A new kitchen floor can instantly update the kitchen and add value to the home. Ceramic tiles are expensive and can be difficult to install, requiring tools that most homeowners do not own. A vinyl tile floor is less expensive and you can install it in a single day. Installing a vinyl floor is a do-it-yourself project for beginners. If you make a mistake, you can easily replace a tile.
1 Remove the shoe molding from the base of the walls using a crowbar. Put a piece of cardboard between the crowbar and the wall, to prevent damage.
2 Lay down ΒΌ-inch plywood over the existing floor and secure it using underlayment nails.
3 Level the plywood by spreading leveling compound over the low and uneven areas of the plywood. When the leveling compound has dried, sand it smooth using 100-grit sandpaper.
4 Lay a tile upside down next to one of the door jambs in the room. Cut through the jamb at the height of the tile, using an undercut saw. The tile should be able to fit under the door jamb. Repeat this process for all door jambs in the room. Sweep or vacuum the room to remove any debris.
5 Measure two opposite walls and find the center of each wall. Create a chalk line between these two points. Place the corner of a framing square on the center of the chalk line and draw a line perpendicular to the chalk line. Use this new line to create another chalk line perpendicular to the first chalk line.
6 Remove the backing strip from a tile. Place the tile on the floor in one of the corners formed by the chalk line. Push down on the tile to secure it to the plywood. Peel off the backing of a second tile and place it next to the first tile, staying on the same side of the chalk line. Tile one corner of the room at a time. Repeat this process for the entire room. Tile as close to the walls as possible.
7. Measure the tile to be cut by placing a tile next to the wall. Place another tile on top of it but slide it so that it is lined up with a tile that has already been secured to the floor. Use a pencil to draw a line on the bottom tile using the top tile as a guide. Repeat this process until you’ve marked all the edge tiles.
8 Cut the tile using a vinyl tile cutter. Use a utility knife for cuts you cannot make using the tile cutter.
9 Peel off the backing on an edge tile and set it into place. Repeat this process until all tiles are laid. Roll a j-roller over the tiles to ensure that there are no loose tiles.
10. Re-install the shoe molding using finishing nails.
