AboutPerry Vellenga Expertise Ceramic Tile/Marble. I can answer questions about floor preparation, tile selection, layout questions, performance of products, expectations of finish, compatabilities, questions about grout and epoxies, evaluating an installer, asking the right questions to check competence...more? 30 years this August 09'/ many years in commercial application from exterior finishes to Mall store fronts/ interior finishes like floor packages in stores inside Malls examples: The Limited, Lerner/NY, Lane Bryants, Bombay Co., ect...
Experience I worked in an exclusive field of floorcovering called "Tenant Development" which is by invitational bid only, by way of a National bid list. These are large floor packages usually over 3500 sq. ft. of 18" x 18" Marble and Granite and many other types of Marble and sizes. They are specialty stores where the floor package can cost upwards of $50,000 for one store. I have also done "Structure" stores and J. Riggins stores, Express and Body Shop stores where wood flooring is used. Presently work for a National Flooring Company in the Residential new construction arena that covers most interior design elements..Granite Slab tops/wood flooring both job finished and prefinished ect..
Question We have existing 3/4" subfloor over TJI's, with 1/4" luan and vinyl flooring. We read that luan is NOT a good substrate for tile, and that we should install 1/4" cement board material on top of the luan. Is this coreect?
What about the glue residue that is left when we take up the vinyl? Does that have to be removed - scraped etc., prior to installing the cement board?
What product is best as a thinset here?
Can we install the cement board right on top of the vinyl floor? Or will that squeek?
Should we remove everything down to the plywood sub-floor for the best result?
Our kitchen is large - 23 x 18 - and we don't want tile crack problems.
Thanks, Ed
Answer Thank you for your question Ed,
I have commented many time over the years in this forum about tile over vinyl scenario's. Seldom does anyone truely desire to struggle with removing not only the layer of vinyl but the underlayment that it rests upon....in your case luan. It is quite true that luan is not an acceptable sub-strate and neither is vinyl. As always I stand by the recommendation of removing the vinyl and it's underlayment. If you install another layer of material overtop of the vinyl you will still have to allow for the setting bed material and then the tile layer and depending on what material you use things can get rather elevated which can cause problems under fridge's, dishwashers, and mostly doorways into other rooms. It is for this reason alone you should remove the offending vinyl and luan and start anew. Things will work out far better as you build up your floor the proper way. You can use the 1/4" cement board still but a 1/2" layer would make things more stable and reach the minimum thickness layer of 1 1/4" for a sub-strate upon which to install the tile. I stopped using "standard" thinset in leu of a Multipurpose thinset and I always use the white and not the grey....the white makes things, at least appear to be cleaner and slightly more sticky for a better bond. Don't be tempted Ed to install anything over the vinyl as it is not a stable material and can degrade over time beneath your new floor which may cause voids or "soft" areas and transfer cracks to the new layer of material. You see vinyl is a lazy man's solution to flooring as it is easy to install but a royal pain in the butt to remove. You will be happy you did Ed when everything is done. I hope this helps you with your project, feel free to return anytime....
