If so, the short answer is yes. Most floating floor tiles can easily go over vinyl, as long as it’s in relatively good shape. Carpet, on the other hand, is another story. If the carpet is plush, a layer of plywood may need to be laid over the carpet to provide a level, even surface over which the new floor can float.
What is floating flooring?
Floating floors can come in many different materials, including wood, laminate, vinyl, linoleum and even carpet. The term "floating" refers to the fact that no adhesive is used to secure the flooring material to the subfloor, although double-sided tape is sometimes used under the floor to help seams stay put.
Can You Lay vinyl over floating laminate flooring?
Floating laminate flooring is not attached to the subfloor, so it's easy to pull up. If yours is a floating floor (not glued down), you'll probably get better results if you remove the laminate flooring instead of laying vinyl on top of it.
Can you install a floating floor without carpet?
Because carpet has quite a lot of give to it, the floating laminate floor will come undone without a solid base. Adding the plywood subfloor allows you to start from the flattest possible base. By doing this, it will be just like if you were installing the floating floor without the carpet. Install the Floating Floor
Can you put vinyl flooring on top of existing flooring?
If the tile floor has wide or deep seams, use an underlayment rather than installing the vinyl directly on the tile. In most cases, you can install vinyl flooring on top of existing flooring. Generally, there is nothing inherent about the lower floor covering's material that precludes it from acting as a substrate for the upper vinyl flooring.
Why cant you put a floating floor over a floating floor?
1. The floor height will be raised by a significant amount. While this small increase may not sound like a significant change, installing laminate flooring over another will cause all baseboards, doors and door jambs to be raised.
Can you put a floating vinyl floor over a floating laminate floor?
A common question that gets asked on home forums and by private retail is can I lay vinyl over laminate flooring. Vinyl plank flooring is flexible in nature and it is recommended that vinyl flooring should only go over a solid, well-adhered substrate that is smooth.
Can you put vinyl plank flooring over laminate?
Laminate floor may act as a substrate for vinyl flooring. Like solid wood flooring, laminate can swell when subjected to water. As vinyl should only be installed over a smooth, well-adhered substrate, it is necessary to fix high-moisture areas first and make sure it is as even as possible.
Can you lay new laminate flooring on top of old laminate flooring?
Laying laminate flooring over old laminate is possible but there is product that you may have to spread on the old flooring first so that the old pattern doesn't wear out under the new one. Make sure that you use a specific type of glue or adhesive that is recommended for gluing laminate tiles.
Can you put new flooring over old flooring?
If the current flooring is fixed to the subfloor and in good condition, you may be able to apply a new flooring over top. However, if the there are broken or worn parts of the current flooring, or if the subfloor itself needs some work, you will need to remove what's there and start from the bottom.
How can I cover my floor tiles without removing them?
6 ways to upgrade your flooring without removing tilesUse Vinyl Flooring. Vinyl flooring is available in the form of luxury vinyl flooring and traditional vinyl flooring. ... Roll out Rugs and Carpets. ... Install Laminated Wooden Flooring. ... Opt for an Epoxy coating. ... Choose Artificial Grass. ... Just Clean the Tiles.
Do you have to remove old vinyl flooring before installing new vinyl flooring?
If you are ready to upgrade your existing floor, you will need to remove the old vinyl first. In some circumstances, you can install new flooring such as laminate flooring, hardwood or engineered flooring over vinyl flooring as long as it is in good condition.
Can you lay LVT on a floating floor?
LVT Floor (tiles or planks): Yes. Some LVT products are floating systems or “loose-lay” and are easy to remove (preferable). If the floor is glued down, be sure you remove all of the adhesive before installing laminate flooring.
What can I lay over laminate flooring?
Some of the best options for laying flooring over laminate include:Foam interlocking mats.Foam rolls.Rubber interlocking tiles.Rubber rolls.Vinyl plank floors.Vinyl rolls.Cork rolls.Ceramic tiles.More items...
