How to Lay Adhesive Floor Tiles
Laying adhesive floor tiles is an easy do-it-yourself job for most homeowners. Vinyl adhesive floor tiles is a popular flooring option because they are readily available, come in a wide range of colors and designs, and can be applied over most existing flooring. Since the adhesive is already applied to the tile, the installation process is as simple as peeling and sticking. There are a few things to keep in mind when laying adhesive floor tiles to help the job go smoothly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Hammer
- Pry bar
- Razor knife
- Tile roller
- Carpenter's square
- Chalk box
- Calculator
- Sandpaper
Instructions
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Determine the square footage of the area to be tiled. Measure the length and width of the room with a measuring tape. Multiply the two measurements with a calculator to find the square footage. For odd-shaped areas, break sections into rectangles. Determine the square footage of each rectangle and add totals of each area to determine total square footage for entire area.
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Determine the number of tiles needed. Divide the square footage of the room by the square footage in one box of tile. For example, if there are 20 square feet of tile in one box and 120 square feet in the room, purchase 6 boxes of tile (120/20=6). Purchase an extra box in the event something becomes damaged.
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Determine the usability of the existing floor. Be sure that the existing floor is in good condition with no major cracks, holes, or dips. The adhesive floor tiles will take the shape of the underlying floor, so fix any deformities of your current floor before applying. Use a grinder or coarse sandpaper to smooth surface. Clean and dry the prepared floor.
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Allow tiles to sit in your home. Adhesive tiles need time to adjust to the temperature of your home. Leave tiles sitting in boxes inside your home for 24 hours before installation.
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Remove baseboard moldings using a hammer and pry bar. Be careful not to crack or break the baseboards if you are going to reuse them.
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Dry-fit the tiles. Measure two opposing walls with a measuring tape to find the center line. Snap a chalk line across the floor with a chalk box at the center line. Repeat the process for the other opposing walls to create an intersection on the floor. Check that the L-shaped angles in the center are equal with a carpenter's square. Lay tiles beginning from this point without removing the backing.
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Install the tile if dry-fit is successful. Remove the backing of the tiles one at a time. Firmly press each tile into place on the floor. Cut tiles to fit along walls or in corners with a razor knife. Roll entire floor with a tile roller after all tiles are installed.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Tiled floor image by Simon Amberly from Fotolia.com
