How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring Over Tile?

Vinyl plank flooring is one of the best flooring options around. You can use it in any room in the house and it does not suffer from some of the limitations that come with other floors. It can be installed in wet areas, does not scratch as easily as wood, and is softer underfoot. One of the great things about vinyl planks is that you can install them over the top of many other floors. You can even install the planks over tile flooring. This allows you to avoid the painstaking process of taking up tiles, which can save you a lot of time and money. Here are the basics of how to install vinyl plank flooring over tiles.

Step 1 - Determine the Amount of Flooring Needed

The first thing that you need to do is figure out exactly how much vinyl you need. Since the flooring comes in planks, you only need to determine the square footage of the room and add 10 percent. Take your tape measure and get the dimensions of the room. Multiply the length and the width of the room to get the square footage and then add 10 percent for waste.

Step 2 - Order the Materials

Go to your preferred flooring store and order the materials. You will need to order the vinyl planks that you prefer as well as the adhesive that is appropriate for the job. Many vinyl planks are now installed with a pressure sensitive adhesive that is specific to each brand of vinyl. Therefore, you will most likely have to special order the floor and the adhesive.

Step 3 - Acclimate the Planks

Once your vinyl arrives, you need to pick it up and bring it to the house at least a day before you install it. Vinyl can expand and contract a bit depending on the temperature and needs to acclimate to the environment that it will be installed in. Otherwise, you could find some gaps in the floor after you have installed it.

Step 4 - Prepare the Tile Floor

You will need to level out the tile floor in order to apply the vinyl to it. By using floor patch and a trowel, you can fill the gaps in between the tile and level everything out. Coat the entire floor with this leveling compound to give yourself a clean slate to work with. Allow it to sufficiently dry before installing the planks.

Step 5 - Apply the Adhesive

If you have a pressure sensitive adhesive, you should be able to just roll it onto the floor with a paint roller. If you are using a different type of glue, you might have to trowel it onto the floor.

Step 6 - Install the Planks

Apply the planks one at a time starting from a corner of the room and working out. Cut the planks by using the straightedge and the utility knife to fit the room. Get a friend to help you measure and cut the planks to ensure they're even (and so you have help laying out the planks).

Installing vinyl over tile flooring is an easy project even a DIY novice can attempt following these steps. It will give your house a rich look, without the price of hardwood.