Laying PVC tiles on the floor: process features

PVC floor tiles (polyvinyl chloride or vinyl) replaced the popular linoleum coating. This material combines the best qualities of products used for floor finishing: resistance to high humidity and mechanical abrasion, excellent sound and thermal insulation properties.

For its installation does not require specialized knowledge and skills - you can lay the tile yourself, without the help of professionals.

Types of tiles

PVC tile is classified depending on the structural structure and method of installation. Allocate:

  • multilayer material (heterogeneous);
  • single layer (homogeneous).

The first category has a complex structure consisting of several layers, the most important of which is the first laminating.Depending on the modification of the coating, it can have a thickness of from 0.2 to 0.5 mm - the greater this value, the more durable the material will be. The second layer defines the color palette and product design.

Multi-layer coating can imitate wood, stone, grass, marble chips.

Homogeneous tile has a homogeneous composition. The material is made of polyvinyl chloride. The drawing of a single-layer tile passes through the entire thickness of the lining, so that it is not erased even with intensive use for several years.

By way of installation tile is divided into the following types:

  • Glue. From the name it is clear that for laying such tiles will require special adhesives.
  • Castle. The connection of the fragments is carried out with the help of the tongue and groove system, which each of the tile fragments has. This type of material does not need to be glued. The main condition is a perfectly flat and rigid base. Products may be laid on existing wooden floor or plywood.
  • Self-adhesive material. The tile has a glue side, with which it is laid on a prepared base.For installation, you will need to remove the protective sheath and attach the fragment to the floor in accordance with the arrows indicated by the manufacturer on the back of the tile.
  • Rolled material. It is released in rolls, mounted with glue.

Before laying one or another type of PVC tile, you should carefully prepare the base.

Do not neglect this stage, since it is from him will depend on the durability of flooring.

Types of basics

PVC tile is an unpretentious material, for the flooring of which it is allowed to use all sorts of grounds. They can be:

  • concrete base;
  • leveling mixes;
  • waterproof plywood;
  • wooden floor.

Whatever the basis, it must meet a number of requirements:

  • Have a flat surface.. According to the norms and rules of the SNiP, possible drops should not be more than two millimeters per two meters.
  • Be completely dried. The range of drying time of the base is within wide limits. The minimum time period is 2 weeks, and the maximum - 2 months. Drying time depends on the material from which the base is made, as well as on the room temperature.To check if the base is dry, you need to stick an adhesive tape on it and leave it for a day - in the absence of condensate, you can start the installation work.
  • Be clean. On the surface of the screed should not be debris and fine dust.
  • To differ in high durability. Otherwise, the base may collapse under the action of power loads, because of which it is necessary to completely change the lining.
  • To be stable. The durability and aesthetics of vinyl floors directly depends on this parameter. In order for the foundation to be stable, it is recommended not to use old parquet as the base, since when it swells and dries, all deformations will be reflected on the soft tile, which will lead to a divergence of the seams.

The durability and aesthetics of a PVC tile flooring will depend not only on the level of preparation of the base and proper installation, but also on the quality of the material. To make the “right” purchase and after a year not to be disappointed in your choice, you should listen to the advice of experts.

PVC tile selection rules

Before buying a PVC lining, many potential consumers are wondering where to buy quality and reliable material.

The modern market is filled with offers to sell PVC tiles with different textures, designs and colors.

When choosing a tile, it is important to give preference not to cheap goods, but products from reputable brands. Bona fide manufacturers include the following companies:

  • Tarkett. The manufacturer produces durable finishing materials with a high degree of abrasion. The main difference between their products is the presence of several protective shells, so that the finished product has a long service life.
  • LG. Tile Korean production. It consists of a polyurethane protective layer, famous for its durability. The manufacturer guarantees that the floor cladding will maintain aesthetics for 25 years.
  • Vinilam. A company that focuses on the aesthetics of its products. The manufacturer creates a tile with an interesting texture that mimics natural materials.

When choosing products it is important to pay attention to the index of abrasion. There are several groups of products: T, P, M, F. The material with the marking T will be the most durable and wear-resistant.

It can be used when facing the kitchen, corridors and other rooms with high traffic. For bedrooms suitable products labeled F.

