Using groutable tile when you install new vinyl flooring adds to the visual appeal, giving your room a luxe look. That’s not to mention vinyl tile’s durability, water-resistance and low cost.
We invited Kendra Darr of Simply {Darr}ling to showcase the transformation of her bathroom using groutable tile. Kendra was able to easily achieve this gorgeous update to her bathroom over a weekend!
Replacing flooring in a bathroom is an easy and cost-effective way to change and update the entire feel of the room. With Armstrong premium adhesive tiles, this update can easily be achieved in a weekend and create a bathroom that you love.
Easy DIY Vinyl Flooring
Materials
Our original flooring was somewhat boring and definitely had seen better days. One of the advantages to vinyl tiles is that they can be installed directly on top of the existing vinyl flooring. When we moved into our home, the vinyl had some existing water damage so we decided to remove the existing flooring so that we could start with a clean slate.
Step 1: Remove the Old Flooring
First, remove all mouldings from the room. Ours had been caulked so we had to slice the caulk with a razor blade before prying it off with a pry bar. This is also a great time to touch up any paint near the moldings or on the wall since the floors will have a nice new covering soon. Also remove the toilet and make sure to plug the drain hole with a towel or plastic bag.
If you opt to remove the existing flooring, or are starting from scratch, it is important to make sure that there is a clean and level surface for the tiles to adhere. Removing the existing vinyl was as easy as slicing the vinyl with a razor blade and then peeling it off the floor. Ours came up in rather large chunks. Then we used a putty knife to scrape up the backing that remained in some spots.
Step 2: Layout the Pattern of Your New Floor Tiles
Next up is to determine the pattern for your new flooring. I picked out a groutable tile option for my new floors because I wanted it to look as close to standard ceramic tile as possible.
We opted to have an offset in our rows as it is more forgiving to slight wall (or installer) imperfections. It is a good idea to lay out your pattern and see how it falls in the room; make sure that you won’t be ending with an awkward sized tile, and look at the places that need to be cut to see if it makes sense. In our bathroom, there were two holes which needed to be cut– around the heating register, and the toilet. For both of these, we preferred that they didn’t happen in the middle of a tile but rather along an edge.
Step 3: Start Adhering the Vinyl Tiles to the Floor
Once the pattern is set, and these cuts are accounted for, it is time for the fun part, adhering the tiles to the floors! Remember that there needs to be space around the tiles for expansion throughout the year, so use some tile spacers to keep this space around the edges of the room.
With our groutable tile, we kept ⅛-in. space between each tile. To adhere the tile to the floor, simply peel off the paper backing and press firmly into place.
Work your way down the room. For tiles which need to be cut, they can be scored using a framing or T-square along with a razor blade. Make sure to hold the square firmly in place so that it doesn’t move while you are cutting and keeps a straight line.
Once all the tiles are laid, I walked around on them, making sure that all the edges were adhered well to the floor. Then it was time for the grout.
Step 4: Add the Grout
The tile associate at The Home Depot recommended a light gray grout to go with our tiles, and it definitely was a great match. I recommend taking in one of the tiles you will be using to find the best grout color for that floor. I wanted the grouting process to be easy, so I opted for a premixed grout in caulking tubes.
To grout the tiles with this method, squeeze some of the grout into the openings then use a putty knife to even it out. This stuff starts to dry quickly, so be careful with the idea of “quick touching up that area” because that is when mistakes are made. Much of the grout will overflow onto the tile when evening it out with a putty knife, so use the flat edge of the knife to go right along the edge of the grout line to clean up these areas. If you miss a couple spots, this can also be done once the grout has dried, but it is easier to do it while it is still wet.
Step 5: Reinstall the Toilet and Mouldings
It is recommended to wait 24 hours before really using the floors once the grout has been laid, so we waited until the next day to reinstall the toilet and mouldings. This is one reason why updating the floors is a great weekend project– lay the floors on day 1 and put items back on day 2.
With my gorgeous new floors, I wanted some gorgeous new moulding to go with it so instead of putting the old molding back up, my husband and I picked out some fresh white moulding. It really brings the room together for an updated and renewed look with the floors.
I love the final look of our new bathroom with the Armstrong Premium Vinyl Peel-N-Stick floors. I’m definitely going to be putting these floors in my other bathrooms as well.
Just a simple change changes the entire feel of the room. In less than two days, I was able to go from this, above…
…to this.
Kendra Darr of Simply {Darr}ling loves to share DIY projects, recipes and other adventures that life throws her way. Along with her husband and two cats and two dogs, Kendra embraces adventure with open arms and invites anyone to come along with her for the ride!
Browse The Home Depot’s selection of vinyl flooring in our Flooring Department. Follow our Flooring, Carpet and Rugs board on Pinterest for more flooring tips and ideas.
The post Easy DIY Vinyl Flooring With Groutable Tile appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.
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