Grouted Vinyl Tile
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LorriB on Apr 09, 2018
There are vinyl peel & stick tiles made specifically for grouting. They are a great option for people who want a "tile look" but their subfloor is not suitable for the issues involved with adding real tile. One example is TrafficMASTER Ceramica tiles sold at Home Depot. These vinyl tiles are thicker, more rigid and have a beveled edge designed for grout although they can be installed side by side without grout. Thinner vinyl tiles may not provide enough depth for grout to stay in. The grout is simply filling the gap between the tiles - it does not hold the tiles down! The number one issue is subfloor preparation. The subfloor must be flat and be clean plywood. The plywood should be primed with a latex primer to improve adhesion. And remember - If the subfloor flexes, the tiles will lift, the grout will crack or start popping out. While a vinyl grouted floor may not have the lifetime of real tile, it can be a great choice for those on a budget, those who like change or those whose subfloors are unsuitable for real tile.
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Fong-Lie Bavelaar on Sep 29, 2018
The vinyl tiles I have are 1/16 inch thick, I am able to make a grout between them, or are those tiles not thick enough?
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LorriB on Sep 30, 2018
I assume the box does not say groutable tiles? 1:16 is pretty thin so you would not be able to get much grout thickness. Simple grout is designed for grout joints of 1/16 to 1/2 but that refers to the width of the joint not the depth. It doesn’t even state for use with vinyl tile. This doesn’t mean it won’t work in your situation just that the grout may eventually fail or crack. Even everyday cleaning may cause it to deteriorate. But I wouldn’t worry too much. If it’s down now and looks good then you should be happy. If you have some problem down the road with cracking etc., you can simply regrout. It’s a wait and see thing.
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Fong-Lie Bavelaar on Oct 02, 2018
Thank you for your respond. Somebody started my bathroom floor, everything is crooked, so I have to redo everything. Going today to a building material store, will show the tiles. I also have on the floor some really sticky black stuff, will ask if I want to make grouts if I have to remove it. On the box from the new tiles is sad I can make grouts. Thanks again, advice is appreciated, sometimes hard for a female, as special without experience concern laying tiles.
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LorriB on Oct 02, 2018
That sticky black stuff means the previous tiles were glued down probably with a mastic product. You would have to be able to remove all the black stuff and clean the floor or the peel and stick tiles won’t stick! If you’re using a glue down vinyl tile, you’ll still have to remove that goo. Before removing any older materials, remember safety equipment. Older mastics and even glue down tiles had asbestos in them - very dangerous to inhale or absorb through the skin. Your information doesn’t say if your subfloor is concrete or plywood. If it’s plywood, your best bet might be to just lay new plywood over top and start fresh. If it’s concrete then you’ll have to get the goo off.
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I am very extremely happy with this information. Started to renovate my bathroom, hired somebody to lay vinyl tiles, he did not used spacers, I have to redo everything, have openings between the tiles, and nothing is straight.
This is the first time I deal with tiles.
I have another question, can I paint over drywall? Thank you for any help!