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Ambassador · 10-28-2008, 11:17 AM

Hi everyone, I am looking for a place that sells the smaller 8x8 vynil tile. Armstrong used to have it but they dont anymore. Anybody know a place online where I could get this??
A little bit about me since I m the newbie. We got a 1963 Ambassador that we are updating little by little. Live in the pacific nw and thats about it.
Thanks for the help,

dave.

TomW · 10-28-2008, 01:20 PM

I don't know about 8"x8" tile, but in early Airstreams, 9"x9" tiles were common.

I'm told that all 9"x9" tiles, in that era, had asbestos in them.

End of history lesson...

Tom

cameront120 · 10-28-2008, 01:53 PM

Armstrong Excellon comes in 12x12. I think that you'll be hard pressed to find an 8 inch tile these days. Marmoleum comes in rolls and would look good.

InsideOut · 10-28-2008, 01:53 PM

Some people have cut down the 12"x12" tiles to 9"x9" (or whatever size you want) but it seems like a lot of extra work to me, especially with a long trailer like an Ambassador. Besides, they still won't look like "exact replacements" for the old 9"x9" - the patterns, colors and textures are totally different.

Shari

Alumin8 · 10-28-2008, 09:39 PM

I don't care much about the size of the tile personally. I am just looking for a clean, manageable covering that is attractive. I have seen this tile called Clayton Canyon. Hope it's not too expensive as I'ld like to cover the entire floor and then break it up with cozy throw rugs.

Ambassador · 10-28-2008, 09:44 PM

Well, I am going to cut the tile and hopefully it will look good. I am only doing the bathroom so it wont be too bad.
The only reason I like the smaller tiles is because I am doing a little checkerboard pattern and the 12x12 are just too big for the small area, I think.
I'll keep you guys posted.

dave.

cameront120 · 10-28-2008, 09:48 PM

What about turning the 12x12 tiles into 4 6x6 tiles? Would that be too small?

Lumatic · 10-29-2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alumin8

I don't care much about the size of the tile personally. I am just looking for a clean, manageable covering that is attractive. I have seen this tile called Clayton Canyon. Hope it's not too expensive as I'ld like to cover the entire floor and then break it up with cozy throw rugs.

I like that "Clayton Canyon" tile. It kinda looks like marmoleum. Is it vinyl and who makes it?

cameront120 · 10-29-2008, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumatic

I like that "Clayton Canyon" tile. It kinda looks like marmoleum. Is it vinyl and who makes it?

Clayton Canyon

It looks like it's supposed to be slate. There is a larger picture on the Armstrong link above.

funkill · 10-29-2008, 09:08 AM

Not to hijack this thread ... but it's *relative*. Cutting the tiles: anyone have a "trick"? I want to cut the tiles to make a pattern on my floor and realize that the angle of the cut will need to be fairly precise so that there aren't gaps when matching them together. This would probably hold true to cutting down any of these tiles.

Something like this is what I aspire to! Thought I'd lay them out, mark them, cut and adhere. This was probably done with sheet vinyl but that seems a bit of a challenge for a DIY (and a lot of waste?).

Jim & Susan · 10-29-2008, 11:01 AM

Lay one color tile over the top of the other color and carefully cut thru both tiles at the same time. Make sense?

JIm

funkill · 10-29-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

Lay one color tile over the top of the other color and carefully cut thru both tiles at the same time. Make sense?

JIm

Yep, makes sense!!! Thanks. Oh - would an x-acto knife be suitable? Or do I need to buy a new toy --- like a free-standing scroll saw? Hope not, I really need to replace my axles and the cost is probably about the same

Jim & Susan · 10-29-2008, 01:54 PM

I used a regular utility knife when we put a new floor in the kitchen (inside the house). The trick is make sure the tiles don't move around on ya when you're making the cut. One way to do that is to glue one of the tiles in place before you make the cut. Experiment first and be prepared to make a couple of mistakes. I'll bet it'll come out nice!

Good luck and let us see the results.

Jim

Ambassador · 10-29-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cameront120

What about turning the 12x12 tiles into 4 6x6 tiles? Would that be too small?

Yeah that might not be a bad idea. I will have to cut one up and see how it will look.
Good thinking!!!

TomW · 10-29-2008, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cameront120

What about turning the 12x12 tiles into 4 6x6 tiles? Would that be too small?

The problem with resizing tiles is to keep the dimensions EXACT. If the resized tiles are off by much, the error will propagate over the area and there will be gaps between tiles.

Should you decide to cut tiles (I recommend a paper-cutter type of device), lay the tiles out (without glueing) in the desired area to make sure the finished appearance is pleasing.

Tom

InsideOut · 10-29-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomW

The problem with resizing tiles is to keep the dimensions EXACT. If the resized tiles are off by much, the error will propagate over the area and there will be gaps between tiles.

Should you decide to cut tiles (I recommend a paper-cutter type of device), lay the tiles out (without glueing) in the desired area to make sure the finished appearance is pleasing.

Tom

As far as using a paper cutter...it kinda depends on the type of vinyl tiles you are cutting.

Vinyl Composition Tiles (aka VCT) like Armstrong Excelon, are much too hard for a paper cutter - they would just crumble &/or break. I think a ceramic tile cutter is more likely to be successful as it scores the tile and you can snap it. A jigsaw would be best for scrolls or curves. VCT comes in lots & lots of colors, and they are consistent throughout the tile - not patterned, but textured looking.

Vinyl Tiles or the peal-n-stick type vinyl tiles are much more thiner & flexible and could probably be cut with a paper cutter w/o dulling the blade too much. Or they can be cut with a utility knife which would be much easier for DIY scrolls & curves. Vinyl tiles are often times patterned to look like stone or wood or ceramic patterns, they are often layered with different materials.

Durability wise - VCT is much more resistant to staining &/or gouging than vinyl tiles. VCT is what you see in very heavy duty areas like grocery stores. Vinyl tiles are more residentially oriented and not as durable over time.

Shari

markdoane · 10-29-2008, 04:45 PM

I like the VCT tiles. A paper cutter would probably be inadequate for VCT, as Shari says. I wouldn't use a band saw unless you can afford to replace blades frequently. Use a fine tooth. If you try a scroll saw for straight cuts, make sure you have a sturdy fence to cut against.

I would recommend scoring and breaking. Set up a cutting jig so each tile is exactly the same width, then turn 90 degrees and cut the other dimension. Even if you score and snap, the cuts will not be as smooth as the original. Stack all the tiles in a pile, clamp them together, and block sand the cut edges to remove the rough edge. Check that the width and length is even and don't use a belt sander or you will get one side too short, then you have the problem Tom was talking about.

I've done it this way and it works.

cameront120 · 10-29-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

The trick is make sure the tiles don't move around on ya when you're making the cut. One way to do that is to glue one of the tiles in place before you make the cut.

Another, easier method is double sided tape. If you use a blad, please be careful! I've seen too many cut tendons in hands from trying to cut resilient flooring!