Comments on: Do I need to polish my newly installed vinyl VCT tiles?

By: pam kueber

pam kueber — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:20:43 +0000

Amanda – Please consult with a professional/expert about this issue.

Readers, don’t even try to post advice. I will delete it immediately.

On your individual floors, specific situations: Consult with professionals.

By: amanda

amanda — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:35:10 +0000

I’ve recently purchased a home with VCT under bad carpeting. The home itself is a total time-capsule (only one owner). Promise to post pictures after we close on the house!

What about the asbestos? I have a family and am concerned about safety. If we rip out the carpet and try to rehab the tile will it release? Anyone with experience here???

By: pam kueber

pam kueber — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:29:21 +0000

Hi Riina, Get with a professional/expert before you do anything with this tile. This particular post is about whether to polish NEW VCT, not the old stuff with asbestos. You can also see the links to the EPA’s websites — on both asbestos and lead — at the top of my Flooring Fast & Easy Page (as well as many others.) Again, though, everyone: Know what you are working with before you disturb original surfaces … consult with experts to identify the materials and use recommended environmental and safety practices to restore/renovate/dispose/whatever of them.

By: St. Christopher

St. Christopher — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:21:25 +0000

Hi, this is Riina, St. Christopher’s girlfriend. I am purchasing a home built in 1965 and most of the flooring is VCT tile. There is a box of extras in the attic that says asbestos in big letters. The previous owner was a smoker and many of the floor tiles are more brown than the original cream. The color contrast where rugs were or where replacement tiles have been laid is VERY noticeable. Does anyone have any good suggestions about how to clean it and maybe get the original color back? I noticed that several people suggested having the floor professionally buffed and polished, but in case funds are tight, any suggestions on products that might remove tobacco stains?

Thanks,

Riina

By: Mid Mod Pam

Mid Mod Pam — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:45:35 +0000

Vacation Barbie: In answer to your question, can you install VCT yourself? I am pretty sure the answer is ‘yes.’ This is not a DIY site so you should try other sources including professionals for definitive advice. But I can share a a few tips from my experience that may be helpful as you compile more info. (I had a flooring installer do it, with guidance from my contractor):

1 – Make sure your sub floor is adequately prepped – nails must be set and sealed properly – and the finish of the subfloor needs to be as smooth as humanly possible. Or: You could get bumps in your tile. There was an issue with my floor – they had to re-do most of it!

Relatedly – I have seen on some blog, where someone actually FLOATED a cement (I think) subfloor (not sure how thick) to get an absolutely smooth prep surface. The blog might be on my blogroll.

2 – As above – the mastic must be applied properly, smoothly, etc.

3 – And, there is some really heavy heavy roller the pro’s used to get the floor to stick really well.

By: Mid Mod Pam

Mid Mod Pam — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:40:23 +0000

RetroMeister, thanks for the tips! Alas, now there will be a Retro Renovation reader run on vintage Electroli. With me leading the way!

By: RetroMeister

RetroMeister — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:38:30 +0000

I wax and polish all floors using either a liquid wax or a paste wax and the best floor buffer ever built, the Electrolux triple head machine, always availble on Ebay. The wax makes all floors shimmer and shine, beware, damned slippery too!

By: VacationBarbie

VacationBarbie — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:19:37 +0000

Dotty…I live in Fresno, CA.

Speaking of wood floors I’m happy to report that the ones in the house I just bought (Closed today…yippee skippy!) are in FANTASTIC shape, or will be once we pull out the zillion or so staples and carpet tacking. I’m going to check out that Bona product.

To The Brick House….are you on a cement foundation or raised sub floor? I have a raised sub floor. My BBF went with me on my final walk though and has deemed my kitchen floor, “Disgustingly gross.” LOL I didn’t think it was that bad! Dirty, yes. Nothing that a little bit of bleach won’t cure….until I can decide what I want.

By: Femme1

Femme1 — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:39:49 +0000

John Q, regarding the hardwood floors refinished with poly: we had the same thing done, but now, 14 years later, the polyurethane coating is looking pretty scuffed. Up to now, all I’ve done is damp mop them and they’ve always looked great.

I recently found a product called Bona Hardwood Floor Refresher that makes poly-finished floors look like new again. The Bona Company makes a bunch of products for cleaning and shining wood floors. A friend of mine bought the whole “system” (special mop, various cleaning products) and she loves them too.

By: John Q

John Q — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:55:19 +0000

Hi All, I’m new to owning a home. When I bought my 1959 ranch I had the wood floors sanded and sealed with 3 coats of oil based poly by a professional. I assumed all I had to do was dust them as they are sealed. Am I WRONG about this??
Thanks, Q