Hi all
I’m redoing a kitchen (paint, tile, cabinets, etc.)
The women gave me a tile sample to use for the floor, it’s only available in self-stick.
I’ve always layed tile with the spread on mastic, so I’m kind of unsure how well these will stick and hold.
I’ll be laying a new 3/8″ wood subfloor first.
Do I need to do anything special to the wood (paint, etc).
Should I roll the floor tiles with a rubber roller?
Or do they really need a layer of mastic anyway?
Any advice will be helpfull.
Jeff
Replies
Peel and stick will telegraph ANY imperfections almost immediately. It's thinner, usually, than your basic sheet vinyl.
Therefore, your prep must be absolutuely clean and smooth, which means if you are adding a ply subfloor you MUST float the floor with a leveler to fill the dips and dings and joints and then sand out the ridges and boogers you will have when finished. Rolling will help adhere the tile. Remember - NO boogers allowed. Use the electric sucker.
Another reason for a very smooth substrate with peel and stick is the glue needs every square inch possible to develop a grab. One of my friends tried (had his workers try) to use peel and stick on a new poured slab. Their concrete finishing skills were terrible and when they placed the tile on what could charitably be described as a broom finish they were sadly disappointed. The peel and stick was a NO stick. Then they added mastic. Glad my name wasn't on the job.