tiling over linoleum (subfloor, vinyl, countertops, ceramic)
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I have a house that's about 50 years old, the linoleum in the kitchen isn't in the greatest of shape, and it's quite dated. I want to put in tile, but I've tried in different corners to get the linoleum up and it doesn't want to go. It's glued directly to the subfloor. Can I tile over the linoleum, or am I going to have to hire someone to tear up the linoleum?
I wouldn't tile over it!! I just don't think you'll get the adhesion needed to keep the tiles in place long term. Is this sheet linoleum or linoleum tiles? I'm a total DIYer myself. If it's sheet linoleum, I'd cut through it in a cross hatch pattern somewhere a good distance from the wall. That will give you some corners that you can really pry on away from the walls so you can get leverage on it. Once you get it started it will probably come up fairly easily. Any chunks that don't come up can be scraped off with a straight blade. If it's linoleum tile, you SHOULD be able to pry up one or more of them with a good strong putty knife or thin blade chisel. Once you one or more of them up then the rest should pry off fairly easily. Is your subfloor a slab or plywood? If it's a slab then you could try to break up one of the linoleum tiles with a hammer to get it started.
I have a house that's about 50 years old, the linoleum in the kitchen isn't in the greatest of shape, and it's quite dated. I want to put in tile, but I've tried in different corners to get the linoleum up and it doesn't want to go. It's glued directly to the subfloor. Can I tile over the linoleum, or am I going to have to hire someone to tear up the linoleum?
DC
If it's firmly affixed to the subfloor, don't take it up. Lino that old can very well contain asbestos so it's better to just leave it if you can. Since you want to tile, just get a good backerboard for floors and either nail, screw, or glue that down directly onto the old floor (make sure it's clean so that your glue will adhere). Make sure your floor is flat first, though. If not, you'll have to use a premixed leveling compound before you put down the backer board.
After that, lay tile as normal. Easy!
Last edited by RoaminRed; 01-02-2008 at 02:09 PM..
Reason: Typo!
I'd put down backer board first just to be sure. Especially since it's old linoleum, you don't know if it will eventually start to come up. If you've screwed down proper substrate over it first, you're never going to have a problem because it is sealed in and cannot come up.
It's only a few more dollars and a few hours work to prep it right.
Asbestos is a real possibility in flooring that old. In bad shape means you have to either get it up or put an underlayment over it. Do you mean ceramic tile? - everyone is assuming you do.
The tile backer board is a good option. Level the floor with floor leveling compound and then level the backerboard and seams with thinset before you lay the tile. Also, be sure the floor is solid enough to not flex or the grout lines will crack. The thickness may mean you will have to raise the doors.
My husband and I tiled over linoleum back in CA. Sandpaper was used to rough up the floor. Not sure on the product, but there was an additive to the thinset when setting the tile. Never had a problem with it. Our house was built in the late 70's so we did not have an asbestos issue. Good luck to you. It can be done.
Thanks, everyone, for the input. It is linoleum tiles and I tried at the doorway to pry some up, I get pieces because it cracks. The house is built over a crawlspace, not on a slab, I'm worried that a)there could be an asbestos issue; or b) that in trying to get up the linoleum I end up damaging the subfloor and getting into even more expense. I just want to put in a nice, neutral ceramic tile. When I bought the house, the blue-streaked faux marble plastic countertops in the kitchen really bothered me, but since I've had those replaced, the gold and brown speckled linoleum has become more and more of an issue. So thanks to everyone again!
DC
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