VCT questions

[Sport]

Hey guys I just moved into my new place with an oddly shaped 1 car garage. I think I've settled on VCT tiles. I don't want to spend a lot of money and the garage is mostly used for home gym, storage, and small hobbies. No cars parked here and I do all of my bigger projects in my garage @ work.

For floor prep, do I have to grind the worn paint off (pics). I'm trying to avoid that if it's possible. It looks like I've lost my window with temps in NJ so it won't be installed til spring.

Suggestions on prep or alternative materials are appreciated!!!

 

[Sport]

Close up of floor

 

[Shea]

If the paint comes up fairly easily you will want to remove it completely. If you don't, the tiles will pull up with the paint. If the paint is adhered well, you can prep the floor with 80-100 grit sandpaper in order to create some bite for the glue. A floor buffer with a sanding screen would do it quickly.

 

[Sport]

Awesome, thanks for the help. I have a buffer and will give it a shot. Does anyone know of any VCT glues that are ok to apply between 45-50 degrees?

 

[SunsetsAndFriends]

Awesome, thanks for the help. I have a buffer and will give it a shot. Does anyone know of any VCT glues that are ok to apply between 45-50 degrees?

This Henry product is freeze/thaw stable to 10 F. Henry products are sold at Home Depot.

http://www.wwhenry.com/content.aspx?id=418&View=Product&cID=95&pID=95

Here's the data sheet:

http://www.wwhenry.com/assets/Products/Documents/HENRY 430 Tech Data English 09-11.pdf

 

[The Cobbler]

can you introduce heat to the Garage? VCT glue likes heat as well as the tile likes to be warm for laying. cold tile on cold floor doesn't go well together. Also the glue takes a lot longer to dry off.

 

[SunsetsAndFriends]

can you introduce heat to the Garage? VCT glue likes heat as well as the tile likes to be warm for laying. cold tile on cold floor doesn't go well together. Also the glue takes a lot longer to dry off.

Very right! Maybe electric space heaters?

 

[mygarageone]

While we're on this subject , I too intend to use VCT in my garage. However the floor has been sealed will I need to rough it up too ?

 

[johndeereman]

Just skim it with self leveling floor patch ie.. Ardex feather finish.

 

[mygarageone]

Just skim it with self leveling floor patch ie.. Ardex feather finish.

So the adhesive won't do it's job with out doing what you recommend ?

 

[johndeereman]

The adhesive will stick but i have always skimed the exsisting floor to smooth high and low's and just give a clean "new" surface to work with.

 

[Sport]

I'll throw some electric heaters in there to help out until it cures

 

[mygarageone]

The adhesive will stick but i have always skimed the exsisting floor to smooth high and low's and just give a clean "new" surface to work with.

It actualy a fairly new floor 5 yrs old and the guy did a great job but thanks for the info.

 

[awdblazer]

so i have a floor i want to do this too as well, my issue is when it rains it comes up through my concrete
will this be a problem?

 

[JimVonBaden]

Awesome, thanks for the help. I have a buffer and will give it a shot. Does anyone know of any VCT glues that are ok to apply between 45-50 degrees?

I put mine down under freezing. I used Armstrong tile glue from home depot. Three solid years of hard work and they have not budged.

That said, I would not do VCT again. I would go with porcelain tiles instead. More durable by far!

 

[JimVonBaden]

so i have a floor i want to do this too as well, my issue is when it rains it comes up through my concrete
will this be a problem?

My floor sweats sometimes, like today, and it has not been an issue.

 

[3sum]

so i have a floor i want to do this too as well, my issue is when it rains it comes up through my concrete
will this be a problem?

In short, yes. If you have moisture coming up through the slab when it rains, your substrate is nowhere near prepared for a hard surface floor being glued down.

You'll need to seal that slab first and foremost. Once it is sealed, then you'll be ready for installing a floor VCT, porcelain, glue-down commercial carpet, etc. I wouldn't recommend a ceramic tile based on many not being anywhere near freeze/thaw stable as most porcelains are. Now if you're in South Florida, forget the last sentence.


Chris Pope
Locust Grove, GA
07 Sprint ABS
07 Tuono
85 V65 Magna

 

[awdblazer]

so i just have to seal it first before i put down the vct?
thanks

In short, yes. If you have moisture coming up through the slab when it rains, your substrate is nowhere near prepared for a hard surface floor being glued down.

You'll need to seal that slab first and foremost. Once it is sealed, then you'll be ready for installing a floor VCT, porcelain, glue-down commercial carpet, etc. I wouldn't recommend a ceramic tile based on many not being anywhere near freeze/thaw stable as most porcelains are. Now if you're in South Florida, forget the last sentence.


Chris Pope
Locust Grove, GA
07 Sprint ABS
07 Tuono
85 V65 Magna

 

[3sum]

Yes, but what exactly do you mean by when it rains it comes up through the concrete? Simple sweating or worse? If the slab just gets darker you should be fine sealing it. But to be sure, I'd seal it twice as that will give you a much better base to adhere the tile to.


Chris Pope Locust Grove, GA
07 Sprint ABS, 07.5 Tuono, 85 V65 Magna