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Peel and Stick Vinyl Tile Flooring Complete Facts

Peel and Stick Vinyl Tile Flooring Complete Facts

by Dylan Johnson

What’s so special about peel and stick vinyl tile flooring?

Well, the floor isn’t for everyone, for sure. But every house has its own condition and situation.

It requires a deeper and more thorough look into the situation, especially to your own home. As the homeowner, only you understand the condition of the house.

Yes, the floor is great for homeowners with limited budgets. But then again, the floor itself has its own positive trait as well as negative side.

So, what should you know more about this flooring type?

The Pros Peel and Stick Vinyl

There are some positive sides about peel and stick vinyl tile flooring.

First of all, the floor is super affordable. You won’t have to dig deeper into your pocket to install such a floor at home.

Even when you choose the most luxurious and the most expensive type, it is still less costly than other types of flooring.

Second, the floor is DIY-friendly. Not all homeowners have the budgets to hire a professional installer.

If this happens to you, you won’t have to worry. Feel free to do it on your own!

It’s like playing with stickers. You only need to remove the adhesive and stick it to the area that you want. You won’t even need any special skill or tools.

If you have to make the necessary cut, just use the razor knife and you are done!

If your previous floor has been properly and correctly prepped, you should be able to lay the vinyl stick and peel tile on top of it.

Third, this floor comes with various styles and looks. If you want to have a floor with stone effect or wood effect, the high-quality vinyl floor would be the perfect pick.

Vinyl tile flooring imitates the look of natural stone or wood just perfectly. If you don’t know it any better, you probably think you have stone or wood floor at home.

Basically, there are tons of options to choose and you will have fun installing the floor.

And last, this floor is comfortable for your feet. It is somewhat warm and also plush too. It isn’t cold either, making standing on a long time not an issue at all.

The floor has a pretty good water resistant quality, which makes it ideal for moisture-high areas like basements, kitchens, or bathrooms.

Moreover, replacing a damaged tile is super easy. You don’t have to replace the entire floor.

Just remove the damaged one and you already have a new floor ready!

Read Also: NuCore Vinyl Plank Flooring Facts and Reviews

The Cons Peel and Stick Vinyl

This peel and stick vinyl tile flooring is often compared to engineered products or luxury vinyl tiles.

In terms of quality, luxury vinyl tiles and engineered products are better. You can tell from the visual effect, the feel, and the overall quality of the floor itself.

A lot of homeowners say that the peel and stick floor is lousy and cheesy. But then again, different homeowners have different opinions and each homeowner has their own preference.

Second, the floor won’t affect the value of the property. Unlike other flooring types that can affect the overall value of the house, this stick and peel type won’t.

In fact, not all people like this flooring type. If you decide to sell the house and your potential buyers don’t like the floor, then it will be an issue. And it will surely affect the sale.

Buying Guide Peel and Stick Vinyl

When you decide to have this peel and stick vinyl tile flooring at home, there are several aspects to consider. Pay attention to some key elements and you should be good to go.

The Types

There are actually several types of this ‘sticker’ flooring. They may seem similar, like the sticker. But they are actually different.

  • VCT (Vinyl Composition Tile).  This is the regular stick and peel type but it has an extra toughness to it.
  • VET. This is the better and tougher tile, as it is short for Vinyl Enhanced Tile. It has better and stronger abrasion resistance
  • SVT (Solid Vinyl Tiles). This one is better for higher foot traffic areas and designed for commercial class. You won’t have to maintain it thoroughly and the variants aren’t as many as the VCT. This one is also costlier.

When choosing for vinyl tiles, pay attention to the edges. Go with groutable floor if you look forward imitating natural stone. It is still easy to install.

It also adds a real visual effect to the floor even better than the regular stick and peel type.

The Styles

There is nothing right or wrong when it comes to peel and stick vinyl tile flooring styles. Feel free to choose whatever patterns or colors you want.

But in case you want to know the latest trend in the flooring industry, it is the wood-look tile.

It isn’t as realistic as stone, but the plank or parquet variations are pretty good. Add some grouts to create a real effect.

Don’t forget to consider your furnishing or interior decor before deciding on a specific style.

Wear Layer

Peel and stick vinyl tile flooring come in various wear layer, including textured one or the smooth marble-look alike. Wear layer is crucial because it determines the quality of the floor and possible structural failure.

Wear Layer Peel and Stick Vinyl Flooring
Wear Layer Peel and Stick Vinyl Flooring

There are different wear layer types out there:

  • Urethane. This one promotes easy cleaning and maintenance. This one can take up more abuse, making it ideal for kitchen or areas with medium foot traffic.
  • No-wax vinyl. This is the most common type of vinyl floor because of the easy cleaning and good stain resistance. However, the floor is easily scuffed than those with thicker protection layer.
  • Enhanced urethane. This is the higher level than the urethane type. This floor is the strongest among the two. Premium tiles usually have this type of wear layer, but it also affects the price tag.

