Are you hungry? I'm hungry. Specifically for a hamburger for some reason. A big one. My wish for a hamburger has nothing to do with VCT tiles by the way. I just thought I'd mention it since you're here and we're talking and all.
My floor is finished. Done. Complete. I love my VCT (vinyl composition tile). Here's why ...
The biggest pain about laying the tiled floor is figuring out the line you're going to lay the tile on.
This is going to get a bit confusing so pay attention.
You need to figure out the centre width of your room, and the centre length of your room. Where these two lines dissect is the centre point of your floor. The centre point in the photo below is where the two blue chalk lines cross.
So that's pretty easy actually. And that's all you need to do if you're laying a "checkerboard" floor. Just snap your chalk lines and start working.
If you’re laying the floor in a diagonal pattern like I did, you need to do a little more measuring. You have to get your two diagonal lines. To do that, measure from your centre point to the nearest wall. In my case that measurement is 3 feet. Then make a mark that's ⅓rd the length of that measurement. In my case, that's 1 foot.
Cut a piece of string that measures longer than 1' and less than the remaining 2'.
Your measurements will be different, but the principal will be the same. 10' from centre point means a mark point of 3'3" and a string length of around 4'-5'.
You're going to tie a pencil on the end of this string and use it to mark your arcs by holding the end of the string on your "x" mark and running the pencil into an arc. Do this on all of the "x" points and where the arcs intersect will be where your diagonal lines are.
I fear I'm not explaining myself well.
Once you've figured out your lines, the hard part is done. Now you have the fun part of laying the tile to look forward to.
The first thing you should do is dry lay some tiles along your straight line. I'm referring to the row of black tiles in the centre of the room. You'll have two choices. Lay your first tile so it is centred over the centre point, or lay your first tile so the tip touches the centre point (like I did). If you've got your centre points right then you'll have the exact same distance between the walls and the ends of your final full tiles.
Once you've determined your straight lines are good, it's time to grab your glue and start laying tiles! Buy the glue when you buy your tile and ask for help to make sure you're getting the right glue for the tile you're using. Also read the bucket of glue to see what type of trowel you need. All trowels are not created equal. The distance between and depth of the notches make a difference. Only use the trowel size that's specified on the back of the bucket of glue.
Open up your glue and pour a big glug on the floor.
It'll take an hour or two for your glue to get tacky enough to lay your tiles so go take a walk. Or taunt your cats. Or learn a new language.
Once your glue is tacky, it'll stay that way for dayssss. So you literally have a work time with this glue of 2-3 days.
Carefully, carefully lay your first tile. Make sure it is *perfect*.
Midway through laying my floor I looked down and saw this, exactly as you see it now. A black cleaver on a white tile. I saw it as a sign. I'm not at all sure what it was a sign of, but it was definitely a sign. It either has something to do with cooking or killing. I haven't decided yet.
The laying of all the centre (full) tiles will go fairly quickly.
You will eventually get to the point where all of your full tiles are laid and you now need to lay the edge tiles which need to be cut. Some cuts are as easy as cutting a straight line, others that have to go around corners or curved baseboards will be more elaborate cuts.
There are at least 3 ways to cut the tile, but I found the easiest way was to heat it up a bit with a hairdryer and then just cut it with scissors. Next week I'll be doing a short video post on how to cut the edge tiles of a diagonally laid floor. There's a little trick that makes it really easy.
You may find the odd time you've laid a tile that doesn't butt right up to the tile beside it. Sometimes the tiles move while you're kneeling on them, or maybe you just made a mistake.
Wondering how one would deal with tiling under a cast iron bathtub?
A car jack. After you've trowelled glue underneath and let it set, lift the tub *just* enough to slip your tile underneath the feet.
Done! This is not the final reveal picture of the kitchen, it's just a quick look at the completed floor
This completes my Big Spring Project 2013. I had planned to finish redecorating the mudroom and get new fixtures for the bathroom ... but I've run out of time. It is now summer and I don't want to be doing indoor construction projects. I want to be doing OUTDOOR construction projects. The first of which, will be constructing a rather large hamburger.
jenny
I'm clearly late to the party, but you are my Doing Stuff Hero!
Karen
You're a little late, yes. Not too late though. The party's still goin' on. ~ karen!
Juliet
Can this be laid down over existing lino or vinyl?
