[kiddo19]

I am helping my father in law install new porcelain tile in his kitchen. Existing floor in the kitchen is vinyl sheet over a concrete slab that is roughly 20 years old. The vinyl is generally glued down pretty tight, but there are sections that you can feel have come up a bit.

I gave my father in law the correct advice that the floor should be pulled up, the concrete substrate should be properly prepared and leveled and then we could lay the tile. But he refuses to pull up the vinyl. He refuses. So we are now going down the wrong path.

He didn't even want to level the floor but I finally won that argument. The floor definitely requires some leveling. My question is whether there is a self leveling compound that is best suited for application over vinyl?

Is there anything else I need to do to the existing floor to prepare it for the tile installation?

 

[Floorwizard]

My question is whether there is a self leveling compound that is best suited for application over vinyl?

Just use any....doesn't matter much anyway

Is there anything else I need to do to the existing floor to prepare it for the tile installation?

Yes, but your not doing it anyway...so lay away!

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Prior owner did the same thing in our hallway
Due to the vinyl adhesion = ZERO = floating floor
Grout started to crack & tiles were loose
I ripped it all up & did it the correct way

Advise him it will be more $$ to install tile twice :yes:

 

[Floorwizard]

Advise him it will be more $$ to install tile twice

True....if you want to spend the most money and time...keep the Vinyl in place.
Send me $100 bucks too.....I could use it-

 

[kiddo19]

You are preaching to the choir. Would you say that the tile install failure is an inevitability, or just a little more likely?

 

[OutToPasture]

It's, pretty much, a guarenteed outcome. But, It's also guarenteed that you're not going to win many arguments with the father-in-law. So... "Just smile and wave boys, just smile and wave." Then, when (notice I didn't say, if) you can say, "WOW, you really seemed like you knew what you were talking about, "DAD"."
Now you have something to look forward to.... the day you get to say, "I told you so."
Have fun...:thumbsup:

 

[kiddo19]

Yea, that's just whats killing me...I explained that the tile is not going to last very long if we don't do it right and he just kinda shrugged and said well then we'll just re-do it then....WTF!!!??? I don't want to do all this work for nothing!

The odd thing is that he is really handy when it comes to cars, plumbing and electric...he's about 1000x more handy than I am. And he is very meticulous in how he cares for his tools and other belongings....but on this one issue, he is trying to be so amateurish about it...I just don't get it. :huh:

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Show him this thread
Lucky if the tile & grout lasts a few months before it cracks
Actually I'd be surprised if it doesn't start cracking within a week

 

[kiddo19]

I'll keep you all posted as to what happens.

 

[Floorwizard]

The odd thing is that he is really handy when it comes to cars, plumbing and electric...he's about 1000x more handy than I am. And he is very meticulous in how he cares for his tools and other belongings....but on this one issue, he is trying to be so amateurish about it...I just don't get it.

Be blunt...

"gee dad, it seems you think differently on so many other important issues...why the change on this?"

 

[kiddo19]

Be blunt...

"gee dad, it seems you think differently on so many other important issues...why the change on this?"

I asked him and he said that he's worried about how laborious it will be to clean off the adhesive. I even offered to do all of it but he's being stubborn about it. He just wants to roll the dice.

 

[Tommy2]

Eh..I wouldnt help with it. Tell him he knows best on most things..but this is just going to turn out wrong and you dont want to be responsible in any way.