peel and stick tile OK?

[MichelleD1977]

My husband and I are planning on renovating our bathroom, which includes replacing the tile floor. I've watched a few videos online regarding this process, but it seems like a pretty involved process. We also only have 1 bathroom, so if we are going to go with ceramic tile we may be needing to be out of the bathroom for a few days. What are your thoughts on the peel and stick tile? I've used those for a bathroom in the past, but am thinking they don't have a lot of longevity.  I was thinking it might be good for use in our pantry, though, which also needs a renovation.

[nereo]

My husband and I are planning on renovating our bathroom, which includes replacing the tile floor. I've watched a few videos online regarding this process, but it seems like a pretty involved process. We also only have 1 bathroom, so if we are going to go with ceramic tile we may be needing to be out of the bathroom for a few days. What are your thoughts on the peel and stick tile? I've used those for a bathroom in the past, but am thinking they don't have a lot of longevity.  I was thinking it might be good for use in our pantry, though, which also needs a renovation.

I've used peel and stick tiles in a large storage closet and held up great over the past 6 years - I don't know if it would be different in a bathroom where there is constant moisture and steam.

I would encourage you think that tiling a bathroom floor is something you can do.  It seems involved at first, but once you tile a floor you will see that it's not all that scary. There are loads of great youtube videos out there.

AS for not being able to use your bathroom.... that's a consideration but is still manageable.  The only times during the process you won't want to walk on the floor is for a couple hours right after setting the tiles, and then again right after applying the grout.  Plan ahead and you should be fine - I did my own bathroom this way (only bathroom in the home).

[math-ya]

I use sticky tile in my rentals. It looks good, and it's cheap and super easy to put down. Some of my renters even think it's real tile ha. But for my house I use tile. It's a little extra effort and money but the quality is so much better. I think it just depends on what you like. They do make high end sticky tile that look really nice.

[ingrownstudentloans]

My parents used the sticky tile in the mudroom where the dogs sleep, eat and are kept while they are out of the house.  The room is probably 20x20 and is the main walkway between the garage and the house and houses the washer/dryer and a utility sink.  I know they went higher quality on their selection because of the dogs and the traffic, but it has held up for the past 10+ years even with one puppy training period and one older dog decline where she sometimes made messes while they are out of the house.

[trobertson79]

I would highly recomend that rather than that you go with Allure Traffic Master.  Unlike peel and stick it will look and feel seemless, it's cheap, it goes down easier and it lasts really really long.  It costs more though, but, for a bathroom that's probably a difference of $50.

[waffle]

I would highly recomend that rather than that you go with Allure Traffic Master.  Unlike peel and stick it will look and feel seemless, it's cheap, it goes down easier and it lasts really really long.  It costs more though, but, for a bathroom that's probably a difference of $50.

+1
I really like that flooring. My parents have it all throughout their house and I used it in my living room when we replaced the carpet. It comes in several patterns. We used the Oak and have had several people comment on how nice the hardwood flooring looks.

[Shinplaster]

We installed Traffic Master 12"x12" stick down tiles 10 years ago, in what was supposed to be a temporary fix until we could do ceramic. They still look great - have not lifted, shifted, discolored, etc.  We've left them, because they are working well, and why replace them?   The only thing I would change is I laid them butted together, not grouted.   I was too timid back then to attempt grouting.   A few years ago, I used a different brand in our basement bathroom, but went ahead and grouted them.  They look great, and everyone thinks they are real tile.   Grouting is the way to go.

[anotherAlias]

I used cheaper peal and stick in the kitchen of my old rental and the expensive peal and stick with grout lines stuff in my old bathroom.  Both held up well in the few years I had the place.  The tiles I put in my bathroom were slightly textured so it was no slip too.  I loved not having throw rugs on the floor.  I really do miss that bathroom :)

[meadow lark]

How much of a perfectionist are you?  A good tile job needs a perfectionist.  So,my wife is really good at it, but me, not so much.  It's not hard, but you need to be willing to mess with it until it is just right.

