Shiny, glossy, faux ceramic-like vinyl backsplash tiles were the darling of the design world several years ago—but now that look has gotten old, tired, and well… dingy! This housewife was initially in love with her new kitchen when she first installed vinyl tiles as a backsplash, but within two years it looked like she had never hired an expert tiler to do it for her in the first place.
The Benefits of Using Peel & Stick Tiles
Peel and stick vinyl tiles are an affordable way to tile a surface or create a quick mosaic backsplash. They are the easiest, fastest, and most affordable way to tile – no grouting required! Peel and stick tiles also work great for renters who want to freshen up their space without committing to permanent installation.
The peel-and-stick adhesive is strong enough that you can even remove your vinyl tiles from one room in your house and put them in another! With so many benefits, it’s hard not to love these peel and stick vinyl tiles. There are tons of colors and patterns to choose from and they’re easy to cut into shapes if needed. Once you get your peel & stick tiles installed on the wall, they will look like they were professionally installed!
Things to Consider Before You Buy
- What is the surface you want to apply the tiles to?
- Which size do you want your tiles to be?
- What color do you want your tiles to be?
- What are your budget constraints for this project?
- How much time do you want to spend on this project?
- Do you need the tiles to be waterproof, or should they only be water resistant?
- Will your tile application need an adhesive barrier before installing, like drywall mud or paint primer?
The Anatomy of Peel & Stick Wall Tiles
Peel and stick tiles are self-adhesive, with PU glue on top and backed with strong adhesive, people also call them self-adhesive wall tiles or mosaic tile stickers. They are the easiest, fastest, and most affordable way to tile a surface or create a quick mosaic backsplash. Peel and stick vinyl tiles can be cut to size or shape using scissors or an electric knife for precision. Peel and stick vinyl tiles can be applied directly over wallpaper, paint, grease or oil stains on the wall surface.
You may want to use small tacks (or nails) if you are applying them over wood paneling so they do not peel off the paneling when removing the backing paper. If you want to remove any bubbles that form under your tiles as you’re peeling off the paper backing before sticking it onto your surface, use a heat gun from about 8 inches away from your project area; this will flatten out any of those pesky bubbles without compromising the adhesive’s ability to adhere strongly to whatever it touches.
Designing Your Back Splash
- Measure the area you want to cover. Remember that one sheet of tiles is 3-inches by 12-inches so if you have an area that’s 15-inches wide, you’ll need two sheets of tile or four sheets if it’s 30-inches wide.
- Take your measurements and multiply them by the number of pieces of vinyl tile per sheet (1). For example, if your measurement is 5 inches, you’ll need 10 tiles for your backsplash. If your measurement is 15 inches, you’ll need 30 tiles for your backsplash and so on.
How To Install Your DIY Mosaic Tile Back Splash
- Measure your space and cut the tiles to size if needed.
- Peel off the backing from the adhesive side of the tile, starting at one corner and working your way across.
- Stick the tiles on, pressing firmly as you go to make sure they stick well and there are no air bubbles or spaces between them, but don’t worry about it being perfect! If you get any glue on your fingers, wash it off right away so it doesn’t dry on you.
Also Read: How To Syndicate Your Rental Listings.
