QUESTION

Installing ceramic tile on vinyl - My daughter recently bought a newly constructed spec home. She decided to have the vinly flooring changed to ceramic tile. She presumed the installers would take care of the prep and advise of any problems or challenges. She has found out that the tiles were layed on the existing flooring. Now her appliances will not fit. What other kinds of problems might she encounter as a result? Shouldn't the installers have pulled up the vinyl? Please advise all pros and cons and what she should do or insist on the having done.

ANSWER

ANSWER - There are pros and cons for installing ceramic tile over vinyl. This method is not uncommon, but it's always best to bond (adhere) ceramic tile directly to a good concrete subfloor. The bond of the ceramic tile is only as good as the bond of the vinyl to the subfloor; if the vinyl comes loose, so does everything else attached to it. If the vinyl is bonded well then it should last. The vinyl can be a benefit by acting as an antifracture membrane; meaning if cracks develop in the concrete subfloor they won't continue up through the tile.

The vinyl can also act as a vapor barrier; meaning if there is moisture in the slab it can't travel through the tile possibly causing an efflorescent problem. On the other hand, if there is excessive moisture in the slab then the vinyl might lose its bond. The vinyl and its adhesive should add no more than 3/16" of height to the room and I wouldn't expect that to keep appliances from fitting. In fact, if they had removed the vinyl they might have had to prep the floor by adding an 1/8" or more of underlayment patch to flatten the floor, since floors are almost never flat enough. Hope that helps. Good Luck!
ANSWER - There are pros and cons for installing ceramic tile over vinyl. This method is not uncommon, but it's always best to bond (adhere) ceramic tile directly to a good concrete subfloor. The bond of the ceramic tile is only as good as the bond of the vinyl to the subfloor; if the vinyl comes loose, so does everything else attached to it. If the vinyl is bonded well then it should last. The vinyl can be a benefit by acting as an antifracture membrane; meaning if cracks develop in the concrete subfloor they won't continue up through the tile.

The vinyl can also act as a vapor barrier; meaning if there is moisture in the slab it can't travel through the tile possibly causing an efflorescent problem. On the other hand, if there is excessive moisture in the slab then the vinyl might lose its bond. The vinyl and its adhesive should add no more than 3/16" of height to the room and I wouldn't expect that to keep appliances from fitting. In fact, if they had removed the vinyl they might have had to prep the floor by adding an 1/8" or more of underlayment patch to flatten the floor, since floors are almost never flat enough. Hope that helps. Good Luck!