How To Cover Vinyl Tile

Cover an old vinyl floor with new tile.

An old vinyl tile floor can be held fast to the substrate with its adhesive. As vinyl tile adhesive ages, it hardens making the vinyl even harder to remove. For this reason, it is often easier to install a new tile floor over the vinyl to cover it up, rather than to remove it. Any type of tile can be installed over vinyl to cover it, provided that the right setting material is used.

Things You'll Need

• Cleaning supplies
• Tile saw
• Trowel
• Portland cement
• Grout
• Grout float
• Grout sponge

Instructions

1. Clean the old vinyl well. Remove any grease, dust, debris or wax that may interfere with the bond of the new tile to the old. Allow the vinyl tile to dry completely before beginning.

2. Lay out the new tiles directly on top of the old vinyl. Lay the first tile in the center of the wall furthest from the door and the next tiles evenly to each side. Check to make sure that you are getting complete coverage of the vinyl with the new tiles.

3. Cut the tiles to fit the edges of the installation on a tile saw. Return them to the dry layout to double check their placement and to ensure complete coverage of the vinyl.

4. Remove the tiles from the floor in the order in which they went down. This will help ensure that you install them in the pattern that you have already determined.

5. Spread a thin layer of Portland cement over the vinyl. Use the trowel to create grooves in the cement that are uniform in size. Set each tile into the cement in the pre-determined pattern that you had laid out and wiggle them slightly into place.

6. Allow the cement to dry overnight and then grout the tiles. Pack the joints by using the flat of a grout float to push the grout into place. Wipe the tiles clean with a grout sponge every few minutes, and allow the grout to dry overnight.

Tips & Warnings

• Check to make sure that the new floor will not be too thick before you lay the tiles. Lay out a few tiles at thresholds and doorways to make sure that there is still clearance and that doors are able to close above the thicker floor before you begin.

• If your vinyl tiles are 9 inches or 13 inches in size and were installed before the 1970s, they may contain asbestos in their adhesive. You can safely lay tiles directly on top of the old vinyl, but do not attempt to pry up or interfere with the vinyl tiles in any way; this could release asbestos dust into the air.

References

• The Tile Doctor: Tile Over Tile
• Ron Hazleton's House Calls: How to Set a Ceramic Tile Floor in Your Bathroom