Kitchen Flooring - Rip out or go over top?
Jim Rogers
3 years ago
Hi all - I am looking at installing new flooring in my entryway and kitchen (DIY). As you can see in the pictures there is currently white tiles with 3/8 engineered hardwood as a border. I'm not sure when this was installed. Our house was build in 1991 but just bought it last year. I removed some of the border and can see that there is backer board underneath. I think it's glued down, but I'm not sure how I can tell if it is or not. Should I try to undertake the task of removing all the tile and backer down tot he plywood subfloor before trying to install my new flooring or should I go right over the top? I was thinking of using laminate planks or vinyl planks. I'm also worried I am cutting it close with my dishwasher opening and refrigerator opening by adding more layers.
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ci_lantro
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Instructions posted for DIY rip out of ceramic tile floor?
Comments (12)Just used the cold chisel and rubber coated mallet. Don't know if a rotary hammer would help. It probably depends on how well the tiles are stuck to the floor. Using the chisel, most of my tiles came up in one or two pieces, with little effort. If you don't mind tearing up a tile or two, try it to see how difficult it's going to be. If the tiles are REALLY hard to get up, it may be worth the expense to rent one. I was surprized (pleasantly) how easily the tile can up. On the other hand, the slate was a nightmare. I wound up using a small sledge hammer with it. Oh, and kneepads are helpful....See MoreRip out the floors or tile over them?
Comments (1)I'm sure you've made you decision by now based on when you posted your message. We left our flooring and tiled right over the cement boards. We have a step down into our adjoining room and I was concerned about the threshold. My contractor suggested we go with a granite threshold and now I'm so pleased with the way it turned out. Here is a link that might be useful:...See MoreBefore Vinyl Siding: Rip-off shingles, or go over them??
Comments (12)Hi Ana, I'm still around! Though yes, I don't hang around this forum anymore. So in the time that I made my original post, I finished that old house renovation and then proceeded onto the next project (built a custom home from scratch!). Based on all my experiences, I can safely say that yes, you should absolutely strip off the old shingles/siding before putting up vinyl. For all the reasons stated by others above. In the case of my 100yr old house reno, I ended up NOT doing vinyl at all, instead I found a great Brazilian crew that stripped the old shingles, removed the old tar-paper on the house sheathing and re-wrapped it with Tyvek, and then installed new red cedar shingles. The economy was down then, and they got a deal on a supply of Grade-A real shingles. They were very skilled and did an amazing job matching the original detailed shingle patterns, particularly around the front porch arches - never would get that level of detail out of vinyl. We also replaced all the exterior window & door trim with PVC trim (and re-flashed everything). We definitely went more the restoration route on that project, both outside the house and inside where I re-did all the original natural woodwork. Was a lot of work but so worth it in the end. Also as the original outside shingles had been removed, I had the opportunity to blow-in insulation all around the house (from the outside). On my new build house, I also did shingles. And there again, I realized the importance of installing a good house wrap (in this case I installed one that allows better drainage behind the shingles/siding). You may have already started your project by now, but if not definitely strip the shingles if you can. I'm also happy to give you the contact info for the crew that re-shingled my old house. They don't do vinyl but if you were interested in sticking with wood siding they're great. We ended up painting the new shingles there with a top-shelf Benjamin Moore Aura paint. I've been by the house several times since selling it and the paint is not peeling yet. Here's some pics our house / siding job: 100yr old house renovation...See MoreRip out bathroom floor in new build?
Comments (24)Palimpsest, I wish I used your tile guy. I think he sounds great and did it the way it is suppose to be done. No one answered (maybe because no one knows) can certain sections be redone or does the entire floor have to come out? Most sections are very nice and I love, but the bad sections of raised tile, grout I cannot get off and that area by the floor molding I cannot live with. I did know when I purchased it that some areas of the marble were dark and some light, that's natural and gives it character, I don't mind it, but if it's done in a certain way. This is just horrible though. Our builder has a tile guy and he did a fantastic job in our master bathroom and our full bathroom. I don't know why one of the owners, who is one of the on-site builders, decided to do this for himself. It was the most difficult and time-consuming out of all of the bathrooms. He should've let the guy that specializes in tile do this bathroom. Lesson learned to him as well I am sure. Is it a tough job to take this floor out? It's a 6x6 powder room. You know, if only the mistakes were where the toilet was going to be or in the far corner where you couldn't see it etc. none of this would matter, but of course Murphy's Law, they are right smack in the middle of the floor where you see it as soon as you walk in....See More
Izzy Mn
3 years ago
Kate
3 years ago
PROCreative Tile Eastern CT
3 years agoJim Rogers
3 years ago
millworkman
3 years agoci_lantro
3 years agoJim Rogers
3 years agomillworkman
3 years agocat_ky
3 years agoJim Rogers
3 years ago
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