Grouted Vinyl Tile

by Erin Colburn

$25.00

3 Hours

Medium

Moving along in our half bath makeover, we recently updated the floor for only $25! We used vinyl tiles, but grouted them, and it looks just like ceramic!!
You can follow along with this bathroom renovation, and so many other projects that I'm constantly taking on! www.magentaandlime.net

grouted vinyl tile, bathroom ideas, flooring, tile flooring, tiling, The room has a completely new feel to it and the tile looks just like ceramic in person Another plus about this tile is that it is not as cold as ceramic tile

The room has a completely new feel to it, and the tile looks just like ceramic in person. Another plus about this tile is that it is not as cold as ceramic tile.

Phase 1 of our bathroom renovation, complete!

grouted vinyl tile, bathroom ideas, flooring, tile flooring, tiling, I purchased our vinyl tiles from Lowe s They are about 1 tile and we used about 20 tiles for this space

I purchased our vinyl tiles from Lowe's. They are about $1/tile, and we used about 20 tiles for this space.

grouted vinyl tile, bathroom ideas, flooring, tile flooring, tiling, I started by removing the air vent to create a template to cut the first piece of tile

I started by removing the air vent to create a template to cut the first piece of tile.

grouted vinyl tile, bathroom ideas, flooring, tile flooring, tiling, I placed a sheet of paper on the floor lining up the edges with where my tile will sit and then used a permanent marker to make the template

I placed a sheet of paper on the floor, lining up the edges with where my tile will sit, and then used a permanent marker to make the template.

grouted vinyl tile, bathroom ideas, flooring, tile flooring, tiling, Iplaced the template on the tile and cut the tile with a utility knife Shallow cuts do the trick and then you can just pop the piece out

I placed the template on the tile and cut the tile with a utility knife. Shallow cuts do the trick and then you can just pop the piece out.

grouted vinyl tile, bathroom ideas, flooring, tile flooring, tiling, After the cut was made I placed my tile on the floor making sure to apply weight to it as per the instructions on the box

After the cut was made, I placed my tile on the floor, making sure to apply weight to it, as per the instructions on the box.

grouted vinyl tile, bathroom ideas, flooring, tile flooring, tiling, Since we were grouting the tile we used spacers between each tile and continued laying them throughout the room

Since we were grouting the tile, we used spacers between each tile and continued laying them throughout the room.

grouted vinyl tile, bathroom ideas, flooring, tile flooring, tiling, Around the toilet I made a template as well but had to tape a few pieces of paper together and pushed the paper down around the toilet to get accurate lines

Around the toilet, I made a template as well, but had to tape a few pieces of paper together, and pushed the paper down around the toilet to get accurate lines.

grouted vinyl tile, bathroom ideas, flooring, tile flooring, tiling, Here is the floor pre grout Looks so much better than before but tile is always better after you grout it

Here is the floor pre-grout. Looks so much better than before, but tile is always better after you grout it!

grouted vinyl tile, bathroom ideas, flooring, tile flooring, tiling, We picked up the grout at Home Depot It was about 10 for this pre mixed but I m using it for another room as well so the cost for this is actually only 5

We picked up the grout at Home Depot. It was about $10 for this pre-mixed, but I'm using it for another room as well, so the cost for this is actually only $5!

After about a half hour of grouting, and 24 hours of dry time, the floor looks brand new! We also sealed this tile with sealer that we already had, which is about $10.

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1 question

Fong-Lie Bavelaar on Sep 29, 2018

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!

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7 of 26 comments

Chris on Sep 30, 2016
I think this a wonderful idea not only is very nice and pretty but very functional. If for whatever reason you might want to redo with a different pattern or color, it wouldn't be a major project to change. I always like the option of being abel to change.

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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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- See 4 previous
- 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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