Tiling a kitchen with vinyl floor.
Hi –
I’m looking for some advice on how to tackle tiling our kitchen. We had our house built about 2 yrs ago. And, at the time, we picked out some nice maple cabinets and granite countertops. Unfortunately, the vinyl flooring we chose is just not cutting it – does not match the way we had hoped.
So, I’m now looking at tiling our kitchen. But as I think about what needs to be done, I’m left wondering how to best proceed. In terms of the kitchen cabinets, is it acceptable to tile around them (as opposed to setting them on top of the tile. The second thing is addressing the vinyl flooring. Can I tile directly over that or do I need to rip that out and start from scratch (knowing that the cabinets sit on top of the laminate & vinyl)?
If anyone out there has had to do something similar, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to best proceed as well as any other tips you might have.
Thanks!
Replies
At dishwasher or any other appliance that fits to the bottom of a counter or cabinet, how much room do you have?
Is the vinyl full spread adhesive or perimeter glued?
Size and Span of floor joists? Thickness and makeup of subfloor.
Questions you might answer b/4 you proceed.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Sounds like this is doable directly over the current flooring? Unless the answers below raise a flag ...
I currently have a 34-1/2" opening from floor to counter for the dishwasher. The subfloor is 3/4" OSB on 2x10 (more like 10-3/4 actual) joists spanning 15'. On top of the subfloor is the laminant on which the vinyl is installed. I really don't know if it is full spread or perimiter adhesive.
Comments?
An easy way to tell if the vinyl adhesive is full spread ... take a sharp knife and cut a large circle in the floor. Bigger than a dinner plate. If you can lift out the piece, then only the edges of the vinyl were glued down and you will need to remove as much as possible before tiling.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
With the proper procedures, you can lay ceramic tile over sheet vinyl. Calvin asked some pertinent questions.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
BTW - Do you have some "best practices" or know where I can find some to get this done right the first time?
Thx.
It would be best if you pulled up the sheet vinyl. And it would be best if you pulled out the DW and ran tile into the cavity so that you could easily pull it out in the future. Same with the fridge. The height difference that you would be losing to the tile should not be a big concern with the cabinets.
I would go to a good tile store and get an embossing leveler which is a cementitious product used to even out the "grout lines" in the sheet vinyl pattern. It can also be used if you were laying over old ceramic tile. After the leveler cures properly (read the instructions) then you can install the tile normally.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Check custom building products . com Home depot usually carries this brand, although I don't know if they stock this product. A regular tile store will have this or a similar product. Don't be a guy, read the instructions.
SpeedFinish™Patching & Finishing Compound
View Image
A cement-based patching and skim coating compound that provides a smooth finish to a variety of substrates prior to the installation of floor coverings. Install most floor coverings in as little as 15 minutes. Protected by MoldGard™ Technology to resist mold and mildew growth.
Flooring Types
Ceramic tile, natural stone, terrazzo, carpet, wood, VCT, sheet vinyl flooring, laminated flooring
Substrates
Concrete, exterior grade plywood, existing ceramic tile or stone, concrete terrazzo, sheet vinyl, VCT, cutback adhesive
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I did a similar job years ago on my first house; from that experience, some caveats: do not bury the base of your cabinets or dishwasher with new subfloor and tile. I installed new subfloor over vinyl (1/4" luan), then ceramic tile - the cabinets were already in place.
Above installation buried the cabinet base and made it impossible to remove DW for service or replacement - I had no idea what the hell I was doing back then.......I'd lift the cabinets before installing tile.
good luck, Carl