Laying ceramic tile over linoleum--?

[eblueyez]

I have ceramic tile throughout my home, except a bathroom.
It has a nice linoleum fllor that appears to be very substansial, & nay be hard to remove.
I want to put ceramic tile OVER this existing floor, & have read 2 posts on this, one pro & one con.
Can I lay the tile over it, & what do I need to do--?
IF-I have to remove the old linoleum, what is the best way--?

I sure hate to go to the trouble of removing the floor if I can get by without it.
Being in my 60's, it would not have to last "forever"-?

Any help appreciated!

[HotinOKC]

We have a sticky on this:

Here's why Ceramic Over Vinyl Won't Work

You're taking a chance if you don't pull up the old floor

[mitch17]

We put ceramic down over vinyl in our rentals if the vinyl is on cement. It's not a good idea, but it works out ok.

[eblueyez]

Sure would like more info on this--
Maybe specific reasons?
Thank you so much!

[HotinOKC]

Did you read the thread I posted? It gives pretty good details.

[eblueyez]

Nope-not sure how to find it--
New to this site!

[HotinOKC]

CLICK HERE!


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[dglenn]

I put tile over vinyl several years ago. Was told by two tile centers that i could do so. Laid 1/4" cement board over with lots of PL400 and many screws. Has worked for three years so far, no cracks, no creaking.

[HotinOKC]

Originally Posted by dglenn

I put tile over vinyl several years ago. Was told by two tile centers that i could do so. Laid 1/4" cement board over with lots of PL400 and many screws. Has worked for three years so far, no cracks, no creaking.

That is also against all manufacturer instructions.....

[JazMan]

Glenn,

You did not install tile over vinyl, you installed tile over a 1/4" cement board. And as Mark just suggested, the cement backer was installed wrong too if you used PL 400 out of a tube.

Doesn't mean it's going to fail anytime soon, but it wasn't done correctly.

Jaz

[cwbuff]

I read David Taylor's reasoning on the link provided. While I agree that tile directly over vinyl is not a good idea, I know that tile over backerboard over vinyl works fine. no thinset under the backer board, just screws. I did that in a high traffic area and it lasted more than 15 years without a problem.

Taylor uses the phrase "not approved" several times in his post. Not approved by whom? Unless it's specifically mandated by code, installation practices and materials are usually developed by manufacturers and trade groups and recommended as the best method. That doesn't mean that it is the only method. In some cases certain materials or methods may be required by the manufacturer to meet warranty but I don't think that applies here.

For the OP, here's my suggestion if you absolutely don't want to pull up old vinyl. Assuming the floor structure is stiff and sound, scuff it up with a belt sander. Install the tile over the vinyl using mastic instead of thinset. I think you'll get better adhesion. I've used mastic over laminate countertops and it worked great.

I look at it as what's the worst that can happen? Cracked tile or more likely cracked grout lines? Ifg you're willing to accept that chance- go for it. The house isn't going to fall down around your ears.

[HotinOKC]

no thinset under the backer board, just screws.

Against all cement board manufacturer instructions. All companies REQUIRE the board to be installed in a bed of thinset. This eliminates any voids underneith the backerboard which would result in movement.

Taylor uses the phrase "not approved" several times in his post. Not approved by whom?

ANSI standards or the CTIA, or MIA do not approve of it. These are all the groups of people who develope the "standard" to ensure tile lasts a very long time, not just a few years.

Install the tile over the vinyl using mastic instead of thinset. I think you'll get better adhesion.

Ok, you are starting to scare me here......mastic has no place on a floor installation. I would only use mastic for a backsplash, if that. Mastic takes weeks to cure, and the adhesive can turn back into poo if it gets wet.

I look at it as what's the worst that can happen? Cracked tile or more likely cracked grout lines?

Yeah, everyone would like to tear out all the tile they just installed and spend more money the second time around then if they did it correctly the first time.

[HeresJohnny]

It is really not right to give advice about an installation based on one installation that was done wrong but did not fail. The Tile Council of North America (TCNA) does extensive testing of products and methods relating to tile installation and gives guidance based on the results of such tests. We should not be giving out advice based on unapproved methods that have higher risks of failure. It costs just as much in time and money to do it wrong than it does to do it right. If and when it fails, it'll cost even more. When folks come here looking for answers, we should give them the right answers. After all, isnt that the reason they come to boards like this in the first place, to get the right answers.