Do I need underlayment for laminate flooring over vinyl?
Common Question #1 – Do vinyl floors need underlayment? Short answer is no, vinyl flooring itself does not necessarily need underlayment, however it may need depending on the acoustic requirements of the building.
Can you install vinyl plank flooring over existing vinyl?
You can install vinyl plank flooring over concrete, hardwood, tile or existing vinyl flooring. As long as the surface is flat and clean, it'll work. Laminate can be uneven, so it's not recommended to lay vinyl over it.
Do I need a moisture barrier under vinyl flooring?
Existing Flooring Meaning, if you're going to install vinyl plank flooring over tile, vinyl flooring, and even hardwood. As with the plywood floor, there's no need to worry about a moisture barrier; the underlayment should provide cushioning and sound-deadening benefits.
Can you lay LVT on a floating floor?
LVT Floor (tiles or planks): Yes. Some LVT products are floating systems or “loose-lay” and are easy to remove (preferable). If the floor is glued down, be sure you remove all of the adhesive before installing laminate flooring.
What can you put over laminate flooring?
Some of the best options for laying flooring over laminate include:Foam interlocking mats.Foam rolls.Rubber interlocking tiles.Rubber rolls.Vinyl plank floors.Vinyl rolls.Cork rolls.Ceramic tiles.More items...
Do I need a moisture barrier under vinyl flooring?
Existing Flooring Meaning, if you're going to install vinyl plank flooring over tile, vinyl flooring, and even hardwood. As with the plywood floor, there's no need to worry about a moisture barrier; the underlayment should provide cushioning and sound-deadening benefits.
Can you put LVP over LVP?
Unlike tile floors, which have a very specific series of underlayment requirements, vinyl plank floors can be installed over existing flooring so long as it is clean of debris, in good repair and completely flat.
What kind of flooring can be installed over hardwood floors?
Tools. There are three types of floating floors: engineered hardware, luxury vinyl flooring or LVF, and laminate. All of these can be installed over hardwood floors, but each differs a bit when it comes to the types of tools that are needed to see out the installation process.
Why do you need a floating floor above hardwood floors?
The benefit of installing a floating floor above hardwood floors is that they are typically incredibly sturdy. Instead of being a type of material that needs a hefty support on top of it, hardwood floors are able to withstand wear and tear due to the strength that accompanies such a strong natural material (even if it does easily scratch and knick). This makes installing a floating floor effortless but also gives you security knowing your floors are well supported.
Do you need underlayment for floating floor?
If no underlayment is beneath the tiles or panels of your floating floor, you will need to install a separate underlayment above your hardwood floors. Underlayment helps to take out any major deviations that may be on your hardwood, helps to muffle noise when in use, and also helps to support the floating floor above it.
Do you need to level wood before installing floating floor?
This means that a bit of work may need to be done before you install your floating floor. Primarily, you want to make sure that your wood floors are completely level so that the floating floor will have no issues during installation or later on when the unevenness of the floor leads to problems within the floating floor.
Can you install floating floors without risk?
Although your subfloor is actually the hardwood floors of your space, it is essential that, although it will be hidden, it is in a condition that will allow for a floating floor to be easily installed without any risk. This means that a bit of work may need to be done before you install your floating floor.
Can I install floating floor over hardwood?
There is always the question of “Can I?” when it comes to different projects, but this question is almost always followed with “Should I?” You know that you are able to install a floating floor over hardwood, but when you weigh different advantages and disadvantages, is this something that you should tackle or should you install a floating floor differently? For those of you with existing hardwoods, there is good news for you.
Can you install floating floors on your own?
Installing a floating floor is a process that requires very little preparation that is incredibly simplistic, offers people the ability to install the floor on their own without having to pay someone else to complete the task, and can also be very cost-effective. If you have a hardwood floor and are looking to install a floating floor, ...
Can you nail down vinyl tile?
