It is a common thing that people do and which has many disadvantages: placing tiles over vinyl flooring. While in the short term is might save you time in installing your flooring, in the long run it will simply damage the floor and make it less durable, which will only lead to extra headaches and costs down the road.
One of the main reasons why this should be avoided is because vinyl is quite similar to plastic, which means that it is not the best material to glue something on it. Vinyl has an extra layer of shine which is non-porous, so it’s very difficult for anything adhering to it. While there is a certain way of roughening the vinyl to stick better to it, it’s not the best process to go about it. You might find yourself down the road with the floor lifting once it has been laid down. The vinyl might simply push upwards the ceramic tiles which might crack in the process. You might end up having to replace your entire flooring which will cost you a small fortune too.
Another issue that people who do this shortcut will be facing in the long run is the fact that the floor will not be smooth and level. You won’t be able to properly gauge the patterns in the tiles which is important to have a level and stable flooring in your home.
Also if you placed the vinyl directly over plywood will not help you when it comes to laying tiles on top because this is an entirely different material from the one you used before. Not only that but it will jeopardize the floor stability, making the surface prone to cracking, particularly if you also have other materials involved, such as linoleum. The fact that the floor is cushioned by previous materials will speed the cracking process of your tiles, making them useless after a short period of time.
This is why when you want to use tiles on top of vinyl, you need to prepare the vinyl the proper way so it is just right for tiling. First you need to screw down your own vinyl layer followed by the adding a mortar mix of mesh and concrete over it. Pouring cement is actually a good way to stabilize the sub-floor for the new layer of tiles that come on top. Alternatively you could easily add a sub-layer of plywood, or something else that will protect your tiles from cracking later on. Once you do the process the right way, you will be safe in the knowledge that your new tiling is properly laid down and it is quite safe and durable, without cracking.
Glueless vinyl flooring is one of the easiest flooring types to install at home.
Visit sheet vinyl flooring to learn more.