I’ve done self-stick vinyl tiles and I’ve done ceramic tiles, but I’ve never done commercial vinyl tiles (the thick ones where the adhesive is trowelled on).
The instructions say to use a trowel with really small notches (1/32 X 1/16 X 5/64). That just doesn’t seem like enough adhesive. Am I supposed to trowel it on the floor AND on the tile? Unless someone tells me I’ve got a case of bad-thinking, that’s probably what I’ll do.
-Don (maybe my next screen name should be DonCanDoSomeThings)
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Replies
Don,
I did a job recently with those tiles and put the adhesive on the floor only. They adhered just fine.
I would think that trying to put the adhesive on the tiles would make a heck of a mess and besides, you need to let the adhesive set up before installing so you'd have to find a place to set all of your adhesive covered tiles!
When in doubt, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Rich
just on the floor... less is better or your tile will float and slide all over glue will come out the seams/cracks... takes very little glue for VCT go on thin then notch
p
oh yeah how thick was that glue on the self stick ones you put down... think about it
p
Don,
I recently put the Armstrong vct tile (vinyl composition tile) in my kitchen. I installed over existing sheet vinyl flooring by leveling out the texture of the old floor with leveling compound. I made shure to cut out any loose edges or tears with a utility knife. Definely do not apply any adhesive to the back of the tile.
Just snap chalklines in the center and work the glue with a fine square trowell as the manuacturer specifies. Let it dry for 15 minutes or so and carefully start your layout. I did fine without a professional cutter, but that migh speed the edging up a lot. Use a propane torch to soften the tile to fit any strange corners or pipes.
Make shure you put the right side down, or you will have to use more sealer. good luck.
Thanks for the input. Guess I'll be doing it the way I'm supposed to. I will need to smooth out the floor a bit before I put down the adhesive. A coat of primer on the plywood should be sufficient.
-Don
I will need to smooth out the floor a bit before I put down the adhesive. A coat of primer on the plywood should be sufficient.The quality job you want will be determined by the amount of prepyou do before you spread any glue. "ANY" imperpections WILLshow through your tile. So now is the time to get it right. And when you say a coat of primer what are you refering to?Here is a picture of me preping a floor using Ardex Feather Finishwith a 18" trowel.The second picture is of a floor I did recently. You can get real creative w/ a bunch of colors. Sorry for the size, as Ihaven't learned yet how to downsize yet, but like someonehere as said "It's so dam easy" but I haven't got a clue.
Butch, you need to download Irfan or maybe Irfanview and use that. It is very easy, takes just a few steps, and you can convert file types or shrink file size faster than we can explain it. One really key item ... if you shrink a file, do a save-as with a slightly different name. I have a sub-folder for each job labeled "small-size" and I save-as the altered pics there. The issue is, once you shrink the file, you can't go back. For some one-time pics I don't care, but for most I want to be able to print high resolution pics if necessary.
download Irfan or maybe Irfanview and use that. It is very easy, takes just a few stepsI have downloaded Infranview but I couldn't do anything else withit. Still having problems figuring all this computer stuff out, 0
Ok. Well, here's a brief outline of how to reduce a file size. If you do a search here, there is an indepth discussion aboutb Irfan somewhere.
All of the following are "click-on" comands unless noted:
File
Open
"search around until you find the file you want to work on. A preview of the picture shows in the window which makes it easier to find the righht one"
Open
Image
Resize/resample
click on 640x460
Ok
File
Save As
"give it a new name and click ok"
Thanks, I'll give it a try but don't hold your breath. :(edited to add do you have a link to infranview? I had it on my computer but have deleted because I wasn't using it.
Edited 8/14/2005 6:44 am ET by butch
If you have Windows XP and "my pictures" all you have to do is open the picture, right click and choose resize picture, The popup window should default to "small" then save it and it will default to the original file name with (small) added. I have one that was forwarded to me a .98mb (980k), did the above and new file 40k. Irfan is a good program but I find the method above quite easy.
Bob
I have windows xp so I'll give it a try, thanks
Make sure you read the instructions on the adhesive carefully. The stuff I have used in the past goes on the floor only and you have to allow it to dry before laying the tile. I remember doing a late night job, when the business was closed, and I didn't let the adhesive dry enough. I got seepage up through the seams and had a nightmare of a time getting things cleaned up. You don't want a bunch of adhesive with this type of installation. I don't know why you would have to prime the floor first, this could cause problems if the adhesive activates the primer. It doesn't make sense to make up your own procedure. If you encounter a problem, who will you turn to.
Just thought I'd post an update...
I installed that tile today. I used the recommended trowel. I worked out fine. The tiles look good and I'm sure they'll last a lot longer than the self-stick. But, I'm not a big fan of working with that adhesive. Hopefully, they will come out with a water-cleanup version someday. When I was done with the trowel, I just threw it away.
When I first looked at the notches in the trowel, they seemed too small to lay down enough adhesive, but I happened to take another look with my reading glasses on (I was reading the directions). Well... surprise, surprise. The notches aren't so small after all. I guess I there's more things than literature that require me to wear my reading glasses.
Thanks again for the help,
Don
I always buy a cheap trowel and toss it after the job. Usually along with the shirt and jeans I weas wearing, and the two or four pair of rubber gloves.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt