Vinyl sheet flooring is a durable type of flooring that is inexpensive, and reasonably easy to install. The surface underneath vinyl sheet flooring needs to be flat and smooth to create a professional finish. So, here’s whether you can install vinyl flooring over tile.
As a general rule, you can not put sheet vinyl flooring over tile. Technically, it will work, however, the grout lines in between the tile will be visible on the vinyl sheet flooring. It’s possible to install a floating plywood or self leveling compound but it’s generally best to remove the tiles.
It has been noted by many experienced DIYers and contractors that it’s not necessary to remove the tile first. But, it’s thoroughly recommended. Below, I will provide step by step details about how to install vinyl sheet flooring in an area where you have tiles.
Can You Put Sheet Vinyl Flooring over Tile? (How To)
Sheet vinyl can often be installed in one large piece, and laid over a range of different subfloors. Tiles are a very common floor that can take a bit of time to remove. So, here is whether it’s possible to put sheet vinyl flooring directly over tile.
Overall, you can not put sheet vinyl flooring over tile. The vinyl flooring will mold to the shape of any underlying surface after a few weeks. Therefore, the grout lines will show through under the vinyl flooring and create a visible grid like pattern. It’s best to remove the tiles first.
It’s definitely possible to put self leveling compound over the tiles, and then lay the vinyl flooring on top of that. This can save time and effort, and will work.
Also, in some cases this will not be possible because it will raise the level of the floor too high. Therefore, you will need to get custom doors to allow air flow underneath the door.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on October 6, 2022.
Should You Put Sheet Vinyl Flooring over Tile?
Although it’s technically possible to do some things does not mean that it’s necessarily a good idea. When doing renovations and remodels taking shortcuts typically means the whole thing will need to be done again. So, this is a rundown of whether you should install vinyl sheet flooring over tile.
In general, you should not put sheet vinyl flooring over tile. The reason is the underlying surface needs to be perfectly flat, as any imperfections will be visible in the vinyl flooring. The grout spacing in between tiles will be visible over time as the vinyl molds to the underlying surface.
When you first lay vinyl over an uneven subfloor such as a tiled floor the floor can look fine. But, as people walk on the vinyl, and as the vinyl expands and contracts ever so slightly it will mold itself to the shape of the underlying subfloor. In this case the 1mm or 2mm depressions in between the tiles will shower through.
What Tools Do You Need to Put Sheet Vinyl Flooring over Tile?
There are a few unique tools that you will need to lay sheet vinyl flooring over tile. Before getting started on laying vinyl sheet flooring over tile, it’s a good idea to know exactly what you will need. So, here’s a list of all the tools you need to put sheet vinyl flooring over tile.
Overall, you will need a masonry chisel, hammer, dust mask, gloves, eye protection, ear muffs or ear plugs, a utility knife, knee pads, a spirit level, bonding adhesive for the vinyl, an angle grinder with a diamond cup wheel, a grinder dust shroud, and caulk.
It does work to not remove the tiles. Therefore, you can skip removing the existing tiles. But, it’s strongly recommended not to, and to remove the existing tiles.
If you are going to keep the existing tiles then you won’t need a masonry chisel, a hammer, ear muffs or ear plugs, an angle grinder with a diamond cup wheel, and the grinder dust shroud. But, you will need a self leveling compound.
What Preparations Do You Need to Install Sheet Vinyl Flooring over Tile?
The subfloor underneath sheet vinyl flooring needs to be smooth and level before installing sheet vinyl flooring on top of it. Before installing vinyl flooring over tiles the tiles need to be removed. So, here are all the preparation steps required before installing sheet vinyl flooring over tile.
In general, you need to remove the existing tiles using a hammer and a chisel. After that, the mortar or thinset needs to be removed with an angle grinder. Finally the subfloor typically needs to be leveled using a self leveling compound. Then, the vinyl sheet flooring can be laid.
This is the manual method and works great. It’s also possible to use a pneumatic hammer. This can make the process a bit faster, and requires less effort.
Doing the steps in both those videos will leave you with a perfectly flat surface that is ideal for laying vinyl sheet flooring. If you are applying a self leveling compound over the top of the tiles, you can skip all the steps in the video other than pouring a self leveling compound, and preparing it after it has dried.
How to Install Sheet Vinyl Flooring over Tile
Now that you have a perfectly smooth and flat surface you can now lay the sheet vinyl. Below is an overview of the process, and then step by step instructions.
Overall, lay out the vinyl sheet flooring over the floor roughly to get it into position. Then leave it for 24 to 72 hours. Doing so causes the vinyl to acclimate to the room, and makes sure it won’t shrink or expand too much after it’s installed. After that refer to the steps below.
Before laying the vinyl sheet flooring you should double check you have enough vinyl sheet flooring. The overall steps are:
- Laying out the vinyl flooring over the floor
- Cut the vinyl around any fixtures in the floor (shown below)
- Trim the edges of the vinyl sheet flooring around the perimeter of the room
- Apply adhesive or tape underneath the vinyl to stick it to the subfloor (shown below)
- Apply caulk around the perimeter of the vinyl flooring (only for humid climates, bathrooms, or kitchens)
After the vinyl sheet flooring has been laid, don’t wash it for 5 days.
In general, you should not put sheet vinyl flooring directly over tile. The grout spaces will create a grid pattern that will be clearly visible. A self leveling compound can be poured on top of the tiles. But, it’s highly recommended to remove the tiles first, and prepare the subfloor.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on October 6, 2022.
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