Removing high gloss seam sealer on a low gloss lino? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

iflooru · 10-16-2007, 08:00 PM

Just as the title says, I need to remove ~12' of high gloss seam sealer on on a low gloss Armstrong sheet vinyl floor. Do not want to stain or mar the vinyl in anyway. Seam will then be re-sealed with low gloss seam sealer. Wanted to post this before I try. Will mineral spirits cut it? Seam sealer has been down for about 5 months. Suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

floorinstall · 10-16-2007, 09:40 PM

don't try to remove it. Seam sealers chemically weld the two pieces together. Try to degloss the seam sealer with some fine steel wool being very careful not to scuff up the vinyl it's self

iflooru · 10-16-2007, 10:26 PM

I need to try and get through the sealer to get to the seam that was contaminated before it cured.

gideond · 10-17-2007, 05:58 AM

I had a customer with a similar situation not long ago. We called Armstrong about it. The response was along the lines of "You don't get it off. It's designed to never come off. There is nothing in this world that will remove it without taking the vinyl with it."

Floordude · 10-17-2007, 07:37 AM

Good luck!!!

As stated above, it chemically bonds. Try removing it and you will be replacing all the vinyl, as it will scar the wear layer, making it even more visable.

I have use a pencil eraser to dull down the high gloss.

Cook · 10-17-2007, 07:42 AM

All the above are correct but I have been there myself.

"IF THIS IS A ONE PART AND NOT THE TWO PART SEALER!"

Find a test scrap and apply the seam sealer to it. Let it cure overnight.

Now apply a new thin bead on top. Wait 20 seconds and gently scrape it off.It takes a light hand and patience. So try a scrap first.

Armstrong will not approve this...so don't mess it up.

The sealer bottle has a small fin on it and if the fin did not go down between the seams ....it was sealed incorrectly but you may be able to remove the top coat, clean the dirt off and then reseal it.

If it was sealed with the fin in between the two sheets be very careful as opening the seam up and applying the new sealer can fry the material

Do test it all out on some scraps first.

Doing new construction we always seal the seams last just before locking the doors and going home. On a retail we cut a carpet tube in half and tape it down over any seems.

Hope this is of some help.

PrecisionFloors · 10-17-2007, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iflooru

I need to try and get through the sealer to get to the seam that was contaminated before it cured.

Good luck with that one