A reader writes: "I take an account that has a white VCT floor but there is seepage that is difficult to remove. Any suggestions would be appreciated."

First of all, the floor is relatively new yet has some tremendous crumbling problems due to what I believe was a very poor insulation. Based on the data available, it appears the contractor installed the VCT (vinyl blended tile) on a damp/wet concrete floor that should have been allowed to completely dry first. There may be some issues with the water barrier since it appears that the floor is "weeping" which indicates moisture coming upwards from beneath. Nosotros noted that the edifice is at the bottom of a loma and when information technology rains heavily, the flooring weeps within a few days.

Some other concern is that there are raised swirl marks on the floor which is indicative of a poor installation. The contractor apparently troweled out the mastic (call up gum), set the VCT and failed to roll it to flatten out the glue. In one case it hardened, it was only a matter of time earlier foot traffic and rolling stock would cause the floor to show the swirl marks. I must stress that this is NOT a sign of poor buffing.

Another mistake the installer made was that they scrubbed the floor too soon which allowed wet to seep in the tiles making the water based mastic fluid. This may be why you are experiencing the seepage betwixt the tiles. You might consider using a razor blade to scrape most of information technology off earlier scrubbing with the appropriate pad or brush. I advise y'all NOT use a lot of finish/seal until you are sure the seepage has stopped. Mayhap one or two light coats showtime and give it time to seep dorsum out or indicate the seepage is over.

Your comments and feedback are always appreciated. I hope to hear from you before long. Until and so, keep information technology 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.