Bathroom remodeling is one of the interesting home renovation projects, thus knowing your options is ideal to settle for the best. Luckily, the market offers a variety of materials giving you room to experiment. If you prefer vinyl flooring for your shower walls, you need to know whether this is a good choice or not.
So, can you use vinyl flooring on shower walls? You can use vinyl flooring on your shower walls, given that they are water-resistant, durable, and scratch-resistant. In addition, vinyl flooring features unique and attractive designs, hence a plus to your existing décor. These materials are also affordable, making them a good choice for homeowners working with a budget.
Vinyl flooring is a go-to option for any homeowner looking for an affordable, easy to install, and durable solution for floors and walls. This flooring can last for many years with minimum maintenance requirements with correct installation.
Shower walls always come into contact with harsh elements, including water, steam, and soap. Thus, part of their maintenance will include scrubbing them more often than any other space to prevent staining. This may cause them to wear out faster, which is why finding a long-lasting solution for your shower walls will save you in the long run.
Vinyl flooring is a good choice for your shower walls, given its water-resistant properties. If installed properly, vinyl flooring can repel moisture and last longer. It is also easy to clean, and you need not worry when soap or water splashes, as you can wipe it over easily without leaving scratches and marks.
Vinyl flooring is easy to install, especially on floors. However, with vertical installation on the walls, you should exercise care, gravity being the main challenge. To combat gravity and ensure your vinyl flooring remains in place for long, you should ensure a tight bond between the tiles and wall lest your sheets start falling as soon as you finish installing them.
If installing self-adhesive vinyl tiles, consider extra glue application to tighten the bond. Also, switching to products specifically made for vinyl bonding will ensure a long-lasting renovation.
While settling for the best adhesive for this installation, ensure that the glue you pick is resistant to mold and mildew given the damp conditions in the bathroom, which could cause damage in the long run.
Adding extra glue during installation consumes more time. Therefore, you should exercise patience if you are to achieve the best results. In the end, your effort will reward you. Taking time to prepare your wall in advance is one of the ways you can reduce the installation time.
To prepare your walls, use a clean, dry, lint-free cloth to wipe off dust, dirt, and debris. Dirt trapped between the vinyl flooring and walls will interfere with contact, making it less durable. Cleaning the surfaces before installation ensures perfect contact for a long-lasting solution. You can also take advantage of the preparation time to acclimate your vinyl flooring by setting them in the room you intend to lay them.
During installation, you should avoid pulling your self-adhesive vinyl in one go to ensure easy handling. Instead, pull it halfway and fold the loose paper to keep it out of the way during installation. Once you position your vinyl, use a clean and dry cloth to press it on the wall for a firm attachment.
You should do this from the top of the tile and work towards the edges to avoid creases. As you continue downwards with the layout, continue pulling the self-adhesive vinyl bit by bit until you finish laying it.
Once you cover your walls completely with vinyl, you can use a utility knife to trim the edges for a clean finish. To finish the installation, roll a clean roller across the wall to ensure every part of the vinyl sticks firmly and prevent the edges from lifting.
As stated earlier, vinyl flooring is affordable and suitable for DIY projects. The cost of installing this flooring on your shower walls will vary depending on the type of vinyl you pick and your bathroom size.
On average, vinyl flooring will cost around $2.77 to $3.75 per foot, and depending on the quality, the cost may go higher. Purchasing vinyl flooring in bulk is likely to land you a better deal, and you can use the excess on your kitchen walls.
Can You Use Luxury Vinyl Tile in a Shower?
Vinyl tiles are popular in high-traffic areas, bathrooms, and kitchens. These areas are prone to accidents and water spillage, with water flowing in the bathrooms every day as individuals shower. As such, water resistance is one of the main concerns for homeowners when installing luxury vinyl tiles in the bathroom.
You can use luxury vinyl tile in a shower for an appealing look at an affordable price. Unlike regular ceramic tiling, luxury vinyl tiles are easy and quick to install. This tile is also smaller, 1-by-1 foot size, and easy to cut, making fitting around the tight bathroom spaces easy. What’s more, the floor does not get cold, making you more comfortable walking around your bathroom barefooted.
Luxury vinyl tiles come in different colors and patterns, hence a good addition to your decorating options. All you will need for a successful installation is to measure, cut, peel and press the tile for an attractive space.
Despite their ease of installation, you should be careful to ensure you match seams and press them firmly together lest water finds its way behind the tiles and form a breeding ground for mold and mildew. This explains why luxury vinyl flooring in sheets is easier to install. Since sheets do not have seams, the probability of water seepage and damage is lower.
To install vinyl tile in your shower, start measuring the space you intend to install using a measuring tape. Next, calculate how much of the 1-by-1 foot tiles you require to fill the space. It is advisable to purchase an extra tile to cater for waste resulting from bad cuts and mistakes.
After purchase, the next step is to check the smoothness of your walls and how level they are. Luxury vinyl tile requires level space, and you can use sandpaper or mallet to smoothen and level your space. You should also ensure no cracks or holes in your walls and, if any, fill and smooth them before proceeding. Next, clean your shower walls and dry them properly to adhere to the tiles.