[Sloeginfizz]

I've had nothing but bad experiences with the peel and stick tiles. I've owned two places that had them and in both cases the tile shifted, lifted and got otherwise awful. The first place I thought it was just bad installation. It seemed likely as the previous owners had done so much so badly to the place. They laid it right on top of the previous vinyl sheet flooring, which started to buckle and it got worse from there. We replaced with tile.

But then the place after that, it looked ok when we moved it. But over the next six years, the surface of some of the vinyl tiles lifted at the corners, then peeled to reveal the black inner layer of the tile. Cheap product maybe? We ended up tearing it out and replacing with the vinyl planks that look like wood. Don't know how well that lasted as we did to sell.

Actually, I recommend the vinyl plank. It's a floating floor that clicks into place. It went in real easy and looked very nice for the effort involved. It's only slightly more expensive than the peel and stick.

[The_path_less_taken]

I'd go with tile, and you totally can do it yourself. I tiled a bathroom with six inch tile I got from Home Depot because it was an amazing color and texture purplish slate....worth it. But 12 inch tile or even the big 16 inchers would be easier.

I have used the cheapest peel and stick tile, in a covered (but door always open to weather) outside porch. In Oregon, with tons of rain/humidity.

But I used that spray can glue....sticky stuff but it held it all together for the 9 years I was there.

[dcheesi]

It may depend on the surface you are applying them to.

The previous owners of my house put peel and stick in the basement bathroom, which was just bare concrete. Several of the tiles loosened or completely separated within a few years of buying the place. Apparently peel and stick is not recommended to cover concrete, and being in the basement probably didn't help either.

[bortman]

When I did peel and stick ...

The subfloor was in rough shape so I put down luan underlayment, primed it, then stuck the tiles on. 90% of the tiles worked find, but 10% didn't want to stick and I had to glue them down with special peel-and-stick adhesive. Those non-sticking tiles were always a problem. They continued to lift even after being glued, resulting in chips to the corners. The tiles were pale grey, so the corner chips were visible (black) and unsightly.

I bought the tiles at lowes, but (at the time) could only by the adhesive online. I probably could have used any construction adhesive, but I used what the manufacturer suggested.

I haven't done the Allure Traffic Master, but would definitely consider it the next time I do a bathroom.

[Drifterrider]

My husband and I are planning on renovating our bathroom, which includes replacing the tile floor. I've watched a few videos online regarding this process, but it seems like a pretty involved process. We also only have 1 bathroom, so if we are going to go with ceramic tile we may be needing to be out of the bathroom for a few days. What are your thoughts on the peel and stick tile? I've used those for a bathroom in the past, but am thinking they don't have a lot of longevity.  I was thinking it might be good for use in our pantry, though, which also needs a renovation.

Check out "click-lock" vinyl floor tile.  Lots of patterns (including wood grain).  Very easy to install and remove (and reinstall).  I've seen it on sale at Home Depot (etc) for under $2 per sf.  Cuts with a razor knife (box cutter).  A very easy DIY.

[trobertson79]

^ The click lock vinyl tile is the same Trafficmaster (and there are other brands as well) that we're talking about.  So, lots of support for that direction.

[Thegoblinchief]

Groutable sticky tile looks nice and generally holds up well, but I've seen very few plain sticky tile installations look good after a few years.

Whatever you go with, +1 to the perfectionism comment above. That's my Achilles heel with a lot of DIY projects. I'm just not careful enough.

[BlueMR2]

Nothing wrong with peel and stick as long as you do the prep work.  Skimp on the prep work and you'll likely have shifting/loose tiles.

[the_fella]

I rent and we have that on our kitchen floor. We've been here 4 or 5 years and it's coming up in places. I know the landlady will charge us for it when we move...

[dcheesi]

I rent and we have that on our kitchen floor. We've been here 4 or 5 years and it's coming up in places. I know the landlady will charge us for it when we move...

Are tiles still intact? Maybe you could look into the tile adhesive mentioned earlier. For that matter, if they're coming up on their own, that sounds like a maintenance issue that she should be taking care of anyway.