Laying vinyl floor tiles

Improvement of the apartment or private house always stand on one of the first places with their owners. From how beautiful and practical everything will be arranged in the home, will depend on the comfort of living. For finishing the floors, walls and ceilings in the room, you can use a variety of materials. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, the nuances of choice and installation. In this article we will talk about such finishing materials for the floor, like vinyl tile. After reading the article, you will see that laying a vinyl floor tile with your own hands is not difficult. We will also tell about the varieties, pros and cons of this flooring.

What is vinyl tile and its varieties

Vinyl tiles appeared relatively recently. But even in a short time she managed to recruit a large army of supporters. The vinyl tile itself has a multi-layer cake structure. But the material is based on PVC, it is this component that is responsible for the practicality and availability of the coating. Vinyl tile has the following layers:

• The basis is made of polyvinyl chloride with the addition of quartz powder.
• On top is a layer responsible for the appearance. It can be made in different colors and have a different texture.
• Then comes a layer of transparent PVC.
• The top is crowned with finishing PVC coating. This layer is made in a special way and is not afraid of ultraviolet radiation.

In addition, some species may have a substrate, including self-adhesive.

If we talk about species, they are not so much released. Let's call the main types of material:

• Quartz vinyl tile. It is the most durable and practical variety. In its composition up to 80% of quartz sand, it is he who increases the durability and elasticity of the tile.
• Pressed vinyl tile. This material is made of vinyl and resin with the addition of plasticizers and stabilizers. Pressed tiles are a bit stronger than their quartz counterpart.
• Self adhesive Difference of this tile from others in the presence of the glued substrate. It is enough to remove the protective film and the material can be fixed to the floor. This tile is very often used for domestic needs.

Vinyl tiles are also divided by grade. Here the unit is similar to laminate. There are three levels of tile according to its strength:

• Household - has a class of 23-31. This tile is used where the permeability of people is not too large (for example, a bedroom). The service life of such material rarely exceeds 5-6 years. But household tile has a large variety of colors and textures, and low cost.
• Commercial - class 32–42. This tile has a thick upper protective layer, therefore less susceptible to abrasion. Commercial vinyl tiles are often used in public places (hospitals, shops, offices). The service life of such material ranges from 10 to 15 years or more.
• Special - class from 43. This tile is used in areas with high traffic (sports halls, large supermarkets). Special additives are added to the protective layer of the material, which reduce slipping and impart antistatic properties.

Note! The higher the class of vinyl tile, the greater its value. But do not try to save too much. After all, the cheapest domestic flooring and a short service life.

Advantages and disadvantages of the material

When choosing a flooring for their apartment or house, each owner wants to choose the best. And to do this without knowing all the pros and cons of the material is simply impossible. If we talk about vinyl tile, then its advantages include the following:

• water resistant Vinyl floors practically do not pass moisture, such ability is given by a special top protective layer from PVC. This feature allows you to use them in the bathroom and in the kitchen;
• strength and durability. If you compare vinyl tile with a close “relative” linoleum, the first one will last much longer;
• a large selection of different colors and textures, which makes it easy to choose a floor covering for any interior;
• low cost. In addition to low costs for the purchase, vinyl floors do not require financial investments in the operation;
• ease of installation. This tile can be quickly laid, even without the skills of finishing work;
• resistance to pollutants. Vinyl floors are not afraid of dirt. Their top layer is a thick film of “hardened” PVC, so stains will not spoil the appearance (it is enough just to wash them off with water).

But such a universal flooring has its drawbacks. The disadvantages of vinyl tiles usually include the following:

• When laying vinyl cover it is important to observe the main rule - the ideal base. Rough floor must be flat and free of debris. Even a small speck can damage tile when in use.
• Vinyl tiles are not very eco-friendly material. It is made from petroleum products, therefore it does not decompose naturally. Dispose of tiles need a special way (with the involvement of special companies). In addition, especially at the initial stage of operation, the vinyl coating may emit some toxic gases. But most often this process stops with time.
• Although this floor is not afraid of pollutants, it can change its color when interacting with some materials. For example, long contact with rubber can change the color of the vinyl.
• Vinyl tiles can not be restored. If you have purchased low-quality or cheap material, or put it in the wrong way, damage may occur. In this case, you have to do the repair again, it is impossible to restore the damaged area.
• Vinyl burns and at the same time releases a large amount of harmful gases. Therefore, this material is not recommended for use in the kitchen.

In addition, the tile is quite thin. The material itself can not retain heat, and therefore requires an additional layer of insulation.

We work and enjoy the result

Any floor covering will have an attractive appearance only if it is properly laid. Therefore it is worth knowing how to lay vinyl tiles. The process itself will take place in several stages.

1. The first thing is preparing the foundation. Vinyl tile is quite flexible material, it will exactly repeat all the bends of the subfloor. Therefore, it is imperative that the base be properly leveled. For this you can use self-leveling mortars, chipboard sheets or plywood. In addition, the vinyl tile is quite sensitive to the presence of solid debris on the ground. Even a small pebble coating can deteriorate after a certain period of operation. Therefore, before laying the subfloor must be thoroughly cleaned.
2. Then markup is made. Vinyl tile has a large selection of colors and patterns, all owners use it. Many people want to make a beautiful and correct drawing on their floor. As a rule, stacking start from the middle of the room. Two lines pass through the center, parallel to the long and short wall of the room. From them and start laying tiles.
3. Preparation of adhesive mass. It is very important to choose the right glue. When buying, you should carefully read the materials for which the adhesive mass is intended. As a rule, acrylic glue is used for mounting vinyl tiles. Such material has a certain ripening time. After applying the glue, you must wait 5 to 10 minutes, and only then proceed to gluing.
4. After applying the glue to the floor and waiting for the right time, the tile itself can be fixed. There are no big tricks. It is important to glue evenly, observing the pattern and carefully press the tile to the floor. During installation it is necessary to ensure that there are no air bubbles under the material. If they are formed, they are removed in the same way as when wallpapering. When installing the tile, it is necessary to indent from each wall at least 10 mm. This is necessary so that the coating does not warp from thermal expansion.

As can be seen from the above, the installation of tiles under the force of each. If you choose the right glue and carefully prepare the base, then there will be no problem with laying the floor covering. And if you do everything right, the vinyl floors will serve for a long time and will delight you with its attractive appearance and practicality.