Questions about laying bathroom floor tiles?

Question

I am going to lay bathroom floor tiles in my bathroom but I have some questions before I start.

1. Can I lay the new tiles over the existing floor, which is vinyl flooring? Or do I have to remove that first?

2. If I have to remove the vinyl flooring do I have to add cement backer board? Or can I lay the tile right over whatever is under the vinyl flooring?

3. I have trim along that floor that I will be re-attaching, do I lay the tile right up to the wall or do I put a space in between the wall and the edge tile? Do I then grout into that space between the wall and the edge tile?

Answer 1

No need. Just apply the mud and s***w down the board. Allow 1 day dry and you can start laying the tile

You only need at least 1/4 inch. Between tiles you can go to 1/8

Answer 2

pull up the vinyl and mortar AND s***w down Hardybacker board .  dont buy that c**p gypsum board from lowes or that foam stuff.

dont EVER lay tile down over wood... EVER

lay your tile 1/4 inch away from the walls. and then your base board and base shoe will lay over the tile and it'll look great.

grab some 1/8 spacers....  lay with a 1/8th inch gap and it will look much nicer.

Answer 3

Hi KK,

1. Remove

2. Add board, only if you have adequate subflooring.  If you have particle board or luan ply, remove and replace with 3/4" BC sanded ply

3. 1/4" space with no thinset or grout to allow for expansion and contraction.  You can use color matched caulk if necessary.

Answer 4

you actually *can* install ceramic tile over vinyl flooring, if the vinyl is in good shape and not coming up or bubbling.  you would need to use a mutliflex thinset instead of a standard thinset for the ceramic tiles to stick.  now this only works if the vinyl is over concrete.  if it's over wood, then an underlayment is needed.  

if the vinyl is in poor shape, pull it up.  if in doubt as to it's quality, pull it up.

1/4" or 1/2" hardibacker or durarock are your options for your underlayment.  use a multiflex thinset to adhere to the vinyl or wood subfloor and s***w the board down every 6 inches.

if your floor is a concrete slab don't bother with the underlayment; just tile directly over the concrete.

leave a slight gap from your tile to your wall, then install your base and/or shoe molding.  grouting the space between the tile and wall would be a waste of time and grout.  don't bother; the base will cover it.

i agree with the 1/8" grout joint.  a much better look to it than a larger joint.  keep in mind the thinset rules:  a tile up to 12" requires a 3/8" notch of thinset, a tile 16" to 18" needs a 1/2" notch, and anything over 18" requires a 3/4" notch.  this guarantees that there will be no thinset adhesian failures.

good luck!