The short answer is yes, you can install vinyl flooring over existing tiles. However, like any vinyl flooring installation, the tile surface must be properly prepared before installation.
Installing vinyl flooring over tile is a viable option that can save time and money while providing a fresh, updated look to your space. By ensuring the tile surface is clean, level, and in good condition, you can achieve a smooth and durable vinyl floor installation.
Any cracks or chips in your ceramic tile can also create problems with laying the new flooring on top. We recommend repairing any of these issues before installation. If your existing floor has any of these issues that cannot easily be fixed, removing the tile before installing the new vinyl plank is best.
The answer is yes, vinyl flooring can be laid directly over existing tile, offering a convenient and cost-effective way to update the look of a space. One of the key benefits is that it saves on labour and demolition costs, as the existing tile provides a stable and level base for the vinyl.
Tile is a hard surface though, and you'll experience the same stiffness as concrete when vinyl flooring is installed directly to it. Consider adding underlay simply for the cushion it provides. Tile can also be cold in the winter, so the insulation benefits of an underlayment apply as well.
Luxury Vinyl Tile, laminate flooring, and engineered wood flooring are all excellent options for installing over ceramic tile.
When you have a bump or dip in your subfloor, the uneven surface can cause vinyl planks click-lock-systems to become uneven. This will cause creaking or “popping” every time you walk over the floor. An underlayment can help fill in subfloor imperfections and leave your flooring a smooth surface to lay on.
Use Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl planks are easy to install over existing tiles because they simply need a flat surface to cling to. Old, clean tiles will do just as well as the underside of your flooring. Vinyl flooring has several unique benefits, the primary one being durability.
Initial Preparation
It is important to temporarily remove any nearby obstructions such as baseboard trim or toilets, as these will need to rest upon the new vinyl. Furthermore, be sure that the tile surface is completely dry and free of any debris.
What Is The Best Vinyl Plank Flooring Option To Go Over Existing Vinyl Or Other Tile? Envee Rigid Core LVT Planks are floating vinyl planks that works well when installed over vinyl or tile subfloors.
When you're laying LVP over existing tile, the grout lines are one of the first things you'll need to address. Grout lines can create a slightly uneven surface, and if not smoothed out, they might become visible through the LVP, creating an unsightly “telegraphing” effect.
If you are installing vinyl planks in a bathroom, you may need to temporarily remove the toilet, or you can install around it. If the subfloor is not level, you can fix low spots with a self-leveling product and sand or grind down high spots. Tip: Do not try to sand down old vinyl flooring, as it may contain asbestos.
Some disadvantages of vinyl flooring include: Cannot be repaired. Can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Shorter lifespan than wood floors.
Vinyl flooring can be installed directly over ceramic and porcelain tile flooring if the grout lines are very thin. Cracked or missing tiles should be fixed or filled in. Wide seams between the tiles will likely create slight depressions in the vinyl flooring.
The short answer is yes, you can install vinyl flooring over existing tiles. However, like any vinyl flooring installation, the tile surface must be properly prepared before installation.
Most vinyl floors don't need an underlay. If the surface you're laying on is level and smooth, a well-cushioned vinyl floor should be fine on its own. Our Luxury Vinyl Click flooring is laid using the same as technique as laminate options in that it's loose laid creating a "floating floor".
Before installing the LVP, it's important to make sure that the subfloor is level and dry. Use a self-levelling smoothing compound to smooth them out. 2-3mm of smoothing compound will dry to walk on within 2 hours however will need at least 24 hours to dry sufficiently for the LVP to be adhered to it.
Vinyl flooring typically comes in sheets or tiles. With the right preparation and adhesive, it can smoothly adhere to the flat surface of ceramic tiles. However, be mindful of deep grout lines that may telegraph through the vinyl over time.
Underlayment is not required if the vinyl flooring will be laid over a cushion-backed vinyl floor or a tile floor below grade. In all other applications, however, you should use one, such as covering existing hardwood floors, vinyl flooring without cushion, and concrete floors.
When you walk on tile, you are pushing it down into the adhesive, and if the tile is not conformed, you are pushing it into contact with the adhesive which causes the clicking/crackling sound. To fix this, you can usually heat the area for at least a day, and then roll the tile using a 100-pound roller.
Not all vinyl has to be glued to the floor. Heavy duty 'stay flat' vinyl doesn't shrink or lift, so you can lay it without using adhesive. If you're laying cushioned vinyl, you should glue it around the edges and at joins. Thinner, non-cushioned types need to be stuck down all over.