ruh-roh, last year Mannington ceased VCT production and sold their plant to Armstrong, who closed it.
Armstrong still makes a pretty full line; Congoleum and Azrock Tarkett are still offering a few products as well. For a couple loose tile it'd be worth checking out a Habitat or similar salvage shop to scare something up.
JR
Ruh-roh, last year Mannington ceased VCT production and sold their plant to Armstrong, who closed it.
Armstrong still makes a pretty full line; Congoleum and Azrock Tarkett are still offering a few products as well. For a couple loose tile it'd be worth checking out a Habitat or similar salvage shop to scare something up.
JR
blacksporty
Well-known member
I just picked up 720 Sq ft at a Lowes that was closing for $63.00, thanks for the install tips, hoping to do mine in the next month or so.
I was wondering that as i couldn't find much during my searches. I found some armstrong stuff at the local lowes and HD, just need to see how close it matches; I'm surprised i didn't save any extra, i had 2 cases and ended up selling them a few years back cause i didn't think i would use it
Great post. You've had your floor in almost as long as mine, did mine in 2007.
My post, see first post, and then go to last page with update: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11812
QUESTION, I saw some of your pics above... After you moped on the wax, do you have pics before you used the buffer pad on it? I think I saw them above? Does it make it a lot more shiner with the pad??? I think they say to wait 48 hours before you do the buffer for wax to cure.
I'm assuming this was after you mopped on the wax?
and this was after the buffer polisher?
My friend may bring a buffer over Monday and said it will look way better after buffing it, and they said to do one more coat of wax mopped on right after the buffing for spectacular results. He does floor for a living. Guess the extra coat after the buffing is his secret sauce.
My post, see first post, and then go to last page with update: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11812
QUESTION, I saw some of your pics above... After you moped on the wax, do you have pics before you used the buffer pad on it? I think I saw them above? Does it make it a lot more shiner with the pad??? I think they say to wait 48 hours before you do the buffer for wax to cure.
I'm assuming this was after you mopped on the wax?
and this was after the buffer polisher?
My friend may bring a buffer over Monday and said it will look way better after buffing it, and they said to do one more coat of wax mopped on right after the buffing for spectacular results. He does floor for a living. Guess the extra coat after the buffing is his secret sauce.
ford33
Well-known member
Cold weather experience question...
I like your VCT floor and thanks so much for posting updates over the years. That is valuable information to share.
Dipper, I notice you live in Rochester, NY where the weather gets cold. On the Armstrong website it states that VCT should be installed in temperature controlled environments. Specifically not to be used where environment temperature falls below 55 F. It must get below that temperature in your garage during winter yet your tile still looks good and must be adhering well.
What are your thoughts on this tile install in cold winter months? Any helpful hints to share about cold weather use? I live in Chicago where my garage temperature could fall to 35 degrees in the winter.
From the Armstrong website:
"Resilient flooring should only be installed in temperature-controlled
environments. It is necessary to maintain a constant temperature before,
during, and after the installation. Therefore, the permanent or temporary
HVAC system must be in operation before the installation of resilient
flooring."
Also...
"During the service life of the floor, the temperature should never rise above
100°F (38°C) nor fall below 55°F (13°C). The performance of the flooring
material and adhesives can be adversely affected outside this temperature
range."
I like your VCT floor and thanks so much for posting updates over the years. That is valuable information to share.
Dipper, I notice you live in Rochester, NY where the weather gets cold. On the Armstrong website it states that VCT should be installed in temperature controlled environments. Specifically not to be used where environment temperature falls below 55 F. It must get below that temperature in your garage during winter yet your tile still looks good and must be adhering well.
What are your thoughts on this tile install in cold winter months? Any helpful hints to share about cold weather use? I live in Chicago where my garage temperature could fall to 35 degrees in the winter.
From the Armstrong website:
"Resilient flooring should only be installed in temperature-controlled
environments. It is necessary to maintain a constant temperature before,
during, and after the installation. Therefore, the permanent or temporary
HVAC system must be in operation before the installation of resilient
flooring."
Also...
"During the service life of the floor, the temperature should never rise above
100°F (38°C) nor fall below 55°F (13°C). The performance of the flooring
material and adhesives can be adversely affected outside this temperature
range."
Absolute hogwash. Compaines have to do say that because they haven't tested in every extreme. I've had my floor down for 12 years now, no issues and east coast, and had in UNWAXED for 12 years. Just waxed it for the first time a few weeks ago.