Installing Vinyl Flooring Over Tile

By | March 23, 2025

Installing Vinyl Flooring Over Tile – Today I’m sharing how to install a new vinyl plank floor over an existing ceramic tile floor in just a few easy steps to ensure proper alignment. We used Golden Select Vinyl Plank for the Smokey Barrel.

This spring, when everything suddenly and dramatically changed due to the pandemic and our spring break was canceled, we decided to find some projects for our home. We had not decided whether or not to replace all of the basement tiles, as this seemed like a huge undertaking as the ceramic tile was laid directly on top of the concrete floor. But we knew we really wanted to change and update the look of the hallway and create a more consistent flooring option for the entire space. The old tiles were uneven, difficult to clean, hard on the feet and cold in winter. It also wasn’t our choice of style or color.

Installing Vinyl Flooring Over Tile

In January I painted all the walls white and we added a wallpaper feature wall. I also bought some area rugs to cover the sturdy baseboards and warm up the space, which worked well as a temporary measure.

How To Install Lvt Flooring (luxury Vinyl Tile)

But after we decided to redo the family room and have ceilings, floors and trim, the project included all the common areas of the basement and the basement.

We went down to Costco just before the pandemic blew up and bought enough boxes of Golden Select vinyl plank flooring (Smokey Barrel) to redo the entire basement floor in addition to the three bedrooms with carpet in good enough shape. It retains heat in winter). We could have also ordered Golden Select from Costco online, but we couldn’t wait to get started!

Before we started, we removed the wall tiles, vacuumed and cleaned the floor.

I bought this premium floor patch at my local hardware store and mixed it according to the package directions. Our tile had a faux slate type texture so we wanted to smooth it out before installing the vinyl over it.

Can You Install Carpet Over Tile Floor?

I used a wide putty knife to apply the grout to the grout joints and low areas, spreading it evenly and scraping off any excess product.

We already had vinyl planks installed in the family room, so we lined up the floorboards next to the door to continue the line. To determine how wide the first piece should be, we first came back from the front of the family room and laid it out.

You can see below where the door is open in the top left of the picture and you can see how we put the planks in a straight line and flow from the hallway to the basement family room. The heights of the two rooms were slightly different, so we used a transition strip later, but we still wanted a straight plank between the two rooms.

Installation was much quicker than we expected as we only had to make a few cuts.

Installing Luxury Vinyl Over Existing Tile • Our Storied Home

We encountered some uneven spots, so it’s important to level the floor with patching compound to make sure the vinyl planks are installed on a level surface. We had to do it on the floor before going into the furnace/mechanical room in the basement.

We were very pleased with how easy this vinyl plank flooring was to install (read this article for details and installation tips).

You can also watch the video we made with our advice – the process of completely leveling the floor (repairing the patch if necessary) is the same when going directly to the old tile floor!

No matter how much white paint you put on the walls, no matter how many times you clean the floor, it always looks dirty and old. Having a smooth, easy to clean, beautiful plank floor downstairs has completely transformed the basement area!

How To Install Luxury Vinyl Tile Over Linoleum

In this post, we shared how we installed the exact same flooring over the concrete floor in our family room.

You can find Golden Select at Costco and it comes in several nice colors. We love the Smokey Barrel color, but I really want to use antique oak in my new build!

Happy Housie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you click on a link to Amazon, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases – at no cost to you. Thank you for your support! Scroll up for all the supplies and steps you need to install vinyl flooring over old tiles yourself for a temporary fix.

Favorite project! Well, I’m talking about 50% of every project we do here, but it’s definitely at the top of the list for the least money-converting.

Easy Way To Install Vinyl Floor Tile Over Existing Tile »

If you’ve been following our bathroom remodel, Robert and I painted the walls, trim, and cabinets up until last weekend. But the ceramic tile floor looked like this.

In the past, we’ve salvaged the ceramic tile in the kitchen and bathroom using a grout pen, but this floor seemed a bit off. Since we’re sticking with the existing countertops and shower (until the renovation), I’d like a floor that makes the 80’s beige look a little more modern.

Like a lot of DIYers here lately, I wanted to avoid the tile paint and stenciling route. With a 3-month-old in the house, I didn’t like the fumes and wanted to get the job done quickly and install in an hour or two.

Generally, I do not recommend vinyl flooring over tile if you are doing a major renovation. For permanent floors, I think it has to be done the “right” way. But for a quick Phase 1 fix, it’s a great solution to get you ready for a messy contractor job.

Can You Put Vinyl Flooring Over Tile?

So, if you want to do the same thing with some of your existing tiles that have seen better days, here’s how we did it.

2. After the paste has dried for 24-48 hours, you can sand the rough spots with medium grit sandpaper.

3. Sweep the floor and vacuum up any debris as you don’t want to leave anything under the vinyl flooring.

4. Remove the quarter rounds and plates with a hammer and a hammer. If you’ve never done it before, here’s an article to help you out. Set aside the quarter-round trim and trim panels for re-installation after the vinyl siding is in (assuming they are in good condition).

How To: Laying Peel And Stick Tile Over The Bathroom Floor!

5. Measure all the edges around the room and use those measurements to draw a diagram of your room on paper. There’s never a dull moment with this guy, even if it’s just a simple measurement job. ?

Include measurements of any obstructions in the room. We had already removed our old toilet (here’s a great toilet removal video to prevent water from dripping everywhere) so we measured where to cut the holes in the vinyl.

7. Roll up your sheet vinyl and take a nap. It was played. ? Well… we wouldn’t blame you if you did. But at least roll the sheet of vinyl (don’t turn it upside down to measure/cut in the next step).

8. Use your chart to mark your measurements using a tape measure on the edge of the vinyl sheet to create a pattern.

Vinyl Flooring Vs. Tiles Comparison Guide

10. Also cut the vinyl sheet with sharp scissors or a knife. After cutting the floor, wipe off any chalk lines left behind (Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works great).

11. Bring your cut vinyl into the room and roll it up. When placing in the room, cut the remaining points with a knife.

12. Reinstall the baseboard and quarter round trim with a nail gun to secure the edge of your floor. (This is done according to the manufacturer’s instructions for our special vinyl flooring, but your flooring manufacturer may require you to apply adhesive first.)

13. Next, apply white silicone sealant to fill the cracks in the re-installed trim. Also attach the vinyl trim to the shower and tub/door sills.

How To Install Vinyl Plank Over Tile Floors

But on this floor, it seems like a combination of blue and yellow with the combination of warm and cold colors.

So now the next thing on the agenda is patching, some paint, and in
stalling a new toilet (because the old one took forever to get out).

I will be painting the Benjamin Moore wrought iron doors this week to match the already deep charcoal color in the rest of the house.

And I will hang the windows

Installing Luxury Vinyl Floors Over Engineered Hardwood

Installing vinyl tile flooring, installing vinyl plank over tile, installing vinyl plank flooring over tile, can i put vinyl flooring over tile, laying vinyl plank flooring over tile, installing ceramic tile over vinyl flooring, installing sheet vinyl flooring over ceramic tile, can vinyl flooring be laid over tile, laying vinyl flooring over tile, installing tile over vinyl flooring, installing laminate flooring over tile, installing vinyl plank flooring over ceramic tile