Expert: Stephen Hayes - 5/12/2006

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hello,
        We are interested in purchasing a vinyl floor tile that has an aluminum oxide finish, we love the coloring but it feels like your walking on sandpaper.  One salesman at a store said you can coat it with a water based poly, another said just put a coat of wax on it ( which we really don't want to do,  that would cause higher maintenance) and another told us nothing would stick to it?   thanks!
Answer -
I would need to know the name of the manufacturer of the tile you want, if the tiles would be installed in a commercial or residential setting, what type of underlayment would be used directly under the tiles, what type of traffic the tiles would get (residential-sneakers, stocking feet, shoes, etc.  commercial-roller caster furniture, any abrasive outside track-in soils such as concrete, asphalt, dirt, gravel, etc.), and with that information, we could answer your question.  If you don't have any tile chosen, what type of tile do you have in mind, since some tile manufacturers do not make tiles with aluminum oxide finishes.

Answers to your questions!
   The vinyl pvc floor tile is made by Earthwerks a swiff-trane company.  It has a tuff-guard finish of the oxide, going over a 9x9 glue down tile that will be skim coated first.  The tile feels like your walking on sandpaper.  Someone told us a water based poly should stick to it because it has a matte finish with the aluminum oxide and someone else told us it won't because it's not wood?   Which is correct? Thanks\     It will have very light foot traffic, only two people in the house.  

Answer
Swiff-Train is a distributor, not a manufacturer, so the tiles are made by a manufacturer who possibly excusively allows Swiff-Train to distribute them.  I'm current getting an answer for you, so I will get back to you.  In order for me to get back to you, I think you will have to acknowledge receiving this reply and request my follow-up about the coating.  This tile is not supposed to feel like sandpaper, so you might want to check the sample again, to see if there is any problem with the sample you find rough.  I have a very main concern with the underlayment you indicate will be used, namely 9x9 tiles.  It is MOST important for you to know the make-up of those tiles.  Make SURE they are not old vinyl asbestos tiles.  If they do contain asbestos, you MUST seal them before installing anything over them.  Sealing may mean a very thick application of white milk latex.  Another thing you must know is what type of adhesive was used to install those 9x9 tiles.  If it was black, in color, it is probably the old type of cut-back adhesive.  Even if they don't contain asbestos, skim coating will not suffice.  Cut-back adhesive will negatively chemical react to new adhesive, causing the cut-back to become gummy and runny.  This will seep up and cause the entire installation to fail.  Also, if not asbestos, and not cut-back, make sure the old tiles are extremely firmly bonded down, because the application of new adhesive may become a problem.  Adhesive has a tremendous grabbing power, both up and down.  The grabbing power will hold the new tiles to the old tiles, however the grabbing power may be too much for the adhesive holding the 9x9 tiles to keep them down.  For your own benefit, please thoroughly investigate those old tiles and adhesive, and also make sure the installation specifications, as written by the tile manufacturer, allows you to use old tiles as a proper underlayment for your new tiles, no matter what type of tile you choose.  Also, some tile manufacturers allow only one layer of old flooring to be used as an underlayment for your new tiles, so be certain that your new tile installation is over just one old floor, not two or more.  I hope you consider having a knowledgeable, professional installer do this installation.  Again, please respond again, so I can get back to you about using a urethane coating on the surface of the Earthwerk tiles.