# Did I really see this product or am I once again loosing it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 15, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568 "2005-03-15T02:20:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/1 "2005-03-15T02:20:52Z")
Ok… working on a little renovation project with ms. bunny and she wanted to stick a ceramic backsplash. I told her, why not use these self adhesive vinyl ones that I had seen. She said, “what a good idea”… unfortunately I seem to have imagined them cause I cannot for the life of me find them anywhere. Has anyone ever seen these? Basically self adhesive vinyl tiles **but only 4" in size** (not the regular 12" floor ones) ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/2 "2005-03-15T02:32:09Z")
Just to reassure you, I do remember seeing some such thing, but it was years ago and I haven’t looked since. IIRC, they looked like the ceramic ones, with the rounded edges. I don’t think they were on netting like the 1" ceramic ones. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Kaotic\_Newtral](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@Kaotic\_Newtral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaotic_Newtral)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/3 "2005-03-15T02:33:13Z")
Don’t eat the brown acid! Sorry rabbit…it’s the first thing I thought of and I’m sure it’s as stupid to you as it seems to me right now. 🙂 I’m sure they exist, but I’ve never heard of them. The only thing that I’ve seen and remembered are the wall hooks that use an adhesive that come loose when you pull a tab. (it was one of those infomercials). ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/4 "2005-03-15T02:36:52Z")
If you can’t find 4" squares. A sharp razor knife and a steady hand will make one 12" vinyl square into 9 4" vinyl squares. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/5 "2005-03-15T02:56:34Z")
But why not do ceramic? I’d think it would be easier to clean than vinyl, wouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/6 "2005-03-15T03:35:57Z")
the cutting of the 12" ones is under consideration, as are ceramic but truth be told its a case of laziness really. I mean, peel and stick beats the heck out of grout and adhesive. Sides it only has to look good for a brief period as the shebunny will be out of that house in the not too distant future. Just gets on these “I want to change (fill in the blank)” kicks and Im a diy junkie so…😛 ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/7 "2005-03-15T06:12:13Z")
I recall sticky-back plastic 4x4" tiles in the late 70’s. I also recall that they didn’t stick all that well for very long - probably explains their disappearance. Not to mention being more fragile than ceramic and having zero resistance to heat. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/8 "2005-03-15T08:51:57Z")
Plastic faux ceramic was around and thankfully left the market after a brief appearance, terrible stuff that it was. Ceramic isn’t hard to install, once you’ve had some basic instruction. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/9 "2005-03-15T11:00:33Z")
are these any good? [http://www.lelandswallpaper.com/tiles.htm](http://www.lelandswallpaper.com/tiles.htm) you could also try posting here [http://www.bobvila.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html](http://www.bobvila.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html) as a question about tiles can get hundreds of replies ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/10 "2005-03-15T11:23:16Z")
You didn’t see them on a design show, did you? I’ve seen what you’re talking about more than once, but they’ve always cut the tiles themselves; often into ugly, nonsymetrical patterns. ---
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/11 "2005-03-15T13:55:38Z")
huh. You know it may have just been I saw them in some kitchen/bath book. I like going through those things just so I can plan what the ‘next’ bit of fun will be, so maybe I just mixed up ceramic tiles at the store with some older renovations book.:smack: Ah well. Thanks for you your help guys. I figure I’ll just go w/ceramics. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/12 "2005-03-15T14:38:38Z")
I have seen them too–you are not crazy. Well, at least, not in this case. However, if you are thinking of using the vinyl on a backsplash near a stove be aware that vinyl will burn so consider that as both a safety and cosmetic issue. I’m still trying to remember where I have seen those things. I’ll get back to you. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-really-see-this-product-or-am-i-once-again-loosing-it/294568/13 "2005-03-15T14:41:55Z")
Aha! Metal tiles–don’t burn. [www.improvementscatalog.com](http://www.improvementscatalog.com) (can’t give you the direct link to the page b/c of work blocking software) Just an idea.