Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - laminate flooring over vinyl

I am putting down laminate flooring in 4 rooms in my house and one of those rooms will be the kitchen. All the floors have been built up to be of equal height, however the kitchen will be slightly higher due to the existing vinyl floor. Some of the vinyl floor is no longer glued to the floor. My question is do I spend the time to pull up the vinyl floor or do I just put the pad and laminate right over the top of the existing vinyl. The vinyl was put down when the house was built in 1987 so I don't think there is an asbestos issue. Interested in your recommendations.

Probably no asbestos problem, so you can just cut out spots that are not glued, and level the floor, you can build a ramp with the leveler where the vinyl ends. Shouldnt be a problem. Remove as little of the vinyl as needed.

The single most important thing that needs to happen is that the floor is FLAT, that is NO missing tiles that would prevent an absolutely FLAT surface to support your laminate flooing planks and maintain tight quiet joints.

Laminate flooring is really a veneer type of application and the warrantee requirements of the manufacturer recognize this. If there are missing tiles a leveling compound can be used to maintain the flatness requirement mentioned in your installation instructions and warrantee. Usually about 1/8" in 8' is the requirement for FLATness.
Good Luck

I would float it but, isn't 1/8" thick vinyl within the manufactures flatness limits, as far as missing tiles or holes in sheet vinyl?

Perry; 1/8" plus adhesive = ?? More than 1/8" Probably and that's before sub floor flatness errors thus exceeds tolerance. A pro has a chance, a DIYer may not.

Thanks for the feedback. I will tack down or cut out and fill the vinyl that not still glued down before I put the pad and the laminate down. I just used some leveling compound tonight on two low areas that I had in my great room. When you mix that stuff up do you want it fairly soupy so that it leaves no abrupt edgeds but just smooth transition? I believe I had my mix a tad bit too dry an the edges don't taper out as smoothly as I would have liked. Just curious.