Installing luxury vinyl over existing hard-surface flooring is a great way to save time and money on demolition, but it requires diligent preparation. The existing tile must be completely secure; if there are any loose or hollow-sounding tiles, they must be removed and the hole patched. The biggest challenge with tiling is the grout lines, which are often deep and wide. If you install loose lay planks directly over these, the vinyl will eventually depress into the grout lines, causing a 'telegraphing' effect where the tile pattern becomes visible on the surface of your new floor. To avoid this, use a high-quality, cement-based floor patch or leveling compound to fill the grout joints until the surface is perfectly flat. Once the patch has cured and been sanded smooth, you have a solid, flat canvas for your loose lay installation. If the existing tile is a high-gloss finish, you may also need to lightly abrade the surface to ensure the perimeter adhesive bonds properly. Always check with the manufacturer's technical sheet to confirm that your specific vinyl is approved for over-tile installation.
Key considerations
- loose lay LVP
- install over tile
- vinyl over tile
- flooring preparation
- flooring over tile
- vinyl flooring install