Hey Sunny! Help!

[Gryphon]

Sunny...I recall that your husband used some product on your Florida house to lay tile directly over the old flooring (vinyl, was it?) Do you have any info on what he used? Any tips he could offer?

[Sunny]

Hey Gryphon! Just saw this...not sure how urgent of an issue this is...but if it can wait until this evening, I will certainly ask him. Yes, it was a compound that he applied directly to the vinyl flooring -- some type of "thinset" made especially for that.

Only difference, of course, is that we had a block house, so the flooring underneath the vinyl was concrete. Not sure what type of flooring you're dealing with or if that would even matter?

It came in a paper sack, similar to sacrete/concrete & he mixed with water in this bucket:

[followsthewolf]

Wouldn't it also depend on how tight the original tile was bonded to to floor?

[Gryphon]

Yes, no rush...its an upcoming project.
The bathroom Im redoing is over a woodfloor, but the original sheet vinyl is seriously bonded to the subfloor...so it will make an easier job for me if I can do the thinset route.
Thanks!

[Sunny]

Hey Gryphon, I didn't get a chance to ask husband about this last night -- but, will tonight. In doing a quick search, I did find this article -- it addresses the 'subflooring' issues, as well as, mentions a 'latex modified thinset mortar' for installation over vinyl.

For your info: Installing Tile Over Vinyl, Wood, & Concrete.

[Gryphon]

thank you so much! Sounds like I better bite the bullet and pull up the vinyl...if it were on a slab and glued down, I wouldnt worry about it, but since Im on a wood floor, better make the extra step.
Thanks for the info Sunny!

[Sunny]

I just re-read the info provided earlier & to me, it's a little misleading...

Unfortunately, we didn't stay in the FL house very long after husband did the kitchen floor -- so, I can't even provide testimony to the longevity.

I don't quite understand the difference between applying over the woodflooring vs. creating a subfloor out of luann/plywood?

[Gryphon]

me either! whats under my vinyl is already plywood...

[Sunny]

hmpf! I asked dh about this today & he laughed at me when I told him about mentioning our old house was block -- said it had nothing to do with the floor (which he corrected me...the house was built on a Monoliptic slab)...however, he did mention that the thinset was just an "Acryllic" thinset.

He suggested that in your case, you just lay cement board over the woodfloor before doing the ceramic tile, then use regular thinset.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

[Sunny]

He says I can PM you our mailing address. The consultation fee will be $34.95.

[Gryphon]

Sunny, I just saw this...thank you again for your help! I might start the project next weekend...Ill let you know how it goes...

[Sunny]

Great! Please do.

[Sunny]

Sunny, I just saw this...thank you again for your help! I might start the project next weekend...Ill let you know how it goes...

Hey Gryphon -- have you had a chance to start this project yet?!?

[Gryphon]

I ordered the tile this past weekend...should be here this week *fingers crossed*.
I had a builder at a party I threw last weekend and he suggested putting down 1/4" cement backer...a small added cost that will probably be worth it...

[Sunny]

Is that different than cement board or is that the same thing?