How to Install 12 by 12 Self Stick Floor Tiles
Self stick 12 X 12 vinyl floor tiles are a standard size tile often used in kitchens and rec rooms. They come in a variety of colors, patterns and grades. The price of an individual tile ranges from under $1.00 to over $4.00. This type of flooring is easier and more convenient to install than other vinyl applications due to the ready-made adhesive backing. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Vinyl tiles
- Floor leveler compound
- Trowel
- Belt sander
- Hammer and chisel
- Carpenter's square
- Utility knife
- Tin snips
- Flooring roller
Instructions
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Prepare the floors. Remove all trim from the floor edges. Inspect the existing floor for any cracks, dents or dips. If the floor needs repair, use a floor leveling compound to even out the surface. The compound can be applied with a trowel or wide-blade putty knife. Concrete floors may need to be sanded in order to present a surface to which the tiles can readily adhere.
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Find the starting point. Measure to find the center point of two opposite walls and mark the point with a chalk line. Repeat for the remaining two walls. Use a carpenter's square to ensure that the two chalk lines meet at 90 degree angles.
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Dry fit the tiles. Starting at the intersection of the two chalk lines, dry fit a row of tiles the length and width of the room to determine how they will actually fit when they reach the wall. Ensure that the rows right against the walls are at least a half-tile wide and approximately the same width on both sides of the room. If your tiles don't end up with the proper spacing, adjust your center reference lines so they will.
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Begin installing the tiles. Start where the chalk lines cross, as a guide for alignment. Peel off the adhesive backing and lay down the first tile. Keep laying tiles while working your way out from the center of the room to the walls. When you complete each row, use the flooring roller to ensure that the tiles adhere properly to the floor.
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Cut the tiles when necessary. When installing the tiles next to the wall, you will likely find that you will need to cut them to achieve a proper fit. Lay the tile to be cut on one of the tiles in the closest row of full tiles. Place another full-size tile against the wall, and allow it to overlap the loose tile to be cut. Mark the tile to be cut at the edge of the overlapping tile. You will have a perfectly fitting tile. Do this with the remaining tiles for the row against the wall. Reinstall the trim.
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Tips & Warnings
Allow the tiles to reach the temperature of the room in which you are installing them before you begin. If they are too cold, they will not adhere to the floor properly. Straight cuts can be made with a utility knife. Irregular cuts should be made with tin snips. Make a cardboard template for irregular cuts around plumbing, and use it as a guide when cutting the tile. Wait a few days to let the glue set before washing your new vinyl floor.
Take note of the arrows on the paper backing or directly on the tile. These indicate the proper direction to install each tile, according to the pattern on the tile face. Ensure that the arrows are all pointing the same direction as you install the tiles. If you don't, you may be unsatisfied with the finished appearance of your floor.
