Are Adhesive Tiles Good for Bathroom Floors?
Adhesive vinyl tiles are a quick and relatively easy way to redo floors. The answer to whether adhesive tiles are good for bathroom floors depends on how well you install the tiles. Modern adhesive tiles can be made to look just like ceramic tiles and install in half the time with far less mess. Adhesive tiles also have the advantage that they don't require as much skill to lay. Does this Spark an idea?
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Irregularities
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You face two basic challenges installing vinyl tile, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. Getting the floor absolutely smooth is the first and potentially the most challenging part of installing a self-adhesive floor. Any irregularities in the subfloor -- the surface to which the tiles must adhere -- eventually transfers to the vinyl. Nail heads, holes, cracks or bumps will soon show up on the tile above as foot traffic presses the tiles down. Even embossed patterns in old tiles over which the new ones are installed can appear through self-stick tiles. Irregularities can also allow moisture to creep underneath the tiles and loosen them or rot wooden subfloors.
Seams
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The second problem you face when laying adhesive tiles is seams. The joint where the plywood panels meet in the subfloor can flex beneath the tiles at the seams. The sharp seam can loosen tiles and allow water to creep under the tiles. Cracks or seams in a concrete subfloor can cause the vinyl to distort and not only look ugly, but also damage the new flooring.
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Patching
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Pull up the toilet and any other bathroom fixtures that are attached to the floor first. If you only need to repair small imperfections in a wood surface, like nail head or knot holes, a good quality wood filler or floor leveling compound works well. Never use wallboard patching compounds. Fillers used to patch plaster walls don't set hard enough to be reliable. Sand the floor smooth with an orbital sander, and clean the surface with a damp rag to remove all the dust before installing the tiles. For concrete surfaces use concrete patch compound, and finish rough patches smooth with a grinder and concrete abrasive disks.
Resurfacing
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For floors that are too flexible, lay new 3/8-inch or heavier plywood over the old subfloor. See that the seams do not line up to prevent seam flexing. Fix any imperfections as described above, and lay your tile according to the manufacturer's directions. Concrete floors that are badly pitted may have to be resurfaced entirely before applying adhesive tiles. Gluing plywood over the concrete may be a less expensive solution, depending on the size of the area and the extent of the damage.
Installation
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Follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing the floor. The secret to good seams is to use a chalk line to line up the tiles. Install the tiles starting from the corner. Place the next two tiles to both free sides. Install the next three tiles at a 45-degree angle across to the first three tiles. Keep installing rows diagonally until you cover the entire floor. If the tiles are laid correctly and over a flat surface, adhesive tiles work well in bathrooms.
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References
- Photo Credit Tiled floor image by Simon Amberly from Fotolia.com
