Intro - Checklist - Prep - Floor Prep - Laying Tile - Replacing Trim
Laying The Tiles
Margin of Error: Exact
Most Common Mistakes
- Not laying out and squaring your working lines when placing square tiles.
- Placing a pattern line too close to an irregular wall, thereby accentuating the out-of-line wall.
- Neglecting to lay the floor tiles in the direction indicated by the arrow on the back of the tile.
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After making sure your floor is clean of debris and dirt, begin laying the tiles. These vinyl floor tiles should be installed in a certain direction, indicated on the back of the tile by an arrow.
Beginning at the intersection of the working lines, the first tile goes down along the first working line (Line A/B), with the second along Line C/D. Continue to lay the tiles within the quadrants, working out toward the borders. Be sure they are snug so that they will end up properly at the wall and leave a good finished look.
Tiles are easily cut with a utility knife or a pair of scissors, and will cut even easier if you first warm the tile with a blow dryer. This is especially helpful when making a cut to fit around an intricate shape. In the case of a complex cut, a template of butcher paper or craft paper is needed as well. Cut the paper to fit around the obstruction, then trace the pattern onto the tile.
A consistently accurate method of cutting a border tile for a perfect fit, even though the wall may be slightly out of line, is this: Lay the tile you want to cut squarely on top of the tile that is already in place on the row adjacent to the border row. Take another loose tile and butt it up against the wall so it over laps the tile you want to cut. It then becomes a straightedge for cutting the border tile. Score the tile to be cut with a utility knife. The border tile should then break cleanly along
that line and fit into place perfectly.
When fitting border tiles along irregular or curving wails, a template is a necessity. As you place your paper tile in position, crease the paper (as you push it into the corner or curve) as tightly as you can possibly get it. Match the crease with a pencil as accurately as you can manage. Transfer the pattern to the tile (making sure the tile is facing in the proper direction) and make your cut very carefully along the line with a utility knife.
Tip: Try to avoid full-spread adhesive vinyl flooring because it is difficult to remove.
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