How to Lay Soft Floor Tiles

Soft floor tiles, such as vinyl, cork and carpet, are a practical and hardwearing choice for floors, especially for rooms such as the kitchen or bathroom. Not only are they quick and easy to lay, but they are also economical to use in irregularly shaped rooms. The look of the floor can also be varied according to the pattern in which the tiles are laid.

Vinyl and cork tiles
It is vital to achieve a symmetrical layout so that any pattern is centred in the room, and there is an even border of tiles around the edges. The first step is to find the centre of the room by joining the mid-points of opposite walls with lines of string pinned to the floor.

Working from the centre, lay a row of dry tiles along both lines of string until no more whole tiles can be laid. If the border tiles are less than a quarter of the width of a tile, adjust the stringline parallel to that edge of the wall by moving it over half a tile width. Make sure that the lines of string cross at right-angles, then rub chalk on the strings and snap them firmly on the floor to leave a guideline in each direction.

Use a notched spreader to apply adhesive to the floor, and place the first tile accurately against the stringlines. To lay self-adhesive vinyl tiles, simply peel off the protective backing paper before placing in position. Work outward in both directions, laying tiles in the sequence shown. Butt cork tiles tightly together to prevent water from seeping between the joins, and wipe off any adhesive that oozes on to the face of the tile.

Complete a quarter of the floor at a time, starting in the section farthest from the door. Once all the whole tiles have been laid, leave the glue to set before laying the edge tiles.

To cut a border tile to size, start by placing the tile exactly on top of the last whole tile laid, then put another whole tile on top of this so that its edge butts against the skirting (base) board. Use the edge of the top tile as a guide for marking the cutting line on the tile below. The same method can be used to cut tiles to fit internal and external corners. Cut self-adhesive tiles to size before removing the backing paper.

At doorways, protect and neaten edges by fixing a binder bar across the centre of the threshold.

If cork does not have a factory finish, it will require sealing with flooring wax or at least three coats of polyurethane varnish.

Carpet tiles
These can be laid loose, but in busy areas, such as a child’s room, secure the edges around doors and on every third row with double-sided flooring tape. Carpet tiles are usually laid in a traditional chequerboard pattern by alternating the pile direction; an arrow on the back of the tile shows the direction of the pile.

Cutting techniques
Cut vinyl tiles on scrap board, pressing the knife firmly through the decorative face. Cork should be scored through the face, then snapped along this line. Cut carpet tiles through the backing material, holding the knife at a slight angle away from the pile to create a neat edge.

To cut tiles to fit around obstacles, first make a template. For pipes, slit the tile from the back edge to the position of the pipe, then cut out a circle for it. A piece of pipe with sharpened edges is useful for cutting neat holes in soft floor tiles.

Sub-bases
Carpet tiles can be laid directly over floorboards, but vinyl and cork tiles will require a hardboard sub-floor. Soft floor tiles can also be laid directly on to a level, clean and dust-free solid floor, provided there is a damp-proof course.

Practical tips

- Shuffle packs of cork tiles so that any slight difference in color is less noticeable.
- Check which way to lay pre-sanded tiles. The underside is rougher to provide a key for adhesive.
- Narrow strips of carpet tile will curl rather than lay flat, so adjust the layout to avoid cutting tiles less than 100mm wide.
- To remove air bubbles, rub vinyl tiles in a circular movement with your fist, working from the centre of the tile outward.