When choosing a material, you should try to avoid fakes. You should always ask the seller to show product quality certificates and other documentation - so you can protect yourself from buying low-quality tiles, which after a year of operation can lose their performance.

Besides the polyvinyl chloride material, You also need to choose a quality adhesive composition.

Glue selection

The market offers a wide range of tile adhesives. Glue, first of all, is selected taking into account the material from which the base is made.

For finishing work, you can choose:

  • Adhesive mastic. The composition is easy to use, because it does not need to be diluted. It is advisable to use glue mastic for mounting quartz vinyl tiles.
  • Dry composition. The mixture is diluted with water and applied to the prepared cleaned base. Subdivided into different types depending on the composition. They provide the strongest grip of the base and lining.
  • Epoxy adhesive. It is a universal tool, suitable for all surfaces and facings.

All adhesives designed for PVC tiles, can withstand low and high temperatures, elevated humidity. Thanks to these features such adhesives can be used in arranging underfloor heating.

In addition to the above compositions, PVC tiles can be glued to the base with glue-fixing. It does not freeze to the end, unlike the usual adhesive substances. When it is partially dried, a sticky film forms on the surface, like on scotch tape. Thanks to this glue, PVC tiles can be unstuck and re-laid several times. Materials glued to the fixation can be dismantled without difficulty, while the risks of "discharge" of individual fragments are excluded.

Required tools

For gluing PVC tiles on the floor, you need a special tool. For work you will need:

  • Knife or construction cutter for cutting facing material. Such a tool should be easy to use. It is better to give preference to cutters with strong and sharp blades, as well as holders made of steel.
  • Pencil or marker for marking in the room.
  • Ruler or tape measure required for measurements.
  • Notched trowel.
  • Roller for rolling the laid material.

It would also be nice to use a building hairdryer - it will come in handy for heating tiles when cut. After purchasing materials and tools, you can proceed to the preparation of the framework.

Surface preparation

To prepare a rough floor for its subsequent lining, you need to remove the old coating: linoleum, carpet, parquet and others. If this stage is neglected, there are great risks of incorrect installation of the coating fragments. All preparatory work must be carried out with utmost care not to damage the surface.

All new and old potholes and cracks need to be patched with a leveling compound.

If you plan to install the tile on an uneven wooden floor, it is first recommended to level it with plywood. Care should be taken to ensure that all fasteners are recessed and the holes are filled. To avoid glue overspending by reducing the absorbency of the substrate, it is recommended to treat the subfloor with primer.. After the preparatory work, the surface must be degreased and cleaned of debris - even the smallest particles of dust can lead to detachment of the tile.

Facing fragments should also be prepared. To do this, they need to bring in the room where you plan to make repairs. The material must lie in the room for at least a day at a temperature of 25 degrees..

How to cut the material?

When installing polyvinyl chloride tiles, there is often a need for cuts of individual fragments. In order to properly cut the material, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

  • All markings should be made only on the front side.
  • It is best to cut the canvas with a sharp stationery knife.
  • If the cut is not joined to the edge of the tile, then a cut should be made with a cutter on the face of the product, after which it should be bent and cut with a knife.
  • If you need a perfectly smooth cut, then you should use the ruler on the adhesive tape to eliminate the risks of its movement. If necessary, you can hold the blade on the markup from the front several times.
  • If you want to make a curved cutting under the communication, it is recommended to use pre-prepared templates made of cardboard.In order for tiles to be cut better, it should be heated.

How to put: technology features

Before you begin to lay PVC tiles with your own hands, you need to choose the method of its installation. Basic layout techniques:

  • traditional;
  • diagonal;
  • with offset;
  • laying "Christmas tree" or "modules."

Traditional method - one of the easiest layout variations. It implies the decomposition of the tile parallel to each other in straight rows. Basically, when choosing this method, products of square shapes are used, however, rectangular ones can also be used. To glue tiles using traditional technology, it is important to monitor the uniformity of the masonry and the size of all the joints.

