How to Install Vinyl Tiles With Adhesive

Installing tile with adhesives has advantages.

Installing vinyl tiles with adhesive is a job suited to people who are moderately skilled at home repair and remodeling. Installing vinyl tile this way gives the installer the option of selecting an adhesive that fits the situation, instead of depending upon a one-type-fits-all adhesive like those used on self-stick tiles. Installing vinyl tile with adhesive makes a durable job that will stand up under demanding conditions.

Things You'll Need

• Knee pads
• Pry bar
• Floor cleaning supplies
• Floor leveling compound
• Tape measure
• Chalk line
• Tile adhesive
• Notched trowel
• Utility knife
• Utility shears
• Tile roller
• Quarter round
• Finishing nails
• Saw
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Remove any floor trim at the base of the baseboard, which is usually quarter-round molding that you can pry away from the baseboard.

2. Clean and level the floor. If there are asphalt or vinyl tiles already on the floor, strip off wax. Remove glues and old adhesive or mastic. Fill in low spots with floor leveling compound. Do a thorough job since any imperfections in the floor will telegraph through the new tiles and show up as humps and depressions in the finished job. Make sure the floor is dry before moving on.

3. Measure to the center of two parallel walls, and place a mark at that point on the floor next to each. Snap a chalk line between them. Repeat for the other two walls. You should end up with two chalk lines crossing each other at the center of the room.

4. Apply the adhesive following the manufacturer's instructions and using the recommended notched trowel. You can apply some adhesives over the entire floor and and lay tile for up to 24 hours after the application. Other adhesives may require you to lay the tiles within a number of minutes. Start at the intersection of the lines in the center of the room, and work outward from there in a quadrant at a time if using fast setting adhesive.

5. Lay the tiles edge to edge on top of the adhesive once it has set the required amount of time. Follow the chalk lines filling in one quadrant at a time. Do not allow adhesive to squeeze upward between tiles. You can minimize this by placing the tiles with a downward motion instead of a side-to-side motion. Be sure tiles are butted tightly together.

6. Cut tiles that require straight cuts by scoring the tile with a retractable blade razor knife, and snapping it apart by bending it along the scored line. Alternatively use a vinyl tile cutter for straight cuts. Make rounded and other shaped cuts using utility shears.

7. Roll the tile with the roller once you have placed all tiles. Work in one direction across the entire room, and roll in the opposite direction.

8. Replace the quarter round, or install new quarter round by cutting it to the correct lengths and nailing it against the bottom of the baseboard.

Tips & Warnings

• Floor preparation is critical to make sure the tiles adhere properly and the job lasts a long time. Pay close attention to the adhesive manufacturer's instructions especially related to moisture content of floors and temperature and humidity.

• Consider buying low volatile organic compound (VOC) adhesive.

• When not using low-VOC adhesive, be sure to properly ventilate the area.

References

• DuPont FAQs: DuPont Envirobond
• "The Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement;" Creative Publishing International; 2001