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

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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
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installing shoe molding when installing tiles

Photo: Shaffer Smith Photography

Introduction
Overview
Steps:
- 1
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8. Install shoe molding

After laying all of the tile, roll the entire floor with a baker's rolling pin or J-roller. That will ensure that every tile is firmly bonded to the underlayment.

Next, conceal the gap between the tiles and the baseboard molding by replacing the old shoe molding or installing new molding (as shown).

Secure the molding with 1 ½-inch (4d) finishing nails.

Tip: Don't wash the floor for at least five days; that gives the adhesive time to cure fully.