So, you've taken a good look at that
flooring in your bathroom or kitchen and decided it's about two
decades out of style, or it's bubbled and cracked. No matter what,
it needs replacing. Actually, installing a vinyl floor isn't that
difficult, and can be completed in hours. There are two basic types of vinyl
flooring: the adhesive-backed squares, and non-adhesive backed squares
and rolls. For most do-it-yourself home projects, purchasing self-adhesive
vinyl floor tiles by the box is the best way to go, and is easiest
for first time vinyl floor installers.
Vinyl floor tiles can be laid over
concrete, wood and linoleum floors, but make sure all seams, cracks
and gaps are filled before starting. Make sure you also have the
necessary tools and supplies at hand before you start, which should
include your tiles, a sharp utility knife, a framing square
and a small floor roller. If using adhesive with your vinyl floor
tiles, purchase enough to cover the square footage of the area to
be covered. For this, you will also need a small-toothed trowel.
Find the center of your floor by measuring
and finding the midpoint of each wall. X marks the spot! Then:
Place your first tile in the middle
of your floor, making sure edges are even and square to the walls,
using chalk lines, your framing square or a bubble level placed
against the edge of the tile.
Using self-adhesive tiles, peel paper
backing off tile and firmly adhere to floor, careful to keep
edges square. Your first tile must be square, or else your tiles
will gradually lay off-center and your tile edges will be crooked.
If using tiles that require adhesive,
apply adhesive to the floor with the toothed trowel, but not more
than a 4x4 area at a time. Be careful not to smear the adhesive
onto the surface of your tiles.
If the tiles have directional arrows
printed on the back, make sure all arrows are facing the
same direction prior to adhering to the floor.
Lay tiles in a stair-step pattern
and work from the center of the floor out to the edges.
You may need to trim tiles along the
edges of footboards beneath sink areas as well as walls, which is
why you start in the center of the room.
To trim tiles that meet the edges
of walls or footboards, place tile against edge or baseboard
and trim where it first overlaps the last existing whole tile on
the floor. Using the framing square to produce a straight line,
trim with the utility knife. Place the cut edge against the wall.
Note: For outside corners, measure
cuts carefully and use the edge of the framing square to guide cuts
with the utility knife for a nice, clean cut. To finish, use the
floor roller to go over seams to ensure a firm seal between
floor and tile.
