Help, my garage has vinyl kitchen tile flooring!

Bluto · 06-20-03, 08:11

I just bought a house. A previous owner installed vinyl kitchen tile in the garage.

I would like to remove it and finish the floor. All of the garage floor treatments I see need a perfectly clean surface. How can I get the glue up?

Has anyone used U Coat It ?

Here is a pic from the home inspection. (The garage is now clean.

) The vinyl tile covers the entire floor. Looks like they had some traction problems in wet weather, there are tire marks on the floor near the door. I've been OK so far. Thanks.

unclearty · 06-20-03, 08:20

A trick an old timer showed me...get a block of dry ice..using VERY heavy gloves..like welder's mitts, lay the DI directly on a single floor tile and count to 60..remove the DI and the tile should POP off the floor with a putty knife. I watched him do this in a bathroom...worked like a charm. Just be VERY careful handling dry ice..it WILL give you a very nasty burn if it touches your bare skin.

jessispop · 06-20-03, 08:35

before using any epoxy floor coating I would do a search there have been a few threads covering this topic, universal opinion seems to be have it professionally done or dont bother.

IndigoGTI · 06-20-03, 09:18

The dry ice idea sounds good, and you could use muriatic acid to clean up any remaining glue. While you are at it, WASH THE SUBURBAN!!!

Bluto · 06-20-03, 10:02

Thanks for the help. Some of the tiles are already loose/missing. The dry ice should take care of the rest. I'll try the muriatic acid where the tile is already missing. Getting the old adhesive up is my biggest worry.

I'll search for threads on floor epoxy/coatings. Guess I can look into garage tiles as well. Then I would not have to worry about the existing adhesive.

And that is the previous owners dirt-burban and junk.

Nikon · 06-20-03, 10:24

When I did my floor I cleaned it very thoroughlty with muriatic acid. Then rinsed thoroughly and let it dry for a week. I used Prat and Lambert grey industrial epoxy paint (two coats).

It has been ten years since and it is still perfect. I use my garage every day and it has not worn through, pealed, or chipped anywhere.

The prep was the hard part.

bet993 · 06-20-03, 11:09

I would think an adhesive remover should be used first to get all the old glue up first. Then you will have to inspect to see if there was any oil or other contaminants on the floor prior to the tile application and remove it. Then the acid wash. It would appear your prep work is going to be quite involved.

You asked about Ucoatit. I think I am going to pull the trigger on this stuff in about a month. I have talked to a couple of people who have used it and love it. So far I have not found anyone who has had a bad experience with the product, but then I haven’t found many people who have used it period.

SpaceMonkey · 06-20-03, 08:55

Quote:

Originally posted by bet993
You asked about Ucoatit. I think I am going to pull the trigger on this stuff in about a month. I have talked to a couple of people who have used it and love it. So far I have not found anyone who has had a bad experience with the product, but then I haven?t found many people who have used it period.

I just received my UCoatIt order today.

I too have heard nothing but great things about it. Hopefully it won't rain all weekend like it's supposed to.

As soon as I am able to paint, I'll post my review and some pictures.

JimS · 06-21-03, 02:57

Have you talked with a tile floor installer? Seems to me they'd know how to clean up the glue.

js73751 · 06-21-03, 06:27

FYI, The people at u-coat-it told me that I could not apply their product
over any concrete floor that had either been painted or tiled with an adhesive. Why not re-tile with VCT tile. Lots of references on several of the Vette, Viper, and Prowler sites.
JS

Bluto · 06-23-03, 11:27

Most tile/glue removers are used with the intention of re-tiling or carpeting over the surface. Because of the porous nature of concrete, I don't think I'll ever be able to paint/epoxy . As js73751 has found "The people at u-coat-it told me that I could not apply their product over any concrete floor that had either been painted or tiled with an adhesive."

VCT - Vinyl Composition Tile? Another member, bjones211 has used it.

I've priced MotorMat and Race Deck. VCT looks like the best option for me. Has anyone else here used it? Any links to other sites? Google has not been helpful. Advantages or disadvantages?

Shiny Lil Detlr · 06-23-03, 12:17

I used VCT in my basement, though not in the garage. Its easy to apply, what I would recommend is to get the VCT laid and then throw down a mat over top of it, like the ones they sell for ~100 at sam's club and menards.