Posted: 9/22/2007 4:14:50 AM EDT
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I am installing (or will be attempting to) a commercial vinyl tile floor over very smooth concrete for light retail use. There is a bunch of drywall dust right now which I will sweep, vacuum then wet-vac and let dry. Is there any type of floor prep I need to use before gluing them down? Also, do I start in the middle off set 6" from the center and work out or start in one corner and work to the opposite corner? Thanks for any advice other than "Hire a Professional". This project is 3-4 times over budget already!  Update - see last post! And Thanks! |
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I have installed commercial vinyl tile once. If I can do it (I am an idiot), anyone can do it. For floor prep, just make sure the floor is clean of dust and stuff. The floor should be very smooth. Any imperfection will show as a lump in the tile. A grain of sand will show For laying out the tile, start in the center and work to the edges, doing one quarter of the room at a time (unless the room is very small. Lay out a row and column of tile to check placement. You want a 1/2 tile or more (approximately) at each edge. You will probably need to adjust the starting point slightly once you each way to get to a good starting point. Buy a vinyl tile cutter for the edges. They are cheap and make short work of cutting the edge pieces. You could use a fine tooth saw (like a bandsaw), but you will chew the hell out of your blades. Make sure that if your tile has a pattern that you watch the pattern so it all flows in the same direction. Removing that tile even 15 minutes after it has been set is a PIA. Don't ask me how I know.  Knee pads are also a big help. |
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Ah "Words of Encouragement" - Thanks. I hope is goes smoothly. Should I lay the full tiles first them fill in around the post last and the sides last also? Makes sense to lay out like this so you have 1/2 tile on each side. Kind of what my builder said about finding the center of the room and going 6" off side to side on 6" "up" and snapping lines. Your way makes more sense to me how you explained it. Thanks! I think the floor is smooth enough. (once I thoughly clean it!) The bathroom is another story! I refilled the concrete and never did concrete work before other than setting posts! That room in getting linolieum though.
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I honestly don't remember how I handled the edges. I don't think it really matters though. Just make sure you are always laying new tiles against ones that are glued down. Also, work in a triangle pattern towards the corners from the center. Like this (where tile #1 is the center of the room and the numbers are the order you place them down): 1 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 6 3 4 5 6 7 4 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 9 Not like this 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 |
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This tile has a slightly dull side and a very slightly shiny side. I'm not sure what side goes down. Logic would say the duller side. The bos is labelled "This side up" but it may mean for stacking. That side is the duller side, so my other thought is people would open top of the box install glue and flip tile onto floor? Most places I have read say to spread the adhesive on the floor first though.  Thanks again! |
 Thanks guys!  It came out great! Actually after I finished, I have been looking at the tile in the other building and I know I did a better job than whoever installed that.I did the pattern like it was suggested. I began by laying out a "plus" in the room and then layered the tiles, checkerboarding the way the 'speckles' went. It took me about 12 hours total by myself. No one volunteered to help. This is the only picture I have that has a decent view of the floor. It does not do it justice. Each tile is nice and tight. I was able to keep full tiles along one wall and beside the 2 columns that were in the middle of the store. 
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