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At Titus Restoration, we are more than a nationwide concrete polishing contractor. We also specialize
in VCT and VCT Mastic Removal.
VCT (Or vinyl composition tile) is inexpensive is the short run and is a widely popular flooring
choice. Because it needs to be washed and waxed regularly, maintenance cost higher than
polished concrete, and eventually needs removal and re-installation.
In this video we will discuss the procedure for removing VCT for customers who are switching
to polished concrete or replacing their VCT.
It is important to always walk the job with the superintendent and discuss your scope
of work with him to make sure their expectations are managed.
If your project has a vinyl base installed, this must be removed (if contracted to do
so) prior to removing the VCT. As demonstrated, remove the base by sliding a putty knife between
the wall and the wall baseboard from the top, pulling off as much you can by hand while
continuing to scrape with the putty knife. Once removed, dispose of the base as it cannot
be reused.
After the base has been removed, prepare for VCT Removal, using an air compressor, pneumatic
oiler, and Trewlaney scrapers.
Plug in your air compressor and attach the air hose to the pneumatic oiler.
Connect a second air hose from the Oiler to the Trewlaney.
Once the oiler connection is set up, fill it with air tool oil prior to using the Trewlaneys.
Without the properly oiling the line to the Trewlaney, rust and other damage will occur.
When using the air compressor and removing VCT always remember to wear the required safety
gear such as gloves, goggles, earplugs or a respirator.
The Trewlaney is a pneumatic scraper that will allow the tile to be lifted off using
a vibrating motion. Before starting the Trelawney, check to make sure the blades are sharp. You
can easily change the blades by removing the 2 screws in the blade, and attaching a new
blade. Do not misplace the Trelawney bolts and screws.
Make sure you have plenty of extra blades with you before you leave for a job. Depending
on the size of the job, you might need to replace during removal.
Turn on the air compressor and place the blade of the scraper on a seam of tile. This will
be a good place to start to extract the tile.
Hold onto the scraper steady and push with force. This will release the tile from the
floor.
NOTE: During the Trewlaney operation, it is important to frequently drain the air compressor
of the moisture. Also check the oil levels in the oilers and make sure they haven't been
compromised by too much moisture in the lines -- this is indicated by a milky oil.
Mastic will be under the tiles. This is a form of glue the contractor used to set the
tiles. There are a few forms of mastic.
Black mastic is an older version of glue that contractors used pre 1984. As black mastic
may contain asbestos, especially is used under 9" square tiles, it is important to contact
the project manager to let them know of if Black Mastic is discovered, some states require
certified and licensed asbestos removal and there are heavy fines if these regulations
are not followed.
Tan mastic is the newer form of tile and carpet glue. This is easier to dispose by scraping
and polishing, and does not contain asbestos.
After all of the VCT has been extracted, sweep all of the remains up and mastic removal process
can begin. We will discuss mastic removal in another training video.
Benefits to removing VCT and carpet and polishing the natural concrete are:
Lower Maintenance, Increased Durability, Highly Cost Effective, Has an Aesthetic Value, Additional
Design Flexibility, and creates Sustainable Architecture
Remember to always be clean and courteous when you on the job. If any questions or doubts
arise during a job, ALWAYS call and ask someone. We want to do the job right the first time!
We hope this helps you in your training. We strive to provide the highest quality our
customers want and deserve.
Thanks for watching.