Vinyl Flooring Installation – 4 Common Questions Answered

If you’ve got questions about installing vinyl flooring, you’re not alone.  Here are some of the most common questions, with easy-to-understand answers:

1.  How do you install vinyl flooring over tile?

Luckily, you don’t have to rip up the existing tile to do it!  However, having tile underneath will raise the level of your floor, which can be tricky when you get to baseboards, toilets, and built-in vanities.

Look at the existing tile carefully before you being. If any of the tiles are loose or broken, you will have to remove them, then fill in the area with either mortar or liquid cement.



If your tiles’ joints are very deep, you will have to re-grout them. Otherwise, you’ll wind up with grooves that show through your new vinyl flooring.

2.  How do you install vinyl flooring over vinyl?

Again, you’ll have to check the clearance between your floor and baseboards before you start.  Installing vinyl flooring over existing vinyl will raise the floor height a bit, so you’ll have to make sure everything fits.  If it doesn’t, you may have to remove your baseboards, and move them up slightly.

Then, look at the existing vinyl.  As long as it’s firmly attached and in relatively good condition, you can just leave it there.

When it comes time to actually lay down the new vinyl flooring, you need to make sure that the existing vinyl is clean and dry.  Otherwise, your floor will become a haven for mold and mildew!

3.  Can you install vinyl flooring over particle board?

Yes.  However, you’ll need to do some extra work first.

Start by hammering down any exposed nail heads.  Then, clean and dry the particle board thoroughly.

After that, you’ll need to lay down a sealer.  That will prevent the adhesive in the vinyl flooring from absorbing into the particle board.  If you don’t use a sealer, once the adhesive makes its way into the particle board, you’ll wind up with loose vinyl.

And, for particle board, installing sheet vinyl is better than tile vinyl.  As the particle board naturally expands and contracts, it can make the tile seams spread.

4.  How much drying time does vinyl flooring need?

You should let your new vinyl flooring sit for at least 24 hours.  Walking on it before it fully sets can make it slide out of place.

If you absolutely have to walk through the area before the vinyl flooring is completely dry, cover it with a piece of plywood or cardboard first, so that you’re not walking directly on top of it.



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