I have a 4 x 6 bathroom with a vinyl or linoleum type floor ( one solid piece) that was installed in the 70's. I want to put down ceramic tile. The existing floor is stuck to the concrete extremely well. Can I scuff it up and lay the tile over it or am I asking for problems later?
Ceramic tile over vinyl
- Thread starter waynem
- Start date
Dakota00
Well-known member
The vinyl flooring you have might contain asbestos, do not sand it. Best to strip the wax coating off of it, clean well and then apply your thinset and tile on top.
I recommend using the Kerabond/Keralastic system or the Granirapid system. Both types of thinset can be found at Lowes. It's a little costly, but they really provide excellent adhesion that's needed.
Read this for more info...
http://www.mapei.com/public/CA/linedocument/TB_Tiling_Over_Sheet_Vinyl_EN.pdf
I recommend using the Kerabond/Keralastic system or the Granirapid system. Both types of thinset can be found at Lowes. It's a little costly, but they really provide excellent adhesion that's needed.
Read this for more info...
http://www.mapei.com/public/CA/linedocument/TB_Tiling_Over_Sheet_Vinyl_EN.pdf
captaindiode
Well-known member
I would look at using a ditra over the existing flooring
https://www.schluter.com/schluter-us/en_US/faq/ditra-ditraxl-over-vinyl-flooring
https://www.schluter.com/schluter-us/en_US/faq/ditra-ditraxl-over-vinyl-flooring
if the vinyl gives ( compresses ) you're asking for trouble. most vinyls do have a bit of a cushion. The vinyl isint that hard to get off, we do it all the time with a stripping machine . infact I have 2 of these. keep the blade sharp & you're good to go http://www.homedepot.com/tool-truck-rental/Compact-Floor-Stripper/NS2010/
handymancanfixit
Well-known member
Rent a floor stripper, wear a good mask if you are concerned that it may contain asbestos.
I have installed lots of ceramic tile and i would never install it directly over a vinyl type floor. JMHO
JohnK007
Well-known member
Take look at "Snap Stone". It is a floating type ceramic tile that you can install directly over the sheet vinyl. I did our kitchen with it and laid it directly over the linoleum. Came out nice. You have to use their grout as it maintains flexibility to counter the "cushioning" effects mentioned above.
https://www.menards.com/main/flooring-rugs/tile-stone/snapstone-floating-tile/c-6565.htm
https://www.menards.com/main/flooring-rugs/tile-stone/snapstone-floating-tile/c-6565.htm
Wish I would have found this when I did my tile jobs. I used a hand held razor blade stripper for one place it was built in 1995, and the vinyl came up very easy with that. My new place I bought a stand up razor blade stripper to do a small bathroom, and it was a PITA.
I'm with the folks who say strip it. Seems like a little extra prep could save you a world of headaches.
James-W
Well-known member
I tend to agree with stripping it down to the bare floor again. Going over the top of something else may potentially lead to a disaster at some point down the road.
Shiftless
Well-known member
If you can tolerate an extra 1/4 inch in your finished floor height, it seems to me you could just glue and screw down a piece of 1/4 Hardie backer board and tile up from there.
Todd.Brock
Well-known member
Assuming it's vinyl over a wood subfloor vs concrete, you really want to get the Luan up and get the staples knocked flat or pulled up. That is the worst part of a tile job 
handymancanfixit
Well-known member
The devil is in the details......or in this case, the concrete
Todd.Brock
Well-known member
Good call- he must have
Clarified after I posted
I vote to scrape it...
Clarified after I posted
I vote to scrape it...
Shiftless
Well-known member
I used snap stone in my bathroom as it had stick tiles that were a huge pain in the **** to remove my only word of advise with snap stone is wash and wash and wash the grout I used snap stone grout and I did not wash it well enough and there is spots everywhere