When you are about to renovate your home, you might think of various ways to save time and money. One of the popular questions in that regard is Can you lay vinyl flooring over tiles. What are the pros, cons, and tips for it? Well, the short answer is yes, you can install vinyl over tile flooring. But keep in mind, there are many things you need to consider when making this decision. Today, we will answer this question and tell you what to look for and what to watch out for when laying down vinyl over tile.
Why Homeowners Choose Vinyl Over Tile
Vinyl floors have come a long way since they were first introduced. It’s a thin plastic-looking sheet in the past, but now they come in LVP (luxury vinyl planks) and LVT (luxury vinyl tile) styles. Both of them have a realistic design layer, it’s highly durable, and it’s still quite cheap compared to other flooring types. And, if you are planning to lay it over tile flooring, it’s the best choice. The reason for its popularity among homeowners is that:
- It saves you costs like the removal of old flooring tiles.
- You can do a quick installation of these floors.
- They serve as a sleek flooring aesthetic upgrade because you can get it in options that look like wood, stone, or even tile.
Pros of Laying Vinyl Flooring Over Tile
Like everything, you need to know what are the advantages of it in detail. To this end, we present the pros of vinyl flooring over tile.
1.Easy Installation
Vinyl floors are the easiest of all flooring options to install. You can lay it over existing tile surface with their interlocking system or options with peel-&-stick backing layer.
Vinyl would go directly on top of the existing surface without major prep work or use of adhesives.
2.Saves Time and Labor Costs
Tearing tiles can get messy, loud, and often a laborious task. The ease of laying down vinyl over tiles will eliminate that demolition process. This way, the efficiency of the project as well as the labor costs will drop by much.
3.Adds a Fresh Modern Look
Tiles, the ones that are old, can make a living space look outdated. When you get LVT or LVP to fit over tiles, it will give the floors a modern, fresh appearance. You can even enjoy these vinyl floors that look just like stone or hardwood flooring.
4.Softer and Warmer Underfoot
Tile floors give a cold and hard feeling underfoot. But with vinyl, you get a cushioned surface that makes it easier to walk on. It will also retain heat better which makes it quite nice to walk during the colder months.
5.Moisture Resistant
Vinyl is a water-resistant material, and sometimes, if it is a premium option, it is entirely waterproof. This makes it ideal to install in rooms like the kitchen, bathroom, or basement.
Cons of Laying Vinyl Over Tile
Yes, we do admit that all the benefits listed above do make vinyl seem like a great choice. However, there are still vinyl over tile problems that you need to consider.
1.Uneven Surfaces Show Through
If the existing tiles have those deep grout lines, or they show uneven spots or cracks in them, they will eventually tear through vinyl. With time, these imperfection cause ridges or result in the tearing patterns.
2.Possible Height Issues
When you lay new flooring over existing flooring like tiles, the floor will be raised slightly. This results in clearance issues for the doors, cabinets, and wall-fitted appliances.
3.Adhesion and Stability Concerns
The peel-and-stick vinyl floor options need the subfloors to be clean and smooth for secure adhesion. Dust or grout texture will prevent the vinyl from sticking properly. And, if you go with the floating planks, know that they require an extremely stable base for flooring installation.
4.Not Ideal for Severely Damaged Tile
If tiles are cracked, are shifting, or show signs of water damage, a simple coverage with vinyl is not the solution; you are wasting money. You are just masking a bigger problem because the damage will eat through the vinyl eventually.
How to Prepare Tiles Before Installing Vinyl
To lay down vinyl floors properly, you need to do a proper preparation so the new flooring lasts much longer. This is our guide to doing the prep work for laying vinyl over tiles.
1.Inspect and Repair
You must take care to check for broken, loose, or hollow tiles. If there are any, replace them to create that solid base.
2.Clean Thoroughly
For the perfectly clean subfloor surface, use a tile cleaner or a degreaser to remove all that dirt, residue, or wax. A clean surface results in better adhesion of vinyl floors and adds to their longevity.
3.Fill Grout Lines
Tiles have grout lines, and if they look deep, use the floor-leveling compound or some other quality patching material. Fill those grout lines to create an even surface. Let these freshly filled grout lines dry before laying down vinyl flooring.
4.Check Moisture Levels
Yes, vinyl is moisture-resistant, but if you lay it over damp tile flooring, there can be issues like mold or bad odor later. So, ensure that there is no water leakage and dry the tiles before the new floor installation.
Best Flooring Over Tile Options
When you are looking for flooring over tile options, we will always give our vote to vinyl. It’s not that it is the only choice, but it is still the most practical one there is. There are 3 options for vinyl floors that most homeowners opt for. First is the LVP flooring that will look just like hardwood planks and can be installed using the click-lock system. The second option is LVT, which will look like stone or ceramic tile, making it perfect for bathrooms and kitchens. Last is the sheet vinyl flooring which is available in large rolls that offer a smooth surface and provide a waterproof coverage in moisture-prone areas.
Expert Tips for Installing Flooring Over Tile
Now that you know all about the vinyl flooring and how to install it, we will give you some expert tips. These tips are how to install the vinyl over tiles in one go for a long-lasting use.
- If you have the budget, you must lay down a thin underlayment. It will add to the underfoot comfort and sound absorption.
- The best practice before installation of vinyl planks is to let them sit in the room for 48 hours. This way they will adjust to the room’s temperature and humidity levels.
- Both the tile and plank option for vinyl needs to be trimmed during installation. Use a utility knife to make a precise cutting to prevent any ill-fitting and to reduce wasting the material.
- You can achieve a neat look for the new vinyl floors by placing transition strips where the vinyl meets the other flooring materials.
- In the wet areas, we recommend using silicone sealant around the edges to prevent water from seeping underneath the floors.
Final Thoughts
We are certain that by now you know the answer to the question, can you lay vinyl flooring over tile as well as the pros, cons, and tips for it. Vinyl is certainly a great option to lay over existing tile flooring. It is cheaper alternative to hardwood or stone flooring and you won’t need to do any major demolition to save further costs. It’s essential for you to check the level and surface condition of the tile floors to make a stylish flooring upgrade over tiles.
FAQs
1.Can LVP be installed over tile?
Yes, LVP and the LVT can both be installed over the tiles. You just need to make sure that the tiles are in level and stable & grout lines are properly filled for a smooth subfloor.
2.Can you lay vinyl over tile?
Yes, you can lay vinyl floors over tiles. For this, the only requirement is that the tile surface is even, clean, and doesn’t have any cracks on issues like moisture damage.
3.What are the pros and cons of flooring over tiles?
The advantages of tile flooring are that it saves time, money, and causes less mess during installation. The disadvantages of tiles are that they will highlight any uneven surface area, raise the floor height, and trap the moisture content.
4.Should I remove the tile before installing vinyl flooring?
Removal of tiles is necessary in case they are cracked, loose, or fell uneven. Other than that, you can just prep that tile surface to serve as a base to lay down vinyl floors.
