I want to lay some vinyl floor tiles in my bathroom. How do you get the tricky shapes cut properly around the?

Question

If you use a template is there any easy way of making one thats accurate?

Answer 1

Certainly it would be best to pull the toilet at least and tile under it. The alternatives given so far may work for corners.

Most good home/hardware stores sell an instant template type thing. The one I use is blue, about a foot long, pliable, vinyl, and conforms to any shape, then I trace that shape to the project.

Another alternative also sold is a bit more strange looking. It looks like a comb with two sides of teeth, and spaced tightly together. These TEETH are a stiff kind of wire and if you experiment with one, even at a home store you will see, as you press the tool wires against an odd angle or curve, that the wires conform to the shape,,,then just trace that pattern to whatever.

They are both inexpensive tools.

Certainly you could use paper and laying it flat against both floor and whatever, you could run a finger at the point where both surfaces meet causing a crease you can cut or fold and trace.

Rev. Steven

Answer 2

To be honest with you the easiest way to do it and get the professional look is to remove the toilet. It is very simple to remove a toilet, place the tile on the floor, then replace the toilet. The toilet is only held in place by two bolts. Turn the water off, remove the water line, this can be done with a small set of plyers or most times can be done with your hand. Take the two bolts off at the base and remove the toilet. Place an old towel in the hole so nothing falls in. Place the tile down and then cut around the hole in the floor with a razor blade type knife. Then use the reverse steps to replace the toilet. Make sure to remove the towel from the drain hole before replacing the toilet. Most people would think to remove a toilet would be way to difficult but it is very easy and you get the professional look.

Answer 3

What I like to do, is when you want to cut out a piece for the toilet, and you already have the tile leading up "to" the toilet.

I take some paper, and place it along the toilet, (regular school paper or blank paper).

I have everything laid out, and the toilet is completely outlined, then I take a pencil, and carefully rub it against the tiles, that are already laid down, to get an outline of where the tile edges are on the papers.

Then, with out moving any of the papers, I TAPE all the pages together that I laid down.

Then I take some scissors and cut the outline for the tile edges.

Now, I lay the paper on a regular tile and cut it with a utility knife to the exact dimensions that I need.

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 4

Around the what? For sinks, toilet etc, I lay out the tiles next to them, use a measure out a template using the dimensions and make it slightly smaller than the actual sink toilet (about 1 - 1/2 cm smaller). Lay the tiles going slightly under the sink/toilet - should be able to loosen them slightly - you only need about 1/2cm movement. This saves getting the template absolutely spot on. I then use a sealant to seal around the edge (have 2 small children who seem to think the bathroom floor is an extension of their bath!!) Works for me and I think it looks a lot neater.

Answer 5

It's better to remove the toilet, floor molding, and old flooring in the bathroom then put down your new vinyl floor tiles. If you do that, there's really nothing tricky about it. When the toilet and floor molding is replaced, it covers up most every minor cut imperfection along the edges.

Answer 6

This is going to be tricky and fiddly no matter how you do it.

Using a ruler and a piece of paper you should be able to make a series of dots that correspond to the outline of the shape that you need to cut. You have to keep the angle of the ruler the same and use the same distance marks on it. Join the dots together Put the paper on the tiles and cut to follow your line of dots.

I hope that helps.

Answer 7

you put one tile down on the tile back from the one you want to cut then put one in front and mark the first one then cut the shape its easy really good luck

Answer 8

as mentioned before use a template, cardboard from cearal packets works very well but use a sharp craft knife or stanley to cut template. AMcD

Answer 9

heat tiles, on radiator or carefully over hot plate and cut with knife &
hook blade