Size

The most common type is the 12 x 12 inches or the 16 x 16 inches.

However, there are different variants with unusual sizes, depending on the styles, series, and brands.

Although thicker tiles are stronger and better, not many of the peel and stick ones would be available more than 6mm in thickness.

You may be able to find some rare variants with such a thickness, but 4mm thickness is generally considered enough for most constructions and structures.

Warranty

Despite the low price, you want to find flooring products with warranty. The grade of the floor usually determines the warranty.

Some brands, like TrafficMaster, offer limited lifetime warranties, while others (such as Armstrong) offer a tiered guarantee along with the (limited) lifetime warranty.

The Installation and Cost

In general, the peel and stick vinyl tile flooring costs around $0.20 per square foot to more than $2.50 a square foot.

In most cases, expect to pay between $0.60 and $1.20 for the most common patterns and styles.

This is only the price for the material. Don’t forget about the installation cost.

Do you have to hire an installer?

Do you have the tools or do you have to rent them?

Do you need to work on the subfloor?

If your subfloor is in good condition, you won’t have to spend extra.

Do you have to do something with the uneven surface?

Do you have to remove any carpets?

The Best Brands Peel and Stick Vinyl

There are some names and brands that are pretty popular in this industry. Feel free to do research about their products before deciding on a particular peel and stick vinyl tile flooring.

Armstrong

As the leader in this industry, the products are quite impressive and perfect. There are tons of sizes and styles available.

Not to mention that they provide easy shopping access too. Whether you shop online or locally, their products are available.

They have wood, stone, and other decorative categories. They also provide high, medium, or low gloss finishes that determine the final quality.

The price starts at $0.70 a square foot, while the premium products cost around $2 a square foot.

TrafficMaster

It is a part of Shaw, a company focusing in commercial and residential flooring. When it comes to quality, the products are almost similar to Armstrong. Their collections are quite impressive.

They may not offer many patterns, but they do have some of the best color combinations and hues, such as Oxidized Metal.

Feel free to shop the floor at Home Depot, as well as Amazon and Walmart. As the company offers better warranties, their price tags are higher with the highest price set around $3 a square foot.

WallPops!

This is a relatively new name in the industry, but because of their high-quality products, the name is becoming popular quite fast. The collections are quite unique.

Not only they have wood or stone look alike collections, but they also have classic options. The tiles may imitate pool tile or china tile which is quite unique.

This is a brand offering vinyl flooring with modern touch. Feel free to search the products at Amazon and Wayfair.

Qualified and Trusted Installer

When you are thinking about installing the floor, don’t rush things. Consult several services and ask for their quotes.

In this way, you can compare prices and services, including the coverage of the service.

Ask for reference and recommendations from people you trust, especially those who have just improved their house.

Read Also: Armstrong Rigid Core Luxury Plank Vinyl Flooring Review

FAQs Peel and Stick Vinyl

How long can the peel and stick vinyl tile flooring last?

With proper care, the floor should last for 25 years, more or less. Of course, it depends on the brand, the quality, and the installation method.
How do you know that you need to replace it? When it cracks and becomes brittle.

Can I add extra glue for the tile?

No need to. Each company has put a certain and proper amount of adhesive on the tile. Don’t be a know-it-all and add the glue by yourself.

Can I apply the tiles on the walls?

You’d better choose the one with floor and wall rate. If you can’t find the rate (for the wall), then you shouldn’t install it for the wall.

When there are gaps between the tiles, what should I do?

First of all, there shouldn’t be any gap if you properly install the tile.
You can add caulk on the gaps, but go with the ones rated for vinyl floor. This chalk is great when the gap is only small.

Does the floor affect the value of my property?

It depends on the extent of the area. If it is only limited to small areas and only one (or two) rooms, then it may not have any significant affect.
However, if you install the floor in bigger areas, such as the living room or the kitchen, it won’t be in your favor.

Will this floor requires a primer?

Well, a good and solid primer will help with subflooring prep.
But then again, each manufacturer has their own instructions and precautions about the floor, especially when related to prep work and primer consideration.

Is it possible to remove a tile and then re-attach it, even after it has been used and installed?

It depends.
How long has it been used?
Where it has been installed?
If it isn’t long, use a putty knife as well as heat gun to remove it and re-attach it again. But there is always a possibility that the tile breaks during the process.
And if you install it in very wet areas (like bathroom), removing it and then re-attaching it again would be impossible.

Those are the basic and general facts about this floor. Decide whether peel and stick vinyl tile flooring is the right one for your home.