Installing Vinyl Tile Over Concrete

To install vinyl plank flooring on concrete you ll first need to clean the concrete with soap and water and fill in any cracks with concrete filler.

Installing vinyl tile over concrete.

All of the movement in concrete is transferred to the tile. This additional layer can improve insulation and should make your vinyl plank flooring warmer and less resonant. If you were to remove a cracked tile from concrete undoubtedly you would see the same crack pattern below. If you want to install the tiles properly you should prepare the floor making sure that the surface is clean without any remains of sealers adhesive or anything else.

Cracks in concrete immediately become cracks in the tile. You can lower high spots with a grinder. Installing self adhesive vinyl tiles over concrete is not always easy especially if you remove carpets from the concrete base. For these same reasons many people choose to install vinyl plank flooring in bathrooms and basements but you can also install vinyl plank flooring in your kitchen or bedroom.

Then use a level to find any spots where the ground is uneven and apply concrete self leveling compound to even it out. However some people prefer to add another thin layer of subflooring between the concrete and vinyl. You can easily install it over any rigid and level surface including concrete wood or even up to one layer of other vinyl. Sheet vinyl can be installed over concrete if the surface of the concrete is clean smooth and dry.

While you can install tile directly on concrete problems erupt when the concrete cracks or shifts. Always be sure the existing surface has been cleaned and leveled. Self leveler is available in powder and pre mixed form and is used to create a flat smooth surface in flooring projects. Don t sand vinyl flooring as it may contain asbestos.

Repair any holes or cracks. The concrete floor must also be free of cracks or the vinyl tile will eventually sag into the gap. So technically if you are installing vinyl plank flooring onto concrete you already have a subfloor. Ceramic tile over wood tile concrete or vinyl should be installed by using appropriate products that will allow the right adhesion between surfaces.

Any minor bumps can be removed with a masonry chisel and small sledgehammer. The strength of the product is similar to concrete. Use a self leveler on low spots and or sand high spots of wood or concrete.