Homebase Vinyl Tiles for Kitchens/Bathrooms

...The tiles are available from homebase stores but are not sold online and are not even featured on the website.

**Contents**

There are 6 tiles in a pack, each measuring 305cmx305cm x 1.5mm. This is meaningless to me (it's an age thing), so for anyone like me, this equates to 12" square.

**Laying the tiles**

• Once the tiles have been purchased, they should be kept in warm conditions ...
...to do with expansion) it made no sense to me. How warm is warm?
• Check all floors are clean, dry, smooth and level- we knew ours was going to be ok on this point.
• Prepare your floor according to the instructions, depending on whether it is concrete or wooden
• Plan the floor, marking guidelines from the centres of the opposite walls
• Peel the backing from the first tile and carefully place it at ... more

With the loft conversion finally finished, it was time to do something with the bathroom floor.

Since it's a bathroom, we didn't consider a carpet and began to look for floor tiles, these being my flooring of choice for bathrooms. However, whilst on a merry little jaunt round Homebase, we came upon these and decided that they would be a viable option, one of the main plus points being that they did feel slightly warmer than tiles, and certainly looked as though they would be easier to lay.

**Price and availability**

Depending on the tiles chosen, they cost about £5.99, for 6 tiles, these were cheaper than many of the tiles we had looked at, and involved no further purchases such as costly tile cutters.

The tiles are available from homebase stores but are not sold online and are not even featured on the website.

**Contents**

There are 6 tiles in a pack, each measuring 305cmx305cm x 1.5mm. This is meaningless to me (it's an age thing), so for anyone like me, this equates to 12" square.

**Laying the tiles**

• Once the tiles have been purchased, they should be kept in warm conditions for 24 hours. Although himself carefully explained the reason (something to do with expansion) it made no sense to me. How warm is warm?
• Check all floors are clean, dry, smooth and level- we knew ours was going to be ok on this point.
• Prepare your floor according to the instructions, depending on whether it is concrete or wooden
• Plan the floor, marking guidelines from the centres of the opposite walls
• Peel the backing from the first tile and carefully place it at the starting point. Apply pressure for full contact and then go on to the next tile.
• When you get to the end of the row, cut the last tile to fit.

**Warnings**

• After the tiles have been laid, do not wash the floor for a week.
• Do not fix over underfloor heating

**Available colours**

They are available in a range of colours. We chose the black but there are buff, stone and wooden effect tiles.

**Verdict**

Having laid tiles in bathrooms and kitchens, we have always found it to be a laborious task, requiring some specialist equipment, and over the years have had a variety of tile cutters which I somehow often manage to break. There is also the question of the number of tiles I have managed to snap or which break during the cutting process.

This method was surprisingly simple. The floor was already clear of dirt and previous flooring and was level.

Since our floor is wood, we had to put on some hardboard, with the smooth side facing upwards, and then it was ready for the tiles. I suppose this is so that the tiles have something they can grip onto.

I was a bit dubious at first, and did wonder how they could possible stay in place without glue. I thought they were rather like stickers and would either go down all lumpy and look like waves, or lift at the first sign of water.

The tiles were really easy to lay. Going along the planned lines, most of them were obviously full tiles, and when we got to the end, and required a smaller piece of tile, there was none of that dread- this is the tile which will break…have we bought enough to cover breakages? I know, I am beginning to sound as though I am useless at tiling; I probably am but it always seems very specialist. Anyway, once we got to the end, and required a smaller piece of tile, it was a case of measuring the size needed and then getting a Stanley knie to cut to size. Absolutely that simple. No bits of tile to cut hands on and not masses of clearing up to do.

Once the tiles are firmly in place, the job is finished- no grouting required. Almost instant gratification. Time to stand back and admire your handy work without there being a further task of grouting and then wiping off the excess.

The tiles look good and have an appearance similar to ceramic tiles but they are undoubtedly warmer and smoother than a lot of floor tiles. This is where the one snag comes in; they are quite slippy, but I do believe that anything other than carpet gets slippy when water is on the surface.

A couple of months after having laid the tiles, they look good, and have been wearing well, contrary to my expectations. I now no longer expect them to lift or to "leak", and am really pleased with them.

For easy to lay, good looking floor tiles, these are well worth the money and I am now a total convert.

I know as well that the grouting won't start to go grey because there is none, so the main bathroom is going to get this treatment. I just have to chose the colour.

Thanks for reading.

Daniela xx 

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