Laying Self-Adhesive Vinyl Tiles Over a Concrete Slab
Concrete can serve as a solid foundation for self-adhesive vinyl tiles, provided the surface is firm and free of dirt. Installation follows a grid layout that begins at the center of the room, with no glue or underlayment required.
By Charlie Scott6 steps
For a do-it-yourselfer, self-adhesive vinyl tiles rank among the simplest flooring options to put down. No glue is needed, and no special underlayment is required either. The installation process amounts to removing the wax paper backing and pressing each tile onto a surface that is clean, dry, and firm. A concrete slab makes a very good substrate for these tiles, provided it is solid and free of debris. The layout follows the same grid approach used with other tile types, with the pattern beginning at the center of the floor.
Step 1
Use a household floor cleanser and a scrub brush to give the concrete a thorough cleaning. Rinse it well. Allow at least 48 hours for drying.
Step 2
Snap two chalk lines across the floor so that they intersect at the room's center, splitting the surface into four quadrants. As you lay the lines, check the crossing point with a square and make adjustments so that every angle measures 90 degrees.
Step 3
Take the paper backing off the first tile. Place it on the floor at one corner of the intersection, positioning it so that two perpendicular tile edges run along two of the chalk lines. Using the palms of both hands and putting your full weight behind them, press the tile firmly onto the concrete.
Step 4
Remove the paper from the tile that comes next. Set it on the floor next to the first one, pushing the tiles snugly against each other and taking care that the corners line up.
Step 5
Continue in the same manner, working outward from the center toward the floor's edges and relying on the chalk lines to keep the grid aligned. Place every full tile that will fit.
Step 6
For the perimeter along the walls, measure and cut tiles to size. To cut them, score the surface with a razor knife and then snap the tile in two. When installing these pieces, turn the cut edges toward the wall.
