Putting down tile flooring
 

Looking at a house that has laminate. The laminate is in very good condition with no bubbling or separating from the concrete. Can you tile over that or do you have to remove the laminate? Also what about glue down wood flooring, can that go down over laminate also?

The only thing I would go over is sheet vinyl.

If you mean laminate like a floating or glue down product that looks like wood then no. You would have to remove it. If the product is glued down then you are in for a messy and difficult job. It will be difficult to get all the glue off the concrete and could cause bonding issues with your thinset mortar if you don't get it all removed.

You can (in some cases) install a glue down wood floor over concrete. It depends on how much moisture you have in your area. If you live in a high humidity area then moisture will seep up through the concrete and you could have bonding issues.

Best bet for wood floor would be to pull up the old stuff, lay down a new sub-floor or either OSB or plywood. You would glue this down. Then install new wood floor over that in the traditional manner, nailing it through the tongue/groove.

Matt

Ripping it off is easy. Installing is harder. If you are ready for new tiles, why worry about the old laminate?

Whats down now is the glued down linoleum. So I can put tiles on over that??

I wouldn't. You live in a wet climate with high humidity and the linoleum is going to bubble sooner or later. Strip it down to concrete and prepare the surface like a pro would. It's a *****, but you won't have any worries.

It all depends on what shape the lino is now. If it has a pattern that will eventually show up thru in to the tile. If it is a smooth surface lino with no tears or lifting areas yes you can put tile over top. Adhesion to the smooth surface of the lino might be a problem. You can rough the lino surface up and glue the tile directly but it's not really recommended. Most lino has a slight cushion which will allow the tile to move and can over time crack.

Two recommended ways to put the tile down are remove lino (lots of scraping/sanding of the floor) down to the concrete then prep floor for the tile or remove smooth surface of lino and glue 1/4" good one side plywood down over top and then prep for tile.

That's not what you indicated initially. Laminate is not a term used for vinyl. I know opinions will vary, but this is what I prefer for wood over concrete — sheet vinyl. I doubt you have real linoleum and real linoleum is opposite of a laminated product. It's solid through and through.

As for tile, I still would go over the sheet. Make sure it is dewaxed, clean and scuffed. Use modified thinset with the admix.

You DID say the existing floor is in good condition, so my remarks reflect that.

As a tile contractor, I would not set tile over an existing floor.
I am required to warranty my work for 10 years.

I have never set tile over lino, plywood, particle board or someone else's prepared surface.
( these are what I tear out )


KT

You are talking about ceramic tile right?
Not vinyl tiles?


KT

It's really a pretty easy choice. You can take out the old Lino floor now or you can do it later after all your hard work and money. Talk to a tile guy, they make a TON of money going in and taking out tile because the floor wasn't prepped right. I guess I just don't understand cutting corners. Look at it this way if bought your Porsche from a guy who painted it in his back yard and you wanted to change the color, would you leave that paint on it or would you take down to metal and make sure it's right?

No not tiles, just groovy ugly linoleum. Over 200 sq ft of it.

2000 sq ft

Yes ceramic tiles, 18" by 18" and wood flooring. Sorry I need to read all the other post before repsonding.

Sheet Linoleum has a paper backing and almost always asbestos.....just sayin'.

My advise was for vinyl.


See trekkor's advise for the ceramic kind. :)

Rip up the sheet linoleum, get a good remover for the glue, sand the floor, clean, thinset and measure twice. Get a good wet saw too. It's not easy man, but the rewards are sweet.

^^
And make sure the floor is flat. With 18x18 you have to be careful if you're going to get all the edges flush. Make yourself aware of any high spots/low spots and be prepared for them.

If the exiting floor is lino/sheet vinyl directly on a wood subsurface and the flooring lino/vinyl is in sound (as in not lifting, tearing, bubbling) condition. Glue and screw a backerboard such as hardy backer over the lino/vinyl. Use a construction adhesive and lay the backer down on the existing flooring. Stagger the seams. Screw every six inches. Now you have a solid stable surfcae to apply ceramic tile. Install with a modified thinset.

If you have a laminate floor as in your original post. Remove the floor inspect the new surface. If sound then follow the above instructions.

Better to use modified thinset under your Hardiebacker before nails or screws.
Only way to qualify for their warranty and eliminate air space which leads to movement and surface cracking of tile and grout.

The fasteners hold the backer down.


KT