DIY: Peel and Stick Tile

Before we start, let me tell you a little about what led to this decision.

When I moved into the house in July, I knew I wanted to do a few immediate updates (blog post here), putting in a fence and updating the kitchen were 1 & 2 on my list, respectively.  The fence was definitely a HIRE OUT type of project, but the kitchen needed a balance between DIY and contracted work for my budget.

The wish list for the kitchen was a bit extensive:

1. Add Cabinet Hardware
2. Replace Countertops
3. Remove breakfast bar
4. Install Backsplash
5. New Fridge
6. Update Oven
7. Replace Sink
8. New Faucet
9. Paint
10. Replace flooring

I debated doing the floors because eventually, I’d like to replace them throughout the house. If I was going to do this, the solution needed to be an economic one that was sturdy enough to handle at least a few years of abuse from a 70 lb dog and 2 growing boys.

Flooring Options

I had seen some really gorgeous tile floor paint and stencil projects, like this one from Young House Love. The challenge was my tile wasn’t in great condition.  Painting the existing tile would have required quite a bit of repair.  Also…see previous comment about a 70 lb dog and 2 young boys, how in the world can you keep going to keep a family off the KITCHEN floor long enough to paint, stencil, and cure it….spoiler – YOU CAN’T.

So the hunt for an alternative began. I began to see peel and stick tiles everywhere.  It’s like they were calling me.  On somewhat of a whim, I bought a few packs at Hobby Lobby to see how they would look in my kitchen.  Then I bought different designs at Joanns.  I brought them home, laid them on the floor, and texted pictures to my mom and sisters to get their votes.

With supplies in hand, I was ready to knock out the project over the course of a kid-free weekend.

DIY: Peel and Stick Tile Process

The first step is mapping out your tile placement.  They recommend starting in the center of the room because I was doing my kitchen and breakfast nook, my floor was a very awkward shape and didn’t have a “clear” center.  Instead, I used the center of the kitchen space as my starting point.  Now, I didn’t lay out ALL of the tiles, which led to a challenge.

EVERY.SINGLE.TILE I had needed to be cut around the edges of my room. I let my eagerness get to me, and I scrubbed, degreased, and started sticking tiles right away.  Let’s say I paid for it in the long run.

I mopped in sections with Krud Kutter to degloss and etched the flooring to help with adhesion.  The tiling went very quickly.  I turned each tile to find where the pattern matched the best and worked in diagonal lines.  I wouldn’t fret over exact matches on this pattern because the imperfections make it look a bit more realistic in the bigger picture.  It was easy to see progress almost immediately.  In fact, I was able to complete nearly the entire kitchen in just an hour.  It became far more tedious when I had to cut the tile to meet edges or, heaven-forbid, corners.

I used a couple of tricks to make the cuts easier.

• For straight cuts, you can turn the tile in reverse (i.e., upside down with the edge intended to meet the existing tile touching the edge of the wall) and cut with a utility knife.
  • Side Note:  Trust me; use a utility knife as opposed to an Exacto knife. The Exacto knife is too flimsy.
• I used the old cardboard box and/or peel off packing for complicated corners to create a template.
• I saved ALL scrap pieces if I screwed up or could get the most out of the pieces I purchased.

Once I got the hang of cutting the tile, the process really flew by.  After a full day’s work, I was convinced I’d be able to complete the DIY: peel and stick tile easily the next morning.

AND THEN…

The tile wouldn’t stick.  I thought maybe the floor was too cold; it was early in the morning.  I turned on the heat, and I laid on the floor; I got the dog to lay on the floor.  Nothing worked; I even tried a hairdryer on both the tile and the floor itself.