An Easy And Quick New Floor With Peel And Stick Vinyl Tiles

By Tracie Knight


To instantly make your home look beautiful, install a new floor. Whether you plan to sell your home, or just want it to look better for yourself, replacing an old, damaged floor is the quickest way to update. There is a huge selection of materials available on the market from which to select.

You no longer have to mess with smelly, difficult to manage mastic adhesive. Peel and stick vinyl tiles make the job an easy one, and will be quick to install. With the many different colors available, there is any number of designs that can be installed. Even an amateur installer can do a great job.

This new material is much more durable and flexible than old style flooring used to be. Colors are bright and cheerful. No longer is one limited to the older dull browns, grays, and golds. Now there are enough colors that anyone can be pleased. Flooring can be laid in designs, with borders, checkerboard designs, and any number of artistic layouts.

It is not difficult or time-consuming at all to install this new flooring. Start with a 1/4" plywood layer to which you have used leveling compound and sanding to provide a smooth, level under layer to which the adhesive will adhere well. Any shoe molding, door jambs or other architectural impediments should be removed or cut down to fit. Stagger joints of the under layer so that there are not long, visible seams under the flooring.

Before beginning to lay the floor, it must be divided into four quadrants. Marking them off will give the exact center. Lay the first tile in each quadrant against this marked line, then work outward toward the wall. This will keep any partial pieces from appearing in the center where they would be so noticeable. Butt each piece of flooring against the previous one, being careful to not leave gaps.

When you get to where a whole tile doesn't fit between the previous one and the wall, it will need to be cut it to fit. To measure, the easiest way is to lay a full tile over the last one laid, matching it to the exposed edge of the laid tile. Place another full tile on top, butting one edge against the wall and overlapping the one to be cut. Cut along the overlapped edge. You will have the right size to set into the opening.

When you are finished laying all your floor, go back and cut out an openings that have been covered, such as those for heat registers and such. You can use a very sharp utility knife or a tile cutter so that you can get a smooth edge. Be careful and use a slow, steady motion so as not to break o tear you newly laid flooring. Replace covers, shoe molding, and anything else you had to remove. Replace anything that was damaged with new materials.

After putting everything away, do a light damp mopping of the floor to remove any construction dust. Then, all that remains is to sit back and enjoy your new floor. You should have many years of enjoyment to come. Save a few tiles and you can repair any future damage, keeping your floor in great condition for a long time.




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