For nail-down applications, flooring can be installed over existing sheet vinyl or vinyl tile if fastener penetration is not significantly diminished and the subfloor meets minimum requirements. Fasteners must penetrate a proper subfloor by at least 5/8”.
Can you use adhesive over sheet vinyl?
Certain adhesives are not recommended over existing sheet vinyl or vinyl and cork tile flooring unless an underlayment is put down first. Sheet vinyl, if secure, makes a fine underlayment. However, a floor-patch product usually needs to be applied (called skim-coating).
Can skim coating be used on tile?
In addition, skim-coating provides a good adhesive surface for any vinyl sheet or vinyl plank that will be glued down. Wood flooring can be installed over existing ceramic til e, marble or terrazzo with proper underlayment or adhesives (according to manufacturer’s recommendation).
Can you put one type of flooring over another?
One other thing to consider when putting one type of flooring over another is the floor height. You want to make sure you aren’t making the floor too high for doors to properly open and close or for appliances in the kitchen to still fit under cabinets or be flush with the countertops. To summarize, always check the manufacturer’s recommendations ...
Can you sand wood flooring over an existing floor?
If installing wood flooring over an existing wood floor, there are some extra precautions. First, you want to be sure you don’t sand any surfaces containing lead based finishes/paints or asbestos. If this is not an issue, you can sand off the old finish and or high spots then prepare the flooring by making any repairs or replacements of loose boards then thoroughly cleaning the floor.
What is the best substrate for vinyl flooring?
Often, a substrate of large-format boards, such as 1/4-inch thick, 4-foot by 8-foot plywood or MDF particle board sheets, is used as an underlayment before the vinyl flooring is installed. This substrate is an addition to the subfloor. Large-format underlayment sheets work well for vinyl flooring because they add some strength, have few seams, and bridge over small holes and surface embossing.
What type of flooring is best for a kitchen?
Vinyl tile and other types of vinyl flooring such as sheet or plank are excellent choices for remodeling a kitchen or a bathroom.
What is the importance of preparation for flooring?
As with many other remodeling projects, preparation is a major part of the job. With flooring installation, preparing the correct base—or substrate—is critical for a long-lasting, beautiful floor. It is even more important with thin floor coverings such as vinyl flooring .
What is surface embossing?
One of the desired visual qualities of some tile, laminate, and vinyl is surface embossing. Embossing provides slight highs and lows that help make the floor covering look more realistic (like the material they are emulating, such as wood) or simply to aid their appearance.
Why remove floor coverings?
Sturdy and Solid. Removing floor coverings helps the installer assess the condition of the subfloor. By not removing the existing floor covering, it is difficult to see if the subfloor is cracked, rotted, or otherwise is not in good condition.
Is vinyl flooring good for height?
Whenever adding one flooring on top of another flooring, height becomes an issue. If the previous version was presumably an acceptable height, will the higher version be too high? Using vinyl flooring as a top layer is one of the better choices in this respect since it adds less height than other types of flooring.
Can you sand down imperfections on vinyl flooring?
No Holes or Other Imperfections. High spots in the substrate should be sanded down and low spots should be filled. While small imperfections might not immediately transfer to the vinyl flooring surface, over time they may expose themselves in the form of low craters or hills that gradually form on the surface.
Does EVP rot around toilet?
If you’re talking about extruded vinyl plank – the EVP flooring – you know, look, if the bathroom floor is solid, it doesn’t have any unusual movement, it’s not rotted around where the toilet is mounted – sometimes you get softness there or at the edge of the tub.
Does grout float on floor?
TOM: Yeah, you don’t have to worry about the grout lines, no. This is going to float. It’s just going to lay on top of the floor. It literally floats; it doesn’t get attached to the floor. It literally floats in place and you put trim around the outside edge to cover it.
Can you put underlayment on top of old floor?
TOM: No, you may have to put a thin underlayment on top of that but then it can float, basically lay on top of the old floor.
What are the problems with layers?
