What to fill in CVT gap with (intend to vinyl tile over) for a short-term underlayment fix?
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Hello! I am a female with a desk job who’s okay at many fix-its but haven’t done flooring before.
My aunt’s bathroom has 2 missing CVTs at her vanity in the small bath, and she would like to repair the floor before we all visit for Christmas. Her landlord actually plans to replace the bathroom floor, but not until early next year.
It’s okay with the landlord if we put peel-and-stick vinyl tile over the CVT for now, he’ll even let us subtract materials costs from her rent (but not cost of any new tools).
So, for best ease & lowest cost, for a floor that will be in place for 1-2 months only, any suggestions for filling in the gap?
My first thought was more CVT but I hear it is hard to cut (I’m not super strong but I’m stronger than my Aunt – lifting 35lbs is easy, lifting 50lbs is a big effort). I do have a hair dryer & utility knife, if I heat up the new CVT tiles & use a new knife blade should that work? I’m happy cutting stuff if my blade can handle the job (even did a freehand miter for outside corners on plastic-y sanitary base one time – too many outside corners too close to just wrap it on that job).
My second thought was fill in with luan, is luan also 1/8″ thick (that’s how thick the in-place CVTs are)?
Votes or other thoughts?
Thanks!
Replies
hey baby
My apologies.
But, you can just score and snap VCT tile. Us a utility knife with a new blade and a straight edge. Score top side a couple times and then snap over a hard edge
If you score both sides in the same place, might be an easier snap.
Use whatever good construction adhesive you have or buy a qt of VCT tile adhesive. Read the labels on the vct adhesive for proper application. If you could use a wall paper scraper to scrape off the old adhesive all the better. VCT adhesive will require a knotched trowel of knife-might be best to get a small tube of PL Premium and glue it down with that-your height difference might not be as great unscraped. An PL Premium sticks to ANYTHING!
Best of luck and welcome to breaktime.
VCT cutting here I come
Got it! Scoring & snapping sounds good.
My cousin said it was super hard without a cutter, but maybe he just wanted to make sure he didn't get the job (don't worry, he's out of town until Christmas anyway).
small tube of PL premium sounds like an excellent idea for this small & short-term job :)
If.........
you have trouble cutting...........
have a torch or maybe the hair dryer.
and tin snips.
warm the tile on the backside, cut the line with the snips from the top. This softens the tile but when you do it this way, it nibbles up the edge of the tile. For a pretty smooth cut-score and snap.
The tile shouldn't be cold-just brought in from the garage here in Ohio.........
And I wouldn't heat it up to score and snap, but warm would be just right.
Never believe a cousin.
And temper the word of an unknown on the internet.
Neatness may not count
Excellent.
Luckily, since this will be in place for 3 months tops, and will that entire time be covered by the peel & stick vinyl tiles, the exact neatness of the edge won't be so critical! Plus, the cut edges are both under the vanity toe kick.
Don't tell my aunt that, though. As far as she knows, all edges will be pristine!
just one more thing.
Why cover the old tile for just a few months?
If yes, realize that the two different material might work against each other. The glue from the top might actually cause the below tile to come loose. Glue three things together and one of the bonds might break. They to do the layout so tile edges aren't the same new to old.
Brain fart here
what is CVT?
VCT -- Vinyl composition tile.
I'd just patch the missing areas and paint the floor in a holiday pattern. Red and green, silver and gold... Could be fun.