Looking for Installing Floor Tiles for Dummies
TV ClubHouse: archives: Looking for Installing Floor Tiles for Dummies
Julieboo | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 11:53 am     My unhandy husband and I are gonna redo our kitchen floor with self stick/peel tiles. Any tips? We plan to stick them right over our vinyl/linoleum type one piece floor that is currently in there. |
Mware | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 12:05 pm     They stick better if you peel off the back. I know this from experience. |
Wargod | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 12:08 pm     LOL Mware! Julie before putting them down, scrub the exsisting tile, even if it's spotless. They stick better that way. Darren used simple green and a brush, did each tile seperately, and then wiped them off...was time consuming but worth it. I didn't help, lol, but it looked fairly easy. You can also cut them easily with a box cutter if you need to work around something. |
Squaredsc | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 12:12 pm     start in the center of your floor. |
Lumbele | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 02:09 pm     Dh recommends removing all wax from existing floor. |
Sia | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 03:40 pm     Julieboo, I looked at the Lowe's website for some advice. Take a look at this when you have a minute: Lowe's DIY: Installing Vinyl Flooring Choosing a Tile If you have a choice, consider purchasing self-adhesive vinyl tile. It is easier to work with and prevents adhesive from oozing through the cracks between tile. Once the layout work is done and the floor is going down, laying these tiles is a simple matter of peeling and sticking. Preparing Vinyl Tile for Floors Vinyl tile expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. It is important to let the tiles rest in the room where they will be installed for at least 24 hours before beginning your project. Failing to do so can lead to problems once the floor is finished. Preparing Floors for Vinyl Tile Remove all trim from around the floor. If you intend to reuse it after installing your new flooring, pull any nails through the trim from the back side. This step reduces splitting so you can use the trim again. Your new vinyl tile installation is only as good as the underlying floor. Clean the floor thoroughly. The surface on which you are installing tile must be smooth and free from debris, grease or wax. Uneven floors, bumps or dips can cause blemishes that will show over time. Concrete — Vinyl tile can be installed over concrete if the concrete is clean, smooth and dry. Repair any holes or cracks. You can sometimes lower high spots using a coarse-grit abrasive on a belt or disc sander. Any minor bumps can be removed with a cold chisel driven by a baby sledge hammer. Be sure to wear safety glasses. Vinyl flooring — Vinyl tile can be laid over old vinyl flooring that is in good condition. If the old floor has a rough texture and/or some dints and dings, smooth on a skim coat of embossing leveler with a straight edge trowel. This will create a smooth surface and will prevent the new tile from eventually taking on the texture of the old floor. Damaged or loose vinyl flooring should be removed. Caution: Always wear a respirator when removing old flooring. Be aware that some older flooring materials may contain asbestos. It is recommended that you have older flooring materials tested before removal, and that materials containing asbestos be removed by a professional. Floors requiring underlayment — If removal of the old floor is too difficult or impractical and the floor is too damaged to use an embossing leveler, cover it with new layer of plywood underlayment. Unless otherwise directed by code, 1/4" BC plywood makes a good underlayment. (Above is an excerpt. The rest is at the link provided. Hope this will help you out, Julie.) |
Reader234 | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 04:24 pm     Julie, dont they do this all the time on trading spaces? Apply for trading spaces!! |
Julieboo | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 04:45 pm     Thanks a ton guys! I would apply for TS, but I am way too afraid I'd get a "Hildi" (or a Doug or a Kia or a Rick!!!) Sia, thanks a lot for that link and the excerpt! I would not have even thought about the embossing leveler or leting the tiles stay in the kitchen for 24 hours. And Square, I might have started in one corner. So thanks!!!! Thanks Wargod, Lumbele, Reader and most especially Mware! Never knew I needed to remove the backing! ;o) |
Reader234 | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 04:47 pm     Julie, Please be sure and invite me to the open house!! when you finish redecorating, I'll come for tea!! |
Jagger | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 04:58 pm     My roommate just finished doing my kitchen floor several months ago with the peel off tiles, his main suggestion was that if the pre-existing floor is rather smooth you may want to rough up the surface a slight bit with some sandpaper to help the tiles stick. Another thing we noticed that if you put heavy appaliances on it afterward they do tend to come up a little bit around the corners over time. |
Julieboo | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 06:09 pm     Hmmm, any tricks to help prevent that Jagger? Reader, what suburb are you in? (I'm North Aurora.) |
Sia | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 08:49 pm     Julieboo, you would make some of us really happy if you'd post "before" and "after" pictures of your home improvement project in the thread for that very topic. It's fun to see what people can accomplish all by themselves!! |
Tabbyking | Monday, October 20, 2003 - 09:09 pm     if there are 'feet' on the appliance you can set the appliance on a piece of 1/4" wood the exact size of the base and it will distribute the weight. maybe that will only have to be for a few weeks' time. |
Julieboo | Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 07:23 am     Hey Sia, that's a good idea. I will see if dh can borrow his work camera (it's digital). Thanks Tabby, so I would get a piece of 1/4 plywood and have it cut the exact size of my fridge and oven. That should do it? OT warning: In the meantime, I will try to post a picture here. It has nothing to do with a floor. It is my ds and niece as ring bearer and flower girl at my sil wedding a few days ago...
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Julieboo | Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 07:26 am     Awww crap. Guess I'll have to keep practicing... |
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