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can I install vinyl above ceramic and laminate floor

5 years ago

Is it ok to install vinyl floor above ceramic and laminate floor or I have to take it off
Thanks

Comments (13)

  • 5 years ago

    No, the vinyl will telegraph every grout line. You either grind and fill the grout lines and then self level the whole floor or you pull up the tile. Vinyl over laminate will not work for similar reasons but you will also trap the moisture between and end up with a rotting smelly mess.

  • 5 years ago

    Thanks a lot for you reply I really appreciate that
    So your advise if I want to install vinyl is taking off every thing ?

  • 5 years ago

    millworkman is correct. The LAMINATE must come up. You can NEVER install one floor over top of a floating floor (it's against every rule in the book). In *theory you can put stuff over tile....in theory. But theory is NOT reality. In reality it is better to remove old flooring and start again.


    I won't even get into things like door clearances and baseboards, etc. It gets expensive if you start layering one thing on top of another. Before you know it you need $3,000 worth of new doors because everyone before you decided, "I'll just go over top."


    Yah. It's cheaper to do it right than it is to do it wrong and then fix it...to do it right.

  • 5 years ago

    "but in this case I thing I will go with laminate option again"


    Just be sure the existing laminate if removed and the new floor meets the HOA rules.

  • 5 years ago

    Yes I know
    There was a carpet in this apartment 10 years ago and we install a laminate instead, but the colour became dated and the type itself and the tile has to be change also so I will do it all together again
    Thanks a lot

  • 5 years ago

    One more question
    Some body told me that it’s better to do more than tow patterns when installing the laminate because of the cold and hot weather it might shrink
    Does this matter?

  • 5 years ago

    And this is what I’m doing
    Right now one whole one all over and the next row start with half one and keep going with a whole one

  • 5 years ago

    Not quite ideal. You want to work with at least 3 different lengths. What you have produced is 'H' joints (where the short edge joint is in the exact same place in the 'other' row...that's bad...you want to avoid that). H joints are unstable.


    I like to see random lengths as much as possible. Those of us who know flooring installation can pick out 'H' joints inside of 2 heart beats.

  • 5 years ago

    Thank you very much

  • 5 years ago

    I’m not done yet the condo so do you suggest to start doing more random for the rest

  • 5 years ago

    Yes. Of course it is up to you. It is your home. You have already voided the manufacturer's warranty so you might as well keep going. If this is a temporary floor that you ONLY need to be functional for 1-2 years, then keep going. No need to start over because you are ripping it out in 12-24 months anyways.


    ....BUT....if you want this to be a floor that is going to be in your home for more than 3-5 years, you want it to look GOOD. Now that you can SEE the H joints, you can never 'unsee them'. It will bug you to NO END! Guaranteed.


    So....you might as well learn the trade as it was meant to be practiced. Stagger your joints with as many lengths as you can. READ the instructions to determine the 'shortest' distance between two short edges (that means two planks sitting side by side....how far away their short edges are). Some companies require 4". Others want to see 6". Do NOT get let the short edges get any closer than that.


    And your doorway thresholds, the T-molding, do you HAVE them installed? You cannot run a laminate floor directly through doorways (like from hallway into a bedroom). You MUST have T-moldings that sit in the door jam. That's to allow the floor to float properly.


    And your expansion gaps? Are they present along ALL walls, door frames, cabinets, outcroppings? The THICKNESS of your plank is the SAME amount of space as is required for the expansion gap.


    Example: if your planks are 8mm thick, then you are required an 8mm expansion gap around the entire perimeter of the floor. Do you have expansion gaps around your floor?


    How about your 'last row'? Are you observing the correct 'plank thickness' required on the first/last row of the space? Some companies allow a sliver of just 4" of plank whereas others require 6" to the smallest sliver of plank on the first/last row.


    If you are scratching your head at anyone one of these requirements, then PLEASE START OVER. Please. If you had paid someone to install your floor like this, you would be SPITTING mad that they did everything wrong (again...this is an assumption that all of the above are 'issues').


    Please prove me wrong with more photos and some measurements.

  • 5 years ago

    Wow
    That was more difficult than it looked like before🙁
    Thank you very much for your advice,
    I don’t think I will do it my self as planned , I don’t want to ruin my floor thank you sir for your time and for sharing your experience 🙏🏻