How to Lay a Vinyl Tile Floor

By: Joseph Truini, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. ADHESIVE-BACKED VINYL TILE

2. LEVELING COMPOUND
for underlayment

3. PLASTIC BUCKET AND 6-INCH DRYWALL KNIFE
for mixing and spreading leveling compound

4. KNEEPADS

5. SHOE MOLDING
to conceal gap along baseboard

6. 1 1/2-INCH (4D) FINISHING NAILS
to attach shoe molding

Close
Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Electric heat gun,
  for softening tiles so they're easier to cut with a utility knife
- Vinyl tile cutter,
  available at rental shops for about $15 a day
- Chalk line
- Utility knife
- Tape measure
- Undercut saw (for trimming bottoms of door jamb and casing
- Dust broom
- Framing square
- Sanding pad with 100-grit paper,
  for sanding leveling compound
- Hammer
- Rolling pin or J-roller
Close
Product Gallery
Product selections for this project
Close

putting down the underlayment for a self-adhesive tile floor

Photo: Shaffer Smith Photography

Introduction
Overview
Steps:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9

1. Put down underlayment

Pry up any existing shoe molding from around the perimeter of the room.

Cover the entire floor with ¼-inch plywood underlayment secured with 1 ¼-inch (3d) underlayment nails. Make sure to stagger the joints.

Spread a thin layer of leveling compound along the plywood seams with a 6-inch drywall knife. Allow to dry completely (about 30 minutes).

Sand the seams smooth with a sanding pad with 100-grit paper.