Diagonal - the most elegant and extraordinary way of laying tiles. The main difficulty lies in applying a diagonal grid on the subfloor. Also, choosing this method will have to cut the material, which will take a lot of time. The advantage of the diagonal facing is the ability to hide the unevenness of the base and visually enlarge the rooms that are small in area.

If it is decided to glue the tiles diagonally, the markings should be applied so that the grid is at an angle of 45 degrees to the base. It is best to use square tiles.The first row must be laid the traditional method. Next is a row of cut triangles (the hypotenuse should be located below). After that, you need to lay the tile horizontally, using the principle of the layout on the diagonal.

Offset mounting (vzrazbezhku) reminds brickwork. The method relates to the most common, fast and easy method. For stacking products with an offset, rectangular products are mainly taken. The main feature of masonry with offset is the installation of tiles in horizontal rows. Each subsequent fragment must be positioned so that its middle coincides with the joint of the previous laying.

Christmas tree laying able to create an unusual interior indoors. The method consists in the installation of tiles "under the floor". Choosing this method, you need to glue rectangular tiles, alternately turning them to the right and left.

When choosing a modular installation, you should mark the modular grid according to your preferences. To make the installation perfect, you should make a drawing in advance with the dimensions of the material and seams. For beginners, you can purchase ready-made tile sets with laying patterns attached.

Mounting technology

The next stage is the installation. For adhesive material, it is best to choose an acrylic dispersion composition for bonding the base and lining. It is necessary to glue the material so as to prevent the ingress of air under the coating.

Glue should be applied on the wrong side of the fragment with a notched trowel. The composition should be distributed evenly, after which you should press it to the draft basis on the markup. Speaking of excess glue, it is important to immediately remove the sponge or a soft cloth. In order to better join the laid tile should be rolled.

All work needs to be done quickly, otherwise the glue will dry and you will have to dismantle it. When laying tiles near walls, it is necessary to leave a thermal joint - approximately 0.5 mm.. After installation of the facing fragments, you should wait for the adhesive composition to dry completely, and only after that you can install the plinth.

When choosing a self-adhesive tiles to lay it must be in the same way as the materials on the adhesive base. The only difference is that the seamy side does not have to apply glue.

Before mounting the self-adhesive fragments, the protective cover must be removed from them andstick on the markup.

How to lay PVC tile on glue, see the next video.

Recommendations of the masters

To lay the PVC tile in the apartment with your own hands, you need to listen to the advice of experts. Thanks to the recommendations of the masters, you can reduce the risks of marriage and the amount of waste, as well as they will help reduce the risks of miscalculations when laying polyvinyl chloride tiles.

  • Do not buy tiles "at random". You must always calculate the approximate amount of material for a particular room and buy it with a margin of about 5-10%. It is much better than to return for a purchase when there is a shortage of cladding. In addition, it may happen that the store may not already have products with the desired design and color range.
  • In order to avoid mistakes when cutting the material, one should always mark the front side of the product. To mark the lines you need to use a sharp pencil and a metal ruler. It is necessary to cut the fragments strictly according to the markup. It must be remembered that an error of one millimeter can lead to irregularities in laying the floor.
  • It is necessary to abandon the cutting of products for their entire thickness - it is recommended to make a small incision in the tile along the line (about 1/3), after which to make a bend and make a cut along it.
  • In no case should the cut tile be immediately fastened with glue - first you need to “try it on”.
  • It is not necessary to move the tile after gluing - only quartz vinyl lining can withstand these actions. If in the course of work such problems were found, you need to heat the material with the help of a building hair dryer. The product will become soft, thanks to which the installation work will be greatly simplified.
  • If glue has protruded when laying tiles, it is necessary to immediately wipe it with a damp cloth. It is important to perform all actions quickly so that the adhesive composition does not have time to dry. If a dried glue is found, it is necessary to soak it with a wet sponge and remove it from the surface. Do not use abrasive particles.
  • After the tile is laid, you need to inspect the surface in order to identify defects. It is necessary to pay attention to whether all the tiles have stuck to the base - you should especially carefully examine the edges of the room.
  • After installing the tiles, construction waste can only be cleaned after a day. Furniture items are recommended to bring into the room after 48 hours.
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Information provided for reference purposes. For construction issues, always consult a specialist.

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