Karen
Hi Juliet - Yes it can, but the surface needs to be completely flat. So no noticeable seams or indentations in the linoleum or vinyl. A vinyl floor that's embossed for example wouldn't work. But if it's perfectly smooth and you pay attention to making sure the surface is completely clean and free of dust or bumps you should be good. Alternately, if you have the room and $ you can put a new layer of thin plywood overtop of the old vinyl and use that as your base for the VCT. ~ karen!
danni
Yup, we have that tile. And I know! that was why we got it bc it looked like the school kind, but I am told that magic ingredient in the old school stuff is asbestos (!) and maybe I didn't impart the amount of water I am talking about. Like, washing machine overflows kind of water. Around the dog's water bowl kind of constant dribble of water. And I should have called them back, but given how horrible we are to our house, I felt kind of guilty. Knowing what I know now.... slate in the mud and marble in the laundry. Ah, maybe once we finish the new deck and pergola!
danni
It does look great. Now. I too, was taken in by the good looks and comfort of this flooring. And maybe in your house, which seems sane-ish, you'll be fine, but in MY house, within a year, I was having trouble with them. Specifically, the people who live in my house, to whom I am related by blood get water on the floor, and the substrate sort of lifts over time and they come loose. I mean they do it a lot, so maybe not a problem for normal people, but I'd never use it again and never, ever in a bath or kitchen. I have it in a mudroom in the same colors as you, and in the upstairs laundry in cream and a yummy green. And it lifts right up. Professionally installed etc., but I am going to have to address it and I will replace with slate or comething charmless like that.
Karen
Hi Danni - You have VCT (vinyl composite tile)? Not regular, residential vinyl tile? You should have that looked at by the company who laid it. There shouldn't be any problems at all with getting the floor wet. I mean, they use it in hospitals and schools because of its indestructible qualities. Who knows. Maybe they used the wrong glue or ... or ... I don't know. Something. ~ karen!
Barbie
OH Karen ....as I said when you did the video of it...it looks FABULOUS! Good job! I hope you had a nice BIG hamburger!
Karen
I did! And actually now that you mention it, I'd like another one, LOL. ~ karen!
Sara
Karen, you are amazing! You have solved my ongoing flooring dilemma. BTW, I bought some Bogs on your recommendation last fall and just love them. Kept doing all my research for me:)
Karen
Great! My neighbours read the blog and are doing the VCT in their basement because of it too! Glad you like the Bogs too. :) ~ k
Jen
Am I the only one who giggled immaturely at #2 because I thought it said that it is "an easy lay" and then the rest of the sentence just got funnier.
I may be just me...I have the sense of humor of a junior high boy.
Mindy
We put down VCT in our bathroom and kitchen and love it.
Looks great! Congrats on crossing it off the to-do list. That always feels so good.
Ritz
mdr!
And you're funny, too!
kate-v
oh, it is bee-you-tee-full!! (but you had me worried for a while)
gabrielle
I agree totally with all the positives put forth for this tile! We have three large rooms that we have tiled in this way (kids room, mudroom and bath), and if you are not convinced, you should check out all the different colours available - really cool combos are possible!
I have to add one other feature: we laid the kids floor and never got around to sealing it for 20 years. It was marked, scuffed up and grungy like you would not believe! But after repainting the room second time (now a conservatory), I got down and did some some scrubbing and soaking with "Bartenders Friend" (Home Hardware in Ontario), and it came out as beautiful as the day it was laid!
As someone with a 19th century farmhouse, this serviceable, durable and friendly DIY product is a personal favourite!
Karen
Gabrielle - I'm almost SURE I have a container of that somewhere. I bought it then don't think I ever used it for some reason! ~ karen
nancy
Dear Karen,
This entire floor project has knocked it all out of the ball park!
Beauty and Function meet!
Warmly yours,
Nancy
Karen
Thanks Nancy! ~ karen
KJ
Looks great, but I'm confused about the waxing. Doesn't wax build-up on the floor, turn yellow and then have to be stripped off? I thought that's why everyone stopped using flooring materials that require waxing when they came out with polyurethanes, etc... I just assumed that vinyl tile would be no maintenance.
ev
Been wondering how the flooring project was going: now I see! Good for you Karen! wonderful. Love the look and the diagonal flow. You are a special women!
Carey
You are amazing! I know you must hear that all the time from the fella, but I thought I'd just let you hear it from me, too. I'm not sure who I'd rather intern with, you or Nichole Curtis (Rehab Addict). Either way, girl power rocks!
Maria
That is one sexy floor your got there lady.
In the picture that says start laying? For one tiny second, I thought you were referring to chickens laying eggs. You were in the chicken laying eggs position in the photo too. I think, as we say in the south, my thinking is messed up!
I like your floor a lot .
Stephanie
Completely stunning, and you made it look so easy!
Ritz
Wow! I'm scared of you!
Karen
As well you should be. ~ karen!
Annie Kip
I love black and white tile! Yours looks great and the step by step is really helpful. Thanks!
Elisa
I had a thought... Karen what happens next fall when you turn your radiant heat on? Will it heat up your tiles where they will be movable again?
Karen
:) Excellent question. No. The tiles will be fine. The Warmly Yours Floor is completely compatible with the VCT tiles. ~ karen!
Linda S
Oh, I'm so glad Elisa asked you this question. I was wondering the same thing, but didn't have the balz to ask. I was afraid you might be just a bit testy if you haven't had time to eat that burger yet! Kudos to you, Karen on a job well done.