Vinyl or Laminate...over tile

5 years ago

I’m looking to install new flooring. I really need the most cost effective. I’d like wood look, waterproof, and can be installed over ceramic tiles. What would you recommend and how would you prep/do the install?

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Comments (3)

SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
If you must have water proof, then vinyl is your only option. Laminates (the "cost effective ones") are not water proof. I'm assuming that part of this is for a kitchen?

Anyway, here's the BAD news....vinyl will TELEGRAPH (show through) every single grout line in your existing floor. You will be SPITTING MAD when this happens (not if...WHEN!). That means you will want to avoid this type of bad news.

To get rid of the bad news, you have to do ONE of two things:

1. Rip out tile; or

2. Purchase the EXPENSIVE (read thick) 8-12mm rigid vinyl products like CorTec, et al.

I always recommend removing the tile...but let's pretend you want to SKIP that idea (for reasons currently unknown to us...probably to save money/mess).

2. Purchase the EXPENSIVE (read thick) 8-12mm rigid vinyl products like CoreTec, et al.to be given a good clean (professional grade clean) AND ALL THE GROUT LINES "filled in". Yep. The grout lines are STILL an issue - even with a rigid product like CoreTec. And to correct them means the tile underneath is COMPLETELY useless forever and ever! And to do all the filling and leveling (yep...still has to be leveled = grinding/filling) the cost for the PREP is about $2-$3/sf

And you have to deal with a floor height raise (which can REALLY mess up things like dishwashers, interior doors, trim, etc).

If you don't like the sound of all the potential pit falls when leaving the tile in place, then removing the tile is the better option (it always is). And the cost to remove and then smooth the subfloor making it ready for any type of floor = $2-$3/sf. Sigh. Same price. And none of the other hassles (like dishwashers, door clearance, trim, etc).

And at that point, you can work with a lower cost product...thus saving you MORE money than if you tried to leave it in place.

Whew. The choice is yours...removing the tile is always the best option when vinyl is being pursued.
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Well, the most cost effective is to leave what you have...

Perhaps it's not as bad as you think it is. Let's see the whole room. A lot of the time that which we obsess about is mostly really invisible.

You could color the existing grout...that makes a difference in the whole look...
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We did our whole basement a few months back in luxury vinyl tile (that's the lvt above :) ) and just love it. I think it's a no-brainer if you have dogs that will scratch up hardwood or need waterproofing (we put it through our laundry area and mudroom). On a main floor, I'd still do hardwood, because all of the other options feel fake underfoot (barefoot). But if that's not an option, the lvt is warm, soft, and has some awesome looks these days. I really think it's going to completely replace laminate pretty quickly.
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ci_lantro
5 years ago
FWIW, I like the tile that you have.

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Vinyl or Laminate...over tile

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SJ McCarthy

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