Vct...omg!

[HotShoe]

I learned something very important about VCT yesterday, make sure you can live with it forever because it is a major PITA to get up.

I spent 10 hours scraping up 1,000 square feet. Thank God it was originally done half *** or it would easily have taken days. It is brutal, back breaking work that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. In the end the best tool was a thin metal scraper with a lot of elbow grease and sweat.

As if the labor wasn't enough now I have a tacky surface/residue to contend with. Hopefully the diamond grinder from HD will knock it off since it isn't too thick.

Just a FYI.

 

[marcusicp]

If you heat it with a torch it will come up very easy. A large torch like this: link. Also, an "ice scraper" with a sharp edge is best for removing them like this: link.

With two people, one controls to torch heating tiles while the other picks them up with the ice scraper and sets them to the side. The heat releases the glue and the tile can be picked up whole and very easily. Just don't get them too hot as they can burn.

Once the tiles are all removed, use a tool like this: link too remove any left over glue.

It's really easy once you have done a few 100,000 sq. ft. or so!

 

[jocool1585]

You need to go to your local rental store and rent one of these: http://www.edcoinc.com/strippers-tile-shark.html

Shouldn't cost more than $50 bucks or so for a half day. The Grand Rental Station near me rents them for about that price + a fresh blade.

 

[DHS]

I have always wondered how good the scraper blades that go in a reciprocating saw work.

 

[RivennHewn]

Sure hope it isn't the old stuff that's full of asbestos!

 

[HotShoe]

If you heat it with a torch it will come up very easy. A large torch like this: link. Also, an "ice scraper" with a sharp edge is best for removing them like this: link.

With two people, one controls to torch heating tiles while the other picks them up with the ice scraper and sets them to the side. The heat releases the glue and the tile can be picked up whole and very easily. Just don't get them too hot as they can burn.

Once the tiles are all removed, use a tool like this: link too remove any left over glue.

It's really easy once you have done a few 100,000 sq. ft. or so!

I had to do this solo and with it being mid 90's here during the day the last thing I want to use is a torch. I did buy that exact scraper but I returned it. For my floor the thin steel scraper worked better.

You need to go to your local rental store and rent one of these: http://www.edcoinc.com/strippers-tile-shark.html

Shouldn't cost more than $50 bucks or so for a half day. The Grand Rental Station near me rents them for about that price + a fresh blade.

I saw that at the HD but I was too stubborn to try it. The one they had didn't feel like it had any weight to it and I doubted how effective it would be. In retrospect I should have tried it.

Sure hope it isn't the old stuff that's full of asbestos!

Nope! I had it tested and it came back negative.

 

[Garage Flooring]

YIKES! I can't say I have ever tried getting VCT up and will definitely NEVER try!

 

[perry71]

been there done that. working in commercial floor covering removeing old tile was never a fun day. some would pop right up while others would take all day to chip away at it. i have used hand held propane torch but never nothing larger.