How to Keep Peel-and-Stick Tile From Sticking to Fingers

Place a book or box with a level top on the floor next to the spot where you will place an individual tile. The book or box should be at least a couple inches high.

Place the tile on the book or box with the decorative side facing down. Position a corner so it extends out from the book or box. If the tiles have instructions denoting where to start peeling, place that area so that it hangs off the book or box.

Grasp the sides of the corner gently with one hand. Don’t pinch the tile; just steady it so it remains in one place. It will probably be easiest to grab it with your thumb and index finger, while your other fingers rest on the underside of the tile, providing some friction. Place your other hand on the paper backing near the corner so it holds the tile steady as well.

Lift up the corner of the paper backing by gently inserting a thumbnail from the hand on top of the backing between the backing and tile, or by lightly scraping your thumbnail across the corner so it catches on the backing and begins to lift it up.

Grab the raised backing and carefully peel it off the tile. Keep grasping the corner of the tile; it should stay where it is while you remove the backing. If you have to, hold different corners as you remove the backing from the different quadrants of the tile -- so that the tile doesn’t move away from you as you pull off more of the paper. For your other hand, other than the thumb and finger peeling off the paper backing, keep your fingers on the portion of backing that you haven’t peeled up yet if the tile keeps trying to move away with the backing. You’re not pressing down, just providing some resistance to stop the tile flying out of your other hand’s grip.

Slip one hand under the tile -- it’s probably easiest for this to be the hand that was grasping the corners, as it’s closest -- and move the tile off the book as if you were carrying a plate. You will now be able to push the very edge of the tile with a fingernail, or another implement like a screwdriver blade, to help it off the book.

Put your other hand along one side and rotate the hand under the tile, so that the fingertips are pointing toward the other side. So, if you hold the tile up in your left hand, place your right hand along the right side with your fingers pointing up, and rotate your left hand so that your fingertips are pointing to the left side.

Slide your left hand out so you end up with both hands holding the sides of the tile, and at the same time get the tile positioned so you’re touching the sides with your fingertips. Place both your thumbs under the tile. The adhesive side should still be facing up.

Move the tile over to where you want to install it, and carefully turn it over. Move your thumbs so the tile is braced on the sides with your fingertips and on the edge closest to you with your thumbs. You may have to vary this a little -- move slowly and move your fingertips however you deem necessary to keep the tile from falling.