This article will explain how you can complete rubber tile installation. Rubber flooring needs minimal maintenance and creates a slightly supple feeling under your feet. Rubber tiles can withstand daily wear and tear, even in high-traffic areas like the garage. Rubber offers a less slippery surface than vinyl flooring.
What You'll Need
What You'll Need
- Trowel
- Leveling compound
- Plywood bit
- Kraft paper
- Packaged rubber tiles
- Chalk
- Utility knife
- Rubber tiling adhesive
- Tape measure
- Linoleum roller
- Caulk
Step 1 – Prepare the Surface
Thoroughly clean the area you will be tiling. The surface should be dry and free of any lose debris. Scrub away all traces of paint, grease and oil with a trowel. Such substances can affect the bonding action of the adhesive. You can use leveling compounds to create a uniform concrete surface.
Step 2 – Prepare the Rubber Tiles
Remove the rubber tiles from their packaging. Ideally you should do this at least 2 days prior to laying the tiles. Place the rubber tiles in the room where you'll complete the tile installation. The tiles will assume the same level of surface moisture and temperature as the floor. This aids the overall bonding process. Ensure that the room is well-ventilated during this period (but without any kind of water seepage).
Step 3 – Measure for the Tile Installation
You need to take measurements in two ways. First take the measurements for the floor with no vertical obstructions. Divide the room into four sections with chalk. Using the tape measure, mark the center of the room. Start laying tiles within each chalked section. Make sure to place them along the chalked lines. You should begin laying the tiles from the marked center. Count and note the number of tiles that fit in each section.
Secondly you need to take measurements for the floor surface that has vertical obstructions, like the floor area around the wall edges and doorjambs. Place a tile against the base of the vertical obstruction and let it overlap the nearby tile, previously placed. Using a utility knife, cut off the overlapping part of this tile. If the vertical obstructions have edges that you can't easily cover with this method, use Kraft paper. Create a template of the problematic base of each vertical obstruction upon the Kraft paper. Trace the design of the template onto the tile. Now, cut along the traced lines with a utility knife.
Step 4 – Install the Tiles
You should start at the corner of the room that is most distant from the exit. Remove the tiles that you placed for measurement purposes. Pour an ample amount of tiling adhesive on the subfloor. Spread the adhesive with a trowel. Start placing the tiles over the adhesive-covered floor. Press down on the tiles to squeeze out excess adhesive. Wipe off the excess with a piece of cloth.
Step 5 – Finish the Tile Installation
The tiled surface may display some bumps due to air bubbles in the adhesive. You should level it with a linoleum roller. Let the floor and tiles bond properly through the night. On the next day, caulk any visible gaps between the vertical structures and the rubber floor tiling.
Source: www.DoItYourself.com
