How to Lay a Vinyl Tile Floor

Photo:  Shaffer Smith Photography

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.

Steps

• Introduction
• Overview
• 1. Put down underlayment
• 2. Trim the door jamb and casing
• 3. Lay out the room in quadrants
• 4. Start tiling at the room's center
• 5. Scribe tiles to fit along walls
• 6. Cut tiles to size
• 7. Trim tiles around heat registers
• 8. Install shoe molding

Helpful Info:

Article: Picking the Perfect Floor

Skill Builder: Fitting Flooring Against Walls

Ask This Old House: Removing Vinyl Tiles

Ask This Old House: Laying Vinyl Over Ceramic Tiles

Article: Fast Fixes for Vinyl Floors