Vinyl Tile Installation Instructions
One way that you can give your home a new look is by installing a new floor. If money isn't an issue, you could install a hardwood floor, or lay down stone tiles. But if you're on a budget like a lot of people, then you might want to consider installing a vinyl tile floor. Vinyl tiles are resistant to cracking, easy to clean, and come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Not only is vinyl cheaper than stone or ceramic tiles, it's easy for a do-it-yourself homeowner to install. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Pry bar
- Tape measure
- 1/4" plywood
- Nails
- Hammer or nail gun
- Leveling compound
- 6-inch drywall knife
- Sanding block
- Vinyl tile
- Undercut saw
- Chalk line
- Pencil
- Heat gun
- Framing square
- Utility knife
- Rolling pin or J-roller
Instructions
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1
Use a pry bar to remove any molding around the edge of the floor.
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2
Nail a layer of quarter-inch plywood onto the floor. Keep the sheets staggered so that the seams are at least one foot away from seams in the subfloor. Leave a gap of 1/8" around the perimeter of the floor to allow for expansion.
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3
Fill the gaps between the plywood with leveling compound, using a 6-inch drywall knife.
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4
When the leveling compound has dried, sand the seams so that the whole floor is flat and even.
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5
Lay a tile upside down next to the door jamb and use it as a guide to measure the height of the tile. Cut through the door jamb with an undercut saw.
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6
Divide the room into four equal quadrants by measuring the center point of each wall, and snapping a chalk line to mark the measurements.
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Start at the center of the room where the chalk lines intersect, and begin to lay the tile by peeling the backing off and pressing it onto the floor. Lay the tiles along the chalk line and work your way towards the wall, stopping before you fill the last row of tile.
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8
Repeat this step until all four quadrants are filled.
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9
Lay the last row of tile, only if a full tile will fit in the gap between the wall and last row of tiles you laid. If you need to cut a tile, put it directly on top of one of the tiles in the last row. Lay another tile on top of that tile, but put it up against the wall. Run a pencil along the edge of the top tile to mark where you need to make the cut.
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10
Take out the middle tile (the one that you marked with the pencil) and soften it with a heat gun. Cut it with a utility knife, using a framing square or similar item that will allow you to make a straight cut. Count how many tiles you need at this size, and use this tile as a template to cut the quantity needed.
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11
Repeat the above step to make cuts for all four walls.
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12
Lay the last row of tile along all four walls.
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13
Run a rolling pin or J-roller over the floor to make sure that the tiles are firmly pressed against the plywood sheets.
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14
Replace the molding around the edge of the floor.
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References
- Photo Credit Tiled floor image by Simon Amberly from Fotolia.com
