any tips on vct install.? Do I need to fill the staple holes and seams in the 1/4″ luann? Do you use an all purpose adhesive? what tools do you cut with? How long before foot traffic? Thanks Rob
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buy or rent a real vct cutter... (kinda like a large paper cutter but the knife comes down) it will speed everything you do and make you look like you know what ur do'n
p
Here is a sample of one of the vct floors I recently did.
I would recommend floating the whole floor out with a
a product called Ardex feather finish. Any imperfections that
are in your floor will telegraph through to vct. I usually end
up floating a floor at least twice and sometimes three times
before I even think about spreading my glue. With a high gloss
shine you can see every imperfection underneath. Before spreading
glue I would make sure all dust,dirt is thourghly cleaned up, as
what will happen is a piece of dirt will get left in the glue and
it will show through in the new floor.
I believe home depot sales a glue for vct made by Henry. When dry
it is clear letting you know that you can start laying tile. Don't
do it before because your tiles will slide around. Most rental stores
have a vct cutter that you can rent but a heat gun or a mapp torch
will work with a utility knife. Use the torch from the back
side of the tile and don't over heat as it can show through to the
front. That is what I use as it heats the tile faster.
As far as foot traffic, the earlier the better,it helps the tile
stick to the glue or you could rent a linoleum roller and roll
the whole floor in both directions.
But the key to a good looking floor is in the prep. The floor
pictured here I coated 3 times w/ardex and you can still see
imperfections(sorry for the size of the pict.) showing through.
The second key to a good looking floor is in the layout. Making
sure you have equal pieces around the perimeter and no thin slivers
either. Adjust accordinly so that you have no less than a 6" piece
on the edges.
Edited to add that this floor has 5 different colors so you can
get real creative with vct.
Edited 7/24/2005 7:48 am ET by butch
Edited 7/24/2005 7:48 am ET by butch
BUtch: Really looks great. Nice to see someone else likes the patchwork quilt design. We did same w/ 10 different granite tile patterns in our kitchen. Tile setter thought it would look like crap, but came out beautiful. Looks like you did the same thing we did - a random layout of colors. Hope it doesn't catych on - we like the uniqueness of the idea.DonThe GlassMasterworks - If it scratches, I etch it!
<did same w/ 10 different granite tile patterns >You gonna tell us this and no pictures?Wow, and I was pulling my hair out w/5 colors. I can't imagine10.<g><hope it doesn't catch on - we like the uniqueness of the idea.>Well I think it's to late, the sales person that I work withis going crazy with it.Thanks for the compliment now I wish I could downsize the picture.Everybody says it is easy but I sure can't figure it out
Butch: as an ex guard at GITMO, I believe in torture! Sorry, no photos. At least not yet. I'll Take some & then see if I can figure out how to post them. Realize that we've had a digital camera for three yrs & just last month found out how to get photos out of it.I have to admit that the 10 pattern patchwork waws an act of desperation. We couldn't really afford granite tile, but we had gone to the Coverings show in Orlando three straight yrs & acquired a whole bunch of granite tiles from abandoned displays, along w/ one whole room of Italian porcelain tile, just for the sweat equity of removing it. Realized we didn't enough of anything to do anything rational with. Bits & pieces of about 8 different patterns. Wife had the brilliant idea of the patchwork quilt. Bounced it of'n the punkinhaid of an artist/decorator friend & she (DW) started playing around w/piles of tiles in the kitchen about 2 yrs before we got to tile setting point. We really liked the idea, decided we needed more tiles & bought enough to finish the job. I do glass work, so I could cut tiles to shape on my MK tile/g to make decorative accent pieces & polish their edges on a large diamond grit surface lap machine. We laid it all out, picked up the rows & piled them up along the side of the room for the tile setter. The rest, as they say, is history.DonThe GlassMasterworks - If it scratches, I etch it!
Just saw your post
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Edited 2/22/2006 9:29 pm ET by prosecho
Anyone for Twister?