Bathroom Flooring - How To Lay Soft Tiles

Soft floor tiles made from cork or vinyl are an alternative to hard tiles and many people prefer this type of flooring in their bathrooms as soft tiles are comfortable underfoot and easier to lay than hard tiles.  Soft tiles can be laid on a level sub-floor made from either plywood, hardboard or concrete screed.  As with hard bathroom tiles, you'll need to plan your tiling design so you have a central starting point and leave the cut tiles around the edges until last.

Like other bathroom tiles, you can use tile adhesive to fix soft tiles to the floor, or you could buy ones with their own self-adhesive backing.  Before you begin, use a PVA solution to seal the surface of your sub-floor.  Using a pencil and spirit level, mark out your starting line in the usual way.  If using, apply adhesive to the first area you're working on.  Position your first tile and make sure it's in the right place before pressing it firmly into place.  Line up your next tile and position it so it's butted up to the edge of the first tile - don't leave any gap in between the tiles, as you don't grout soft tiles.

Once you've laid the full tiles, cut tiles to fill the gaps around the edges, using a craft knife or scissors.  Use paper templates to cut out curved bits to fit around your vanity cabinet and other bathroom fixtures.  Once your entire bathroom floor has been covered, you'll need to use a sealant over cork tiles to ensure they are watertight.  However, vinyl tiles don't usually require sealing.