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Archives for July 2013

Bathroom Flooring: Vinyl Floor Tiles Or Ceramic Tiles?

Filed Under: Buying

There are several flooring options for bathrooms that can be installed by anybody with a certain degree of familiarity with DIY, but two of the most popular ones are without a doubt vinyl floor tiles and ceramic (or porcelain) tiles. Both have their advantages and their disadvantages, and choosing one over the other will depend on your needs and DIY skill level.

Bathroom Vinyl Tiles

Vinyl tile (or sheet vinyl flooring for that matter) is a popular choice for bathrooms for many reasons, but the main one is without a doubt its great pricing. Even luxury vinyl tiles are considerably more affordable than any other flooring material, and with adequate care and a proper installation can last for years.

Laying vinyl floor tiles is something that anybody can learn, as it’s a very accessible DIY project (however, in order to avoid having the bathroom out of use for days it’s worth getting help if you are new to DIY). Self-adhesive vinyl doesn’t even require the use of adhesive, and if you are after a traditional look for your bathroom you can also install vinyl tile with grout instead of as a seamless surface.

Laying Vinyl Flooring
Laying Vinyl Flooring (Photo credit: Jacob Whittaker)

Once installed, vinyl can last for a few years as bathroom flooring, and it’s a very comfortable choice as, unlike porcelain or ceramic, it’s warm to the touch and can be purchased with effective non-slip coatings, perfect to avoid accidents after a bath. However, you will need to be careful about your cleaning methods, as harsh cleaners will take away its glossy appearance.

Ceramic Tiles For Bathrooms

Ceramic has always been a popular choice for bathrooms, and the fact that properly installed it can last for decades makes it a cheap choice in the long run. It won’t increase your home equity as marble or granite would, but it’s a good choice in the medium price range. Porcelain is also totally waterproof, immune to humidity and impossible to scratch, though it can crack if something very heavy lands on it.

In terms of cleaning, you can clean porcelain and ceramic with almost anything and it will still look good. This is one of the reasons it’s a material used in schools, hospitals or public places, as it can be disinfected easily. Vinyl is much more delicate in terms of handing.

6"x6" porcelain floor tiles
6″x6″ porcelain floor tiles (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Porcelain and ceramic flooring for bathroom has a beautiful, stone-like appearance and can look similar to more expensive materials such as granite. If you are after a classic look for your bathroom, grouted ceramic tiles will give it and if you are good at DIY you may want to try and install it yourself. However, keep in mind that botching the job can be expensive, and unless you measure things carefully you may end up with uneven rows of tiles.

If you are unexperienced at DIY, looking for a very cheap solution for your bathroom or want to create a really funky look with textures that aren’t found in ceramic, vinyl tiles are probably the best choice. If you have more money to spend, want a more classic look or want a DIY challenge, porcelain tiles are a classic that never goes out of fashion and will give you great service for years.

How to Wax Vinyl Composite Floor Tile

Filed Under: Maintenance

Applying wax to vinyl composite tile flooring is a great way of protecting the vinyl and enhancing its aesthetic appeal by giving it an elegant light shine. You don’t need to be a professional in order to learn how to wax vinyl composite floor tile, and doing it yourself can save you some money. However, if your vinyl floor is very damaged or too much wax has accumulated over long years of use, you may need to first strip the original finish before applying wax. If this is the case, you will need to use harsh chemical substances and buffing

What is Vinyl Composite Floor Tile (VCT)

Vinyl composite floor tile, or VCT for short, is a synthetic floor covering made from coloured vinyl chips shaped into square tiles. It is low cost, easy to maintain and comes in any imaginable colour and pattern, which makes it a favourite for high trafficked areas. This type of vinyl commercial flooring is easy to install, and can be refinished as many times as necessary to extend its useful life and keep it looking good, which makes it perfect for commercial and public locations, but it has also found its way to the floors of many consumer houses along with vinyl plank flooring. Vinyl composite floor tiles are glued to a smooth and level sub-floor using vinyl adhesive.

Preparing to Wax Vinyl Composite Floor Tile

The first thing to keep in mind if you are learning how to wax vinyl composite floor tile is that wax will seal in any dust, dirt or particles on top of the vinyl. You will need to first wash or strip away the existing finish, using a low power bufferer or a chemical stripper depending on how much finish has accumulated. Use your regular vinyl composite tile cleaner and a damp mop to thoroughly clean the floor, and let it dry before using a VCT stripping product and a floor buffer to fully remove any trace of the old finish. Use a dry mop to remove the liquid and mop the floor again with really clean water before letting it dry thoroughly. Once the floor is fully dry it’s time to wax vinyl composite floor tile.

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How to Wax Vinyl Composite Tile Floors

First of all, vacuum the floor again to make sure no particles or debris remain on the vinyl. Pour vinyl composite finishing liquid on a bucket, and dip a wax mop on it until it’s fully saturated. Never let the mop dry off, as that would make the finish layer too thin. Working side to side, apply the finish to the floor carefully treating a small area after the other to apply an even coat of wax to the entire surface. Leave the wax to dry, making sure that nobody steps on the floor until the finish is fully dry.

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After the first coat of vinyl wax is dry, repeat the process but choose a different wall to work from. This way this coat and the previous one will overlap more and the chances of an area getting poor coverage are much lower. Apply three to five coats following the same procedure, alternating the direction on which you move and leaving the previous coat to dry undisturbed. Do not feel tempted to crank up the heating to speed up this process as the surface of the finish may look dry but the finish isn’t done yet.

How to Wax Vinyl Composite Tile Floors Video

Tips For Waxing Vinyl Composite Floor Tile

The most important thing to keep in mind is that the floor needs to be spotless and free from any residue before you apply a new finish, or you’ll get a patchy finish and trap dirt between the finish and the vinyl tiles. When moping, make sure to refill the bucket with clean water as needed and don’t skimp on cleaning products. The stripper that you used to get rid of the old finish needs to be rinsed out completely before you apply the new finish, or it will just not stick. You may need to change the water a few times, particularly if you are treating a large surface, because the old finish will be making the water grey.

Keep your tools clean and use them only to wax vinyl floors. Any particles left on the mop will end up dampening the shine of your vinyl tiles when they get stuck on the finish, so don’t use just any other fiber mop. Buy a mop that is prewashed and suitable for the application of wax finish to floors, and use it only for that purpose.

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Also make sure you wait the required time in between coats, and don’t let anybody step on the floor when the old finish has been removed or while the new one is drying. If you want a spotless and shiny vinyl floor, be prepared to spend a few hours maintaining it every so often.

And remember to put a sign about the newly waxed floor, as it will be slippery!