Vinyl tile Buyer's Guide

Installation Options

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Rating [On a scale of 1 to 5: 1 being the easiest]
1: Glueless (adhesive tabs or spray adhesive)
1: Peel 'n stick self adhesive (no glue needed)
3: Full-spread luxury vinyl tile (needs adhesive and trowel)

Today's vinyl tile installation options are as versatile as the designs! 

• New glueless (adhesive tabs or spray adhesive) tiles are the easiest to install. They are designed for easy placement and easy removal. These products are sold with a roll-out underlayment that has a premarked grid pattern that assists with installation. This new-to-the-market tile and adhesive system was developed for DIYers for easy down/easy up installations.
• Peel 'n stick self adhesive tiles (no glue needed) are also easy to install. The backing on these tiles has an adhesive under a peel-away sheet. Simply remove the sheet to stick the tile to the floor. Peel 'n stick self adhesive tile has a strong adhesive. Once the tile is placed on the floor, it is very difficult to remove. Measure twice; stick once!
• Full-spread (glue needed) tiles, also known as luxury vinyl tiles, require adhesive and the proper sized trowel for installation.

Look at the installation instructions carefully! No matter what kind of tile you're installing, the subfloor surface must be prepped so that it is smooth, flat and dry. Any bump, ridge, or indentation in the subfloor may eventually show through on the surface of the vinyl tile. If you're laying the tile over an embossed vinyl floor, you'll need to level the surface with an embossing leveler. If you're installing directly over concrete, it should be tested for moisture emission rates and pH level to ensure it has cured prior to the tile's installation. If the tile is self-adhesive, it's a good idea to apply a latex primer to the subfloor before installation.  

Keep in Mind:

• Full spread "luxury vinyl tile" is not recommended for installation over resilient flooring, due to adhesive bonding issues.