Kitchen

Vinyl Kitchen Tile Is Versatile

Unlike wood or natural stone, vinyl tiles come in all the colours of the rainbow, and as such they can be matched to any decorative style. From checked black-white vinyl flooring to vinyl flooring that looks like wood, you can spend hours just deciding which pattern you like the most. And what’s more, you can create your own unique designs on your kitchen combining different vinyl square tiles to form a totally different geometric pattern, or to visually divide a room in different areas.

Vinyl Flooring For Kitchens Is Cheap

Prices for vinyl flooring are a fraction of those of marble, granite or even hardwood, and you can learn how to install vinyl floors in order to lower them even more. This makes vinyl an affordable choice for cash-strapped homeowners who want to redecorate and add value to their homes, or for those who enjoy changing how their kitchen looks every few years and don’t want to invest in more costly flooring materials that would need to be removed later on.

Vinyl Is Pet and Kid Friendly

If you have children or pets you’ll love to know that installing vinyl kitchen tile flooring is great for them too. Vinyl is soft to the touch and very comfortable to walk on, besides being bacteria resistant. Cleaning vinyl flooring is easy and quick, and any pet related accidents are not likely to leave a permanent stain, unlike carpets or wood. Worst case scenario, if a section of your kitchen vinyl floor tiles is damaged you can simply pull it out and replace the scratched or broken tiles with new ones.

Vinyl Tiles Resist Water and Chemicals

When choosing to install any other flooring instead of vinyl tiles, kitchen environment should be taken into account. Water spills are frequent on a kitchen or bathroom, which can damage wood or laminate unless they are mopped up quickly. Chemicals such as vinegar or some cleaners can leave marble or granite floors lifeless and dull after just a few years, and resealing them is costly. However, vinyl kitchen tile floors are resistant to both water and chemical damage, and while it can be dented if a heavy object falls on it, damaged tiles can be replaced easily.

Consider all of the above reasons when choosing vinyl kitchen tile floors for your new kitchen. Vinyl floor tiles are cost effective, low maintenance and will let you enjoy the kitchen design you like the most, without breaking your bank.

Vinyl flooring comes in many different formats, suitable for installation by people with different levels of DIY expertise. Peel and stick vinyl tile squares are probably the easiest and most affordable way of laying vinyl floor. You can buy them in almost any colour or pattern at almost any home improvement store or over the Internet, and the prices for vinyl flooring start at less than $2 per square foot. To install vinyl floor tiles you will only need some easy to obtain tools and patience.

Things You Will Need

Self Adhesive Vinyl Tiles

Utility Knife

A Yardstick or other straight edge

A kitchen rolling pin or a tile roller

Measuring tape

Chalk line

It is recommended that you buy about 20% more tiles than you calculate you will need, to cover for any error or miscalculation. Spare tiles can also be used later on in case a tile is damaged and requires a replacement, as some styles may go out of stock or be discontinued.

Preparing the Surface Before Laying Vinyl Floor

You can install vinyl flooring tiles on almost any surface, except for carpet, but said surface needs to be totally dry, clean and flat. If you are installing on concrete you will need to repair all cracks or uneven areas, using a self-leveling compound. If you are replacing old vinyl tiles you will need to remove them and then use a scrapper to remove any stubborn vinyl floor adhesive. A wood sander can be used to make wood surfaces suitable for the installation of vinyl tiles.

If you are installing vinyl tile on a bathroom, make sure to remove the toilet first and set it aside so you can reinstall it after you are done. Clean the floor thoroughly before you start installing, vacuuming out any dust or debris to ensure your new vinyl tiles stick perfectly to the substrate.

How To Install Vinyl Flooring Tiles

Once the floor is perfectly clean, dry and even it’s time to start installing your new flooring. While most people wondering “How do I lay vinyl flooring” may be tempted to start from a wall, it is far better to start from the centre of the room.

Make two straight lines using the chalk across the centre of the room. The point where they cross is the middle of the room, and the place where you will start laying the vinyl floor. Your first vinyl tile should be when those two lines meet.

Peel off the backing of the tile, align it exactly where you want it and press firmly. Continue laying down tiles, making sure you line them up very carefully with either the chalk line or the previous tiles so the edges are straight. Use the rolling pin or tile roller to make sure the tiles are perfectly glued to the floor.

Once you reach a wall, you will probably need to cut a tile so it fits snuggly. You can use the utility knife to do so, just make sure you cut the tile against a wood surface so you don’t accidentally etch your newly installed floor.

To cut vinyl tiles straight you can use the yardstick and the utility knife to score deeply on the paper side, then fold forward on the non-sticky side for a perfect and clean cut.

Installing Non Adhesive Vinyl Square Tiles

If you have chosen vinyl tiles that aren’t self-adhesive, you will need to use vinyl floor adhesive suitable for the surface you are installing the tiles over, but otherwise the process is very similar if a bit more messy. Check out this video for a demo:

Why Choose Vinyl Kitchen Tile Flooring