In an attempt to remove a rug from atop a VCT floor, a reader found that the matting underneath was adhering to the tile. He reached out for suggestions on how to best eliminate the glue left behind.

Based on the details provided, you should be able to remove the slip resistant matting which has bonded with the VCT. First of all, this is 12” VCT (vinyl composite tile) that is approximately 20 plus years old and has been well maintained. After trying paint remover with mixed results, you then tried an orange peel based product with a plastic putty knife that dissolved the glue and the matting was removed but the VCT shows small dimples due to the way the mat touched the floor.

I believe you may be on the right track but encourage you to proceed with caution. Only test a small area being sure to wash/clean the floor with a neutral type detergent, rinse and allow to dry, inspect the results (especially the color/tint of the tiles) before proceeding. Do not assume that you can repair a damaged tile if you cause the color to set or fade.

You should also make sure the customer understands that due to the length of time (over 10 years) since the rug was moved and the VCT serviced, there may be a variation in colors due to sunlight, chemicals and simple aging process. Since the customer is planning on replacing the rug in exactly the same place, there may not be any reason for concern; however the goal should be to have the covered VCT matching the rest of the exposed tiles as closely as possible.

We will continue with this conversation in a future article.

Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean...

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.


posted on 9/10/2015