SFGate

apple_pie_order Separation like this is common for very old vinyl tiles, not for new ones, IME. I suggest you contact the manufacturer with your photos and receipts. If the floor is very cold, that could be useful information. You may want some close-up photos that include a ruler.

vineyardflute @apple_pie_order, the kitchen is colder than the rest of the house as it is in the back near the back door, basement steps and the furnace is in the front under the living room. The tiles were discontinued and drastically reduced when we bought them. There was just enough to do our kitchen with maybe 4 to spare. I wondered if we could put clear caulk in between to keep out dirt and hide the splits?
I don't even know if we still have the receipts since we never expected anything to happen, but I will look. Are we left with replacing the floor-and any suggestions what we could use?

apple_pie_order Your best bet is to contact the manufacturer with your photos. They can advise.

Clear caulk will not make it look any better. A color-matched grout might work if the manufacturer is useless, but you should ask a pro at the flooring company.

IME, there will always be a very thin line between vinyl tiles, and it looks worst for light colored tiles with random patterns like yours, installed on dark backgrounds. In cold situations, many plastics shrink a tiny bit. I think the thin line is why medium colored square patterns with repeats the size of the tile are popular with people the *second* time they install floor tiles. Many people like the look of white flooring but hate the way it looks after the first few months of hard wear and tear.

Creations Nadia Interior Design i'm afraid you will have to change them :)

Kaplan Architects, AIA I have heard of vinyl shrinking over time with age. The nature of the beast....I agree, they may need to be changed. Sometimes moisture is present and will push the tiles off the concrete but this does not seem to be the problem. Maybe the tiles were stored in a warmer area of the house before installation and then shrunk with the cold?

Interiors International, Inc. You can grout them with a silicone based sand-less grout.

Creations Nadia Interior Design @Interiors International, Inc.
i have a Q: is it possible to grout vinyl tile? i'm not sarcastic - if it is possible I really learn something new today, thank you :)

Interiors International, Inc. @Creations Nadia Interior Design Yes, you can fix that particular problem with the proper grout.

Creations Nadia Interior Design @ Interiors International, Inc.
Do you refer to Epoxy grout? Thx

Interiors International, Inc. Latex sandless grout would work on these tiles. I'm not sure how the epoxy grout will react to the vinyl tile. I have not used those to products together. It might work though. I guess I would try it on one of the extra tiles or in a spot that won't show if it doesn't work.

vineyardflute To All, Thank you or your help. If I cannot find the receipts, I will go ahead with the sandless grout as suggested since the funds ae not here right now to replace the floor. If I could ask one more question: Would sheet linoleum be a better choice or would it crack, and what are the alternatives to vinyl tile that would work?

Creations Nadia Interior Design Thank yoy very much Interiors International, Inc.!
i learned something new :))))