VCT over epoxy? A few questions...

[orphancars]

I have an older epoxy floor -- Rustoleum Industrial epoxy. It's lasted a good 10+ years here in Texas, but I feel it is time for something new. Well, that and the missus has recently confessed that she never liked the color! The floor is a little scratched up from the gravel drive leading up to it and has some water staining from the daily driver's A/C condensation dripping and pooling.... so a confluence of issues is making me consider updating the floor after I get the garage walls and ceiling painted.

So I'm thinking that next go-'round could be VCT along with a couple of those vinyl garage mats that you see in Griots/CalCarCover, etc to go under the daily drivers to help with the condensation and gravel issues. I think that VCT might be a better choice as any epoxy I've researched says to remove all old material down to bare concrete before applying new epoxy.

The existing epoxy does have some "texture" in it in a few spots -- places where I didn't keep a totally wet edge as I was applying it -- does VCT need a totally smooth surface to avoid any sort of "imprinting" from showing up? I say that as a general contractor (general, not a tile-head!) said that they'd need to blast off the old epoxy, get a smooth surface, and then apply tile. If I gotta go through all that, why not just do epoxy? Or do some sort of epoxy with flakes over the existing if there was a way to just scuff the old floor to key it for new epoxy. I don't mind a less-than-glass surface just so it isn't slippery when wet, as the highway signs say....

Any advice from either the tile or epoxy folks out there? Looking for advice on either side.....


thx,

-jeff d
Fort Worth, TX

 

[tab2]

I would be interested in the answer as I may put tile over an old epoxy that is failing in many places. Not to hijack but I am looking to use porcelain or ceramic tile. I forget which one is better but I am sure I can find it with a quick search.

TAB

 

[orphancars]

No harm, no foul, no threadjack perceived

Porcelain or ceramic would be nice -- the garage area is 980 SF -- if it will be tile, it will have to be VCT

 

[orphancars]

??Anyone??

 

[mikevango]

the floor will have to be smooth. any imperfections will "telescope" thru. if you have an imperfection, say the size of a pencil eraser and you go over it with vct, it will look like there is a quarter under the tile. scrape any imperfections or loose paint down smooth. patch any holes or cracks with a portland based floor patch.

 

[mikevango]

I would be interested in the answer as I may put tile over an old epoxy that is failing in many places. Not to hijack but I am looking to use porcelain or ceramic tile. I forget which one is better but I am sure I can find it with a quick search.

TAB

if you are going to install ceramic the old epoxy will have to be removed!

 

[mikevango]

support your local mom and pop flooring store!

 

[orphancars]

Thanks Mike!

I wonder if there is someone out there that can tell me if there is some sort of standard for imperfections -- say like stuff that is less than 1/8" will imprint through. I get that large stuff like that pencil eraser will be a problem.........guessing that not everyone is getting the floor glass-smooth before the VCT goes on, and that the tile adhesive isn't imprinting.......

 

[35mastr]

If there are any imperfections in the floor. The VCT will show it.

Why not just rent a floor ginder and re epoxy the floor with a good quality epoxy such as the Wolverine stuff that many have used here.

Get the color that the misses likes and have a way better floor than the plastic tiles.

 

[G-force]

I would scrape it as clean as you can and use a leveling compound on surfaces that are uneven.

PM username: ssleepingbeauty

He is the resident expert on VCT here.

 

[XRetailGarageGuy]

If you have minor imperfections in the floor you should look at Flexible PVC Floor tiles. They will install easily over your existing floor and give the floor a amazing look very quickly. Lots of sales going on. check out www.garage-flooring.com for more info on a brand called Norsk.

 

[ssleepingbeauty]

Yes you will want to scrape off as much of the loose epoxy off of the floor as possible. Than I would take rented a floor sander (The buffer type) and sand the entire floor. Clean it up, then put a coat of floor prep on the entire floor. (I prefer http://www.ardex.com/productDetail....tParentID=2&ProductCategoryID=19&ProductID=65 ) Then after your prep completely dries you can sand it, clean it again and you will have a smooth surface ready for VCT.

You would probably be in it for less than a hundred bucks for the sander rental and prep materials.

 

[orphancars]

thanks for the help ssleepingbeauty!!!

No loose epoxy here -- sounds like the floor prep is the way to go........also sounds like the easiest/cheapest way to do.

My only dilemma now is VCT or porcelain tile -- finding quite a few deals locally that put VCT and porcelain tile about equal in price. Of course with the porcelain tiles there is a little more expense with the grout.......

Still researching my options -- thanks to all for the help!

-jeff d