On your clean wall, place a luxury vinyl tile and ensure it will fit. If satisfied with the appearance, peel the adhesive backing and put the tile in place. Press the tile firmly to ensure it sticks properly. You can also use a rolling pin or roller to push out air bubbles under the tile for a firm hold.
In the same manner, install the remaining tiles, ensuring you align the edges properly and the patterns match. If you need to cut your tiles to fit in certain areas, you can make a cardboard template first and trace it on your tile to minimize waste. Using a utility knife, cut the tile to your fitting and continue the installation. When done with the installation, examine the tiles to ensure a firm fit. You can reinforce the fitting by pressing the tiles using a tile roller.
Is Vinyl Tile Waterproof?
Vinyl flooring is increasing in popularity given its durability in busy households, kitchens, and bathrooms. Water is one of the elements that damage floors and knowing whether this flooring is waterproof is useful to ensure proper installation and maintenance.
Vinyl tile is mainly PVC, hence waterproof. This makes it a great option for your bathroom and kitchen, where there is a high water flow. Even then, the quality of installation is key in proving its waterproof capabilities.
Luxury vinyl tiles, for instance, feature tiles that sit side by side, hence the existence of seams in between. While the planks are waterproof, poor installation will result in moisture seeping through the seams. The vinyl roll comes in sheets and has very few or no seams.
Despite being waterproof, vinyl tiles will not survive flooding. Thus, in case of flooding in your home or business premises, you need to do damage control. If water finds its way underneath the planks, you should disassemble the planks and dry the subfloor and planks, then leave them to dry before reinstallation.
Failure to do this will attract mold and mildew, which are potential health hazards. However, surface water from flooding will not damage your floor, which is why it is convenient in homes and business premises where you expect frequent spills.
Can You Use Vinyl Flooring on Ceiling?
A wooden ceiling finish adds warmth to any space, explaining its growing popularity. Vinyl flooring offers an affordable wooden finish mimicking the natural wood look. While this material is common on walls and floors, you need to know whether you can use it on your ceiling.
If done correctly, vinyl flooring will look great on your ceiling. Its use is widespread on the coffered ceiling, conventional flat ceilings, and tray ceilings. The vinyl flooring options you can pick for your ceiling include PVC vinyl tiles or the regular vinyl plank flooring, which you can glue down or stick using a nail gun.
Before installation, you should understand the benefits of vinyl flooring for your ceiling. Vinyl flooring will give your home a unique look if done right. Your ceiling will make a statement, distinguishing your home from that of your acquaintances. This ceiling is also durable and less vulnerable to scratches.
Staining will also be a past problem, given that ceilings do not come into contact with frequent spills and running water. However, you should ensure no leakage on your roof, as this may harbor mold and mildew under your vinyl flooring. If you have tray ceilings, then vinyl flooring is the best option to modernize your ceiling, turning it into a stunning feature in your room.
Installing vinyl flooring on your ceiling requires patience, as it will take longer than on the floor. If done incorrectly, the look will be unprofessional and less durable. Depending on the type of vinyl you want to install, you will use different installation methods. Sheets and planks require strong glue, while tiles are self-adhesive.
To install vinyl on your ceiling, start cleaning the ceiling surface to remove dirt, dust, or debris. You can use a little soapy water and dry it with a cloth to ensure the glue sticks properly. Next, plan your planks or tiles layout.
You can do this by measuring the ceiling length and width and marking the midpoints of the measurements. Next, connect the marks with a chalk snap line to form a cross intersecting at the center of your ceiling and start placing your tiles or planks from the midpoint working outwards. This layout and alignment ensure a perfect fit at the center, and most of the cutting will be towards the edges giving your ceiling a professional look.
If using planks, distribute the glue on the underside with a spatula and stick the planks to the ceiling. You should apply glue to a plank at a time and stick it immediately. Unfortunately, since you have to be superfast with planks, you are likely to make messy mistakes, but you should correct them as soon as possible for a final aesthetic outlook.
If installing tiles, peel off the backside film and apply it to the ceiling. However, if your tile is not adhesive, you can use a spatula during installation. Using a spatula, press the plank or tile to the ceiling for good contact with the ceiling. You can use a wallpaper roller to ensure equal distribution of this force.
Wrap Up
Vinyl flooring offers an affordable, long-lasting, and easy to install option for your shower walls and ceiling. This material is water and scratch-resistant, making maintenance easy. If you are installing tiles or planks, the correct installation will increase their durability since water won’t be able to penetrate between seams, harboring mold and mildew.
Vinyl flooring is also becoming popular in shower walls and ceilings for its luxurious look. The final outlook will also make your house stand out for its uniqueness, adding to your pride. In addition to your decor design, this flooring also adheres to room temperature, enabling you to walk around your bathroom comfortably.
You need not break the bank to get your dream home with the above benefits. All you should do is get the correct type of glue and install vinyl flooring on your shower walls or ceiling for a long-lasting solution.