Ceramic over tile question

[roughcedar]

Hello all.

I have a kitchen that I will be installing ceramic floor tile in. It has 2 layers of flooring on it now. Top layer is linoleum and I know it has to come up. But under it is some old 12x12" tile. Maybe peel and stick, maybe glued down I'm not sure. This house was built in the late 50's, and it might be the original flooring. But the 12x12" seems hard as a rock and solid.

My question is if I can go over the original 12x12" layer with the new ceramic tile. Was planning on using Flexbond thinset.



thanks in advance for all replies.
cheers

[Splinter]

Can you? Sure... Should you? Nuh-uh.. nope. no way...

[Kman]

Definitely not. The main problem is that you don't even really know what you have there.

[roughcedar]

Splinter, Kman, thanks for replying and thanks for your advice.

The main problem is that you don't even really know what you have there.

So there are some situations where it's "kosher" to do it? Did you mean not knowing for sure about the floor or subfloor? Because I know it's a concrete slab down there underneath. Or if I mistook your meaning altogether please forgive. Maybe I can post some pics once I get the 1st layer removed.

But I definitely don't want to do any substandard work.


cheers

[Premier Designs]

If you still have questions reread post #2 ... ; )

[Davy]

Yep, it's best to remove it all down to the concrete. Then, you may have to clean the adhesive off the slab but lets see when you get down to it.

[Kman]

Richard, "substantial" is a relative term. It depends on how much you're willing to do, and we don't know what will be involved until you take that vinyl up.

The vinyl might come up fairly easily, or it might be very difficult You may have a lot of adhesive to remove, or very little. But if you go over the vinyl as it is, and you have problems, the only solution is to tear it all up and start over.

So it's a big gamble to take those shortcuts. Are you willing to risk all the time, money, and effort it takes to do it the easy way, only to have it be for nothing, or are you willing to put in the time and effort to know that it's done correctly?

[roughcedar]

Yeah I was just hoping to convince myself but it's better to be safe than sorry. Just that I have a feeling the bottom layer is gonna come up in itsy-bitsy pieces.

There's 3 things that I hate the most in remodeling. Taking up floor/removing wallpaper/tearing out a very old roof - that comes off very little pieces. Operative term in all 3 is "very little pieces". lol



P.D., Davy, Kman, thanks a lot for the advice.
cheers

[Houston Remodeler]

Richard,

You can remove all that tile with a cell phone. Round these parts there are crews who perform demolition for hire and take away the waste.

Mine is on speed dial: Roxanne Debris.

[Arizona Floors]

What Paul said. 👍👍👍