After months and months of reading this excellent forum, I finally have something to post. Thanks to Fred at Alpha Garage, I have finally finished my floor in our new garage addition. I finished the VCT last Fall, but temps dropped too quickly to apply the clear epoxy until this week.
Wolverine Epoxy over VCT
- Thread starter GeorgeT
- Start date
On Edge
Well-known member
Wow that looks fantastic. What did you do as far as prep work for the clear?
Nice job on the finish!
I wonder, supposing you opted for one color scheme instead of checkers; would you still feel now after doing this project, that VCT under epoxy would still be time and cost effective, or would you go all epoxy? Just curious for my own garage. How long did the tile take to lay?
I wonder, supposing you opted for one color scheme instead of checkers; would you still feel now after doing this project, that VCT under epoxy would still be time and cost effective, or would you go all epoxy? Just curious for my own garage. How long did the tile take to lay?
The prep work for the clear was pretty easy. Just lightly sand the VCT with 80 grit...vacuum the dust and then wipe the floor with a light dish soap and water mixture to make sure no dirt/grease was left behind. Since the VCT was just laid down and not used yet, there were no real grease/oil/contamination issues to be overly concerned with. The VCT took a long time...at least for me...since it was my first time ever laying it and I was way too **** about seams/tile alignment/ tiling around garage door rails...etc. I did not track my time, but I would guess 20-30 hrs? usually two hrs at a time after the kids went to bed. For reference, the total area is 980 sq ft. Since I only has two hour windows to work, I just used my Porter Cable 6" orbital polisher with a sanding disc and my creeper to roll around on.
I really dig the 2x2 checker look, but going with a single color epoxy (Wolverine Liqutile) would be a lot less work.
I really dig the 2x2 checker look, but going with a single color epoxy (Wolverine Liqutile) would be a lot less work.
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Not to hijacked your thread but, I have been trying to decide which route to go with my garage floor. Btw Your floor looks great I've been building my garage going on 2 years. (lots of issues with one of my contractors) My concrete guy talked me into colored concrete with clear sealer. It turned out terrible. I and him are not sure why. He resealed it three times. All with same result. A cracked looking inconsistent looking finish. Up until recently I thought my only alternative was grinding sealer and concrete, but then I found out about VCT tlles. I would like to know more about epoxying over them for a nice shiny finish. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
JC23
Well-known member
Nice job! I'm diggin the look.
I don't know where you are located or what your door tracks are made from, but I found that cutting them off an inch or so off the floor keeps them from rusting.
And thanks for the info. I didn't know you could do that.
That's the exact floor that I want, though I may go the easier route of a straight horizontal/vertical design as opposed to your diamond design to remove a bunch of tile cuts at the edges.
So the epoxy, were you concerned at all about the floor becoming slippery when wet? Is it slippery when wet?
So the epoxy, were you concerned at all about the floor becoming slippery when wet? Is it slippery when wet?
oldmanz350
Member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2011
- Messages
- 11
Where to Buy Wolverine 1109 Epoxy Clear ?
AlphaGarage
Well-known member
George - looks fantastic!
Good news - bad news...
The bad news is that BondTite 1109 is no longer available.
The good news is that Wolverine has improved the formula even more and it's now available as BondTite 1115, and we can get it out to you pronto!
It's not on our website yet (long story) so best to just call, 877-333 GARAGE (4272).
Being only a single coat (two if you want to apply the optional clear coat of EnduraShield 2254) once the VCT is down it actually is a pretty quick process compared to our BondTite 1101 primer, LiquaTile 1187 top coat, and EnduraShield 2254 clear coat. Of course the time involved to initially apply the VCT depends on your particular situation.
Good news - bad news...
The bad news is that BondTite 1109 is no longer available.
The good news is that Wolverine has improved the formula even more and it's now available as BondTite 1115, and we can get it out to you pronto!
It's not on our website yet (long story) so best to just call, 877-333 GARAGE (4272).
Being only a single coat (two if you want to apply the optional clear coat of EnduraShield 2254) once the VCT is down it actually is a pretty quick process compared to our BondTite 1101 primer, LiquaTile 1187 top coat, and EnduraShield 2254 clear coat. Of course the time involved to initially apply the VCT depends on your particular situation.
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Very nice garage!! Very well done on the diamond pattern, you put a lot of pain and labor into that!!
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Fred (AlphaGarage)
So it's better than 1109 how?
It still requires sanding the VCT with 80 grit sand paper? Any additional UV resistance?
Cost still the same?
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Fred (AlphaGarage)
So it's better than 1109 how?
It still requires sanding the VCT with 80 grit sand paper? Any additional UV resistance?
Cost still the same?
Cave_Dweller
Member
Looks great, George! Any plans for a urethane top coat .?
I'm laying my VCT this week ans plan to use the 1115 after that. not sure if I'll finish it with Endurashield. any thoughts?
I'm laying my VCT this week ans plan to use the 1115 after that. not sure if I'll finish it with Endurashield. any thoughts?
jsraaf
Well-known member
That floor looks superb. 
jsraaf
Well-known member
@GeorgeT - did you do anything special to transition at the edge the tiles under the garage door? Also curious whereabouts you live - do you see lots of rain/snow where you are?
drop the hammer
New member
My VCt and bond title coating held up really well. I have quads and sled and a daily driver in my garage. Sleds are always brought in on dollies and stored with the carbide runners on rubber pads. I did notice some yellowing of the clear epoxy near the door opening on my white tiles after two years (north facing). I too did a two foot by two foot black and white checker pattern. I also used some traction compound from alpha garage, aluminum oxide, if I remember right. I eventually had some of my VCt tiles lift where the suv parks and water sits. I could have prevented it by recoating with another top coat to ensure the seems we're sealed, so this is what I am recommending, re application of a top coat periodically if u have water sitting on the coating and you r driving over them daily.
George, how is the epoxy holding up? Does it scratch up like VCT waxes do? Are you still happy with it? Looking for something that will hold up better than the waxes to protect and seal my VCT, but don't want to add more headache and a lot more money if the epoxy acts the same way...
laserman35
Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2012
- Messages
- 22
Is epoxy over VCT a new ideal?
I'm just wondering what kind of gamble this is going to be for me.
I'm just wondering what kind of gamble this is going to be for me.
JimVonBaden
Well-known member
Not at all. So long as your VCT is clean, oil free, and no products on it, the Epoxy is a great way to make VCT even more durable. You might want to consider some gritty fill to the epoxy made to reduce slippery conditions when wet.
Jim
AlphaGarage
Well-known member
Not at all. So long as your VCT is clean, oil free, and no products on it, the Epoxy is a great way to make VCT even more durable. You might want to consider some gritty fill to the epoxy made to reduce slippery conditions when wet.
Jim
Probably the best grit for most residential use is a polymer grit. Unlike aluminum oxide and other grit products polymer grit has rounded edges, that allows for easy clean up. The sharper grit is tough to clean, it shreds mop heads, and can leave nasty road rash on uncovered skin.