No levelling compound, vinyl flooring on tiles
Would you like to lay click vinyl on tiles without levelling compound? This is no longer a problem. Manufacturers of high-quality vinyl flooring are constantly developing their products. They also offer vinyl design flooring in their range that is particularly suitable for laminating old coverings such as old tiled floors.
In this article, we explain which requirements the tiled floor and click vinyl must fulfil and which products are suitable!
Laying click vinyl flooring on tiles without levelling compound - the contemporary solution
In rented flats, especially in older buildings, tenants often face a problem. The kitchen, bathroom, and hallway are