Vinyl Tile Over Wood Subfloor

You can install vinyl over an old vinyl floor subfloor.

Vinyl tile over wood subfloor.

A subfloor is the bottom most structural level of your floor. If removing the vinyl or linoleum before tiling appears to be an easy task it may be better to do this rather than tiling over it. Ceramic tile over wood tile concrete or vinyl should be installed by using appropriate products that will allow the right adhesion between surfaces. Vinyl flooring is usually not installed directly over the subfloor in residential applications.

Vinyl is one of the few types of floors that can be safely installed over concrete wood or other solid floors. However if it s still somewhat rough bumpy or uneven it s a good idea to lay a layer of specially processed plywood sheathing or plywood or lauan boards also called philippine mahogany to the. Precautions to take before installing vinyl tiles over wood flooring. For more information download our pdf about types of subfloors.

The first step to proper installation is to get the subfloor in order. In most cases 4 by 8 foot sheets of particle board or plywood must be installed in preparation for the vinyl floor install. If your wood subfloor is smooth and even you can progress to step 3. Always be sure the existing surface has been cleaned and leveled.

In most cases as long as the old vinyl surface is flat you don t need to do anything more for this type of underlayment. Measure carefully to ensure that the plywood is an appropriate fit. Old solid hardwood can cup or swell over time too. If the subflooring is thin and lacks stiffness one remedy is to install a layer of new plywood subfloor over the resilient flooring followed by a layer of thin cement board.

Cover your existing subfloor area where new vinyl flooring will be installed with 1 4 inch plywood. If the wood is heavily gapped these gaps must first be fixed. It supports your decorative floor finish whether it s carpet hardwood vinyl laminate or tile. To help you start your installation project off right here are a few tips for preparing your subfloor.