How Is Brick Put on as Vinyl?

Preparation

• Clean the wall with a damp rag and soapy water. Use a stiff brush and grease cleaner to wipe down any areas of grime or grease. Stand on a ladder to reach corners and the area near the ceiling. Gather all your materials, including the vinyl panels, adhesive, putty knife, utility knife and ruler. Lay tarps on the floor near the wall.

Cut Tiles

• Vinyl tiles will come in panels shaped like a group of bricks, with edges that mimic the staggered, over-and-under pattern of brick. To place the first tile in the lower right or lower left corner, you'll need to cut the edge and bottom of the tile so it is even and flush with the wall. Place a ruler along the edge you'd like to cut straight and slice into the tile with a utility knife.

Adhere to Wall

• Scrape adhesive on the back of the tile with a putty knife. When choosing an adhesive, follow the recommendations of the manufacturer. The type of adhesive you use will depend in part on the material your wall is made from. Place the tile upright in the corner you've chosen to start from, and press the tile into the wall. Wiggle the tile a little just to be sure it's secure. Put adhesive on the next tile and install it on the wall, edge to edge with the one you just installed. Line the bricks along the edges so they appear to flow from one to the other. When you reach the next edge of the wall, you'll need to cut the tile so the side is straight.

Caulk Gaps

• Some tiles are meant to be painted after you install them -- for this type of tile, leave a 1/2-inch gap between tiles. Once the tiles are on the wall, insert decorator's caulk in between the tiles, in the 1/2-inch gap between each tile. Use a caulking gun for this part.

Paint

• If you plan to paint the bricks a solid color, start by coating the wall with a PVC primer and wait for the paint to dry before applying your next coat of paint. You'll need to use a paintbrush rather than paint rollers to fill all the gaps.