Will an adhesive prevent problems from PVC tile condensation?

[kennyr]

Hi; I'm new to this forum, and have tried to search the threads for a similar problem / question without much success.


Last year, I installed a new recycled PVC interlocking floor (18 inch Multy floor tiles from Menards) in my 350 sq. ft. garage. It was installed over an 8 year old discolored/stained epoxy coating that was wearing out but was clean and not peeling. During the past year, I am disappointed in the tiles due to 2 problems:


1). Ongoing moisture (condensation) under the floor from the cool nights/warm days, which due to the tight interlocked seams does not quickly evaporate/drain. This results in what looks to me like "efflorescence" of salt from the concrete coming up between the tile seams throughout the floor. It can be power washed off, but comes back in a few more weeks.


2). The floor does not remain completely flat, and will raise/bubble at the intersections of 4 tiles throughout the floor. This seems to be more noticeable on warmer days, likely from tile expansion/contraction and is somewhat less of a problem than #1 above.


I am considering removing the floating tiles, cleaning the floor and reinstalling using an adhesive compatible with vinyl tile. The manufacturer provides no information on the feasibility of using an adhesive on their recycled PVC tiles. If recommended, I could use a concrete sealant before the adhesive to try and reduce condensation under the tiles, etc.


Other than this, any advice, suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!


Ken

 

[Garage Flooring]

What you are seeing maybe a symptom of a bigger issue. If the adhesive works you may be causing more harm than good. Can you upload a photo of the underside of the tile and if possible what he floor looks like when you are having the issue.

Where are you located?
Did you have an issue with moisture before the tile?
What else is in the garage?
What type of cooling system do you use?
What is the relative humidity (approx) when this is happening?

I do not sell this product but I will try and help

 

[slickgt1]

First of, you should have installed the tiles on a warm day, and set your garage stuff on them during the warmest part to catch the expanded floor, and hold it in that position.

Second, this is probably why RaceDeck sells free flow tiles. As they breathe, and the moisture has somewhere to go.

Third, do not glue them down. No glue will be able to compensate for all the expansion and contraction they are currently experiencing.

Install them stretched, I bet most of your issues will go away.

 

[kennyr]

Hi Justin:

Thanks for the response, to answer your questions:

1). I'm in Illinois, about 50 miles east of Chicago.
2). Yes, before the tile was installed, the garage floor was often damp from condensation on warm mornings after after cool nights. The garage faces north, so the floor is never warmed from the sun.
3). The 3 car garage is attached to the house, and is not regularly heated or cooled (I have a gas wall heater can be used in the winter when the temps are below freezing. It's just used for car parking, tool storage, etc. (no shop).
4). The humidity is often high, above 50% many days.

I may have been mistaken that this is salt efflorescence...looking at it closer, the concrete is in very good shape, and the whitish color leaching up between the tile seams appears to be the disintegrated "chips" that were sprinkled on the original epoxy for color. There is no damage to the underside of the tiles.

The floor is often wet under the tile, as you can see from the attached pictures. My take is that the tiles act as a vapor barrier, and doesn't allow the condensation to evaporate, so the only route for the water to escape is from capillary action between the interlocking seams . I know there are hard interlocking tiles that have open spaces for water to escape, but I disliked the clicking noise when walking on them.

So I think my choices are to use a sealant / adhesive to provide a "real" vapor barrier and keep the condensation below, or to replace the solid pvc tile with something that allows the condensation to drain/escape.

Thanks again.

 

[kennyr]

Thanks SlickGT1, appreciate the response.

I'm starting to agree that an adhesive won't resolve things. I'll try reinstalling them in on a warm day in a "stretched" position to resolve the corner buckling. I don't think there's any way to resolve the condensation under the tile, and in the future will look at another product like RaceDeck that can allow the moisture below to evaporate/drain away.

Best wishes.