In short, layers can cause problems. The most common one is squeaks. Any movement in any layer can cause this issue, and the more layers, the more potential for this to happen. Another common issue is floor height. Most homes, especially older ones, are not built with a really thick floor covering in mind. When additional layers are added, this can ...
Can you glue a new floor to an existing floor?
In most cases, probably not…. You certainly do not want to attach or glue your new floor right to the existing one, as your new installation will only be as sound as the one before it, and most manufacturers will void their warranty if you do so. In short, layers can cause problems. The most common one is squeaks.
Can floating floors be installed over existing floors?
Another advantage of floating floors is that they can be installed over an existing floor that you may want to save and uncover later (like an old wood floor that you don’t want to refinish just yet, but don’t want to put a bunch of holes in either). Every home presents a different scenario, so it is important to have one ...
Can you use LVT over paper underlayment?
LVT over a paper underlayment (not our preferred method, but may be a good option in certain settings)
Can a refrigerator slide under a cabinet?
You may also have a fridge that will no longer slide under that cabinet, a stove that you can no longer make flush with the countertop, or a dishwasher that is trapped in place (if you needed to replace it in the future, you’d have to tear up your new floor to do so).
Is it expensive to remove old flooring?
The demolition process for removing old flooring can be expensive, but not nearly as costly as replacing that new floor that you just shelled out a bunch of money for! Situations where you may be able to install over the old floor.
Is the old floor level?
The old floor is rock solid and level, with no structural deficiencies.
How to remove shims from drawers?
If you have any leftover shims that are protruding, you can use a utility knife to take them off or cut them down. It’s almost time to insert the drawers and finish up the installation.
What is cork flooring?
Cork flooring is harvested from tree bark and is becoming more and more popular. It’s incredibly easy to clean and relatively simple to install.
What happens if a plank is damaged?
If a single plank is damaged, it’s difficult to replace it.
Why is my sandpaper discolored?
It can become discolored when exposed to excessive sunlight.
How to measure kitchen wall?
Using a level, mark off a line on the walls around 48 inches off the ground. Take a piece of chalk and place a line at these marks all around the kitchen. Also, make a mark where the shortest measurement is, as well as the highest point .
Is it necessary to install flooring before installing cabinets?
There’s no denying that your kitchen is one of the rooms in your house that is used daily. It’s essential to find the proper flooring before installing any cabinets. This can be quite a challenge, so I’ve found the best options available.
Is it a big deal to install kitchen cabinets?
Something that needs to be considered before installation begins is what type of flooring you’re working with. Yes, flooring is a big deal when installing kitchen cabinets.
What Are Floating Floors?
Floating floors can come in many different materials, including wood, laminate, vinyl, linoleum and even carpet. The term "floating" refers to the fact that no adhesive is used to secure the flooring material to the subfloor, although double-sided tape is sometimes used under the floor to help seams stay put. This makes a floating floor much easier to install and remove than a non-floating floor, but it also allows the floor to expand, move, shift and bubble in certain circumstances.
Why do refrigerators have floating floors?
Floating floors are easy to install because they don't require any smelly, messy and time-sensitive adhesive to be applied to the floor first.
What are the disadvantages of floating kitchen floors?
The major disadvantage of installing floating floors in kitchens is that the weight of the appliances can prevent the proper (and completely normal) expansion and shifting of the floor. This can cause the floor to warp or to "bubble," creating an unsightly lump in the floor at best and a trip hazard at worst.
Can you use double sided tape on a floating floor?
Double-sided tape can be used under the floor to help seams stay put, but no adhesive is spread over every square inch of the subfloor. This makes a floating floor much easier to install and remove than a nonfloating floor, but it also allows the floor to expand, move, shift and bubble in certain circumstances.
Can you move a refrigerator?
Plus, any time you need to move a heavy appliance like a refrigerator for maintenance or replacement, you run the risk of moving or tearing the floor or disrupting the joints along the way.
