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Tell me why laying flooring over existing tile is a bad idea

dntsdad

Central California
Joined
May 19, 2020
Member Number
47
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1,269
Loc
Central California
I am thinking about changing my house flooring to the new vinyl laminate. About 80% of the area that would be covered has tile on it now. I do NOT want to go through the hassle and work of tearing up all the tile. Just my living room is carpet now.

I was thinking of putting the vapor barrier over my existing tile and laying it and using the tile as the base. In the living room where the carpet is, I was thinking I would have to lay some cheap tile to keep everything even.

Why is that a shitty idea? Or is it not?
 
My dad laid vinyl laminate over carpet. It sounds like you are walking on the creakiest wood floor ever. He always meant to rip it back up and redo it, but never got around to it. That is a 100% do not do.

In-laws had some laid over tile last year. It doesn’t creak, but It does seem to have small gives and pops in spots from time to time. Honestly, I think they would have been better off having the tile torn up, but that’s just my opinion.

Is your tile pretty level and flat? We have tile in the majority of our house. It has ridges and stuff that would make it hard fo
lay flooring over.
 
How big of grout lines do you have? Does you tile have bullnosed edges or “square” edges. Honestly if you going to cheese dick it then I would try and either use a leveling compound first or sub floor and cover and have an awful transition. But the best and correct way it the bullshit rip it up way.
 
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Never been done...:flipoff2:
DON'T be the first :homer:...

Yes it will go down, no it won't look good nor last...
Ever seen pattern transmitting???:lmao:​​​
 
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Assuming the tile is in good condition, with no existing problems, what's the problem???

What's the procedure for putting down the laminate over a poured concrete floor?
Seems to me if you follow that you should have a good installation.
If the grout lines are the problem, easy fix with a skim coat of thinset. It's a standard procedure considered ok to put thinset on good condition existing tile and lay tile on top.

I would not put it down over carpet, but I don't think that was ever an option OP considered anyway.
 
I have large tile in the kitchen, nice and flat except the grout line. I am considering leveling stuff in the grout lines then new tile or maybe trying composite tile.
 
Assuming the tile is in good condition, with no existing problems, what's the problem???

What's the procedure for putting down the laminate over a poured concrete floor?
Seems to me if you follow that you should have a good installation.
If the grout lines are the problem, easy fix with a skim coat of thinset. It's a standard procedure considered ok to put thinset on good condition existing tile and lay tile on top.

I would not put it down over carpet, but I don't think that was ever an option OP considered anyway.

The vinyl will have grout lines? Sharp tile edges will cut/wear through the vinyl over time.
 
as long as it is in solid condition, no problem at all.
lay down foam underlayment then install laminate floor.
i assume you are installing a 5mm thick product.
 
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I have large tile in the kitchen, nice and flat except the grout line. I am considering leveling stuff in the grout lines then new tile or maybe trying composite tile.

this is a common practice, even tile institute of American has a detail of it.

tile on top of tile.
as long as existing tile is in good condition. .
better if base is concrete slab and not wood frame construction for large areas.
 
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Do it. Buy the better pad that goes under the flooring. Do NOT buy the flooring with the pad already attached to it. It’s cheap and the pops/cracks in the vinyl floor are from the air gaps due to buying a cheap pad underneath if you’re not going to glue it down. No difference between concrete floor (what I have) and tile. The grout won’t cut through the vinyl floor because they require a pad underneath.

What are you plans for transitions? Do companies make a transition for “vinyl floor on top of tile” to carpet? The next person who does floors will hate you and hopefully it isn’t you. If you don’t want to do the work now you’ll get to do it twice later.
 
If you have small or flush grout lines you will be fine. If you dont fill the grout lines in first and you will be fine. I belt sanded my 1-1/8 subflooring to near protection and I can steel feel/tell where a couple imperfections were.

Also how about the transition between laminate over tile to carpet?

A spade bit on a roto hammer will make short work of the tile. If you work hard you could have it out in a couple hours per room
 
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Ok
Old guy question!
Rereading post #1...
The fuck is vinyl laminate?
Are we talking engineered laminated flooring with a vinyl top coat???

If so rock on!
Should float fine...


Fook that sounds like a real water tight flooring.
Sheet goods rock!

Ok you younguns can start the flamefest now​​​​​​:grinpimp:​​​​​
 
Ok
Old guy question!
Rereading post #1...
The fuck is vinyl laminate?
Are we talking engineered laminated flooring with a vinyl top coat???

If so rock on!
Should float fine...


Fook that sounds like a real water tight flooring.
Sheet goods rock!

Ok you younguns can start the flamefest now​​​​​​:grinpimp:​​​​​

70’s bathroom flooring. Solid one piece vinyl. Roll out cut to size and glue down.
I think thats what the OP is describing...
 
NOT laminate vinyl flooring then ?yes?
That's a bottom layer pad, under a 2 or 3 layered media with a purty top layer...

70's stuff
That's "sheet goods" and a fail....
As will the ghey "vinyl tiles" crap!
 
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If you start stacking flooring over flooring in the kitchen, will you be able to replace your dishwasher (if you have one) in the future?

I've replaced my dishwasher in the past and it just barely slides into the counter opening, on top of the existing flooring......
 
If you start stacking flooring over flooring in the kitchen, will you be able to replace your dishwasher (if you have one) in the future?

I've replaced my dishwasher in the past and it just barely slides into the counter opening, on top of the existing flooring......

Hes just going to floor around things and butt it to the trim, way easier and who will ever notice
 
Are we talking LVP? If so, go for it. I helped one of my sons tear out tile in his bathroom to do lvp yesterday. I have a demo hammer and flat spade but. It was a hell of a job getting all that shit up! His tile with backer board was too tall to leave in. So that’s why we tore it all out. They lay lvp over cut vinyl all the time. It’s common practice. Did it in my place. Lvp is noisy no matter what it is layer over. It will crack and creak in the morning. I vote for go for it. Pull carpet and put down plywood or particle board to even out the floor height.
 
If you tear out the tile, that LVP is going to be way thinner, so all you’re door casings/trim ect, will all be a mile high and look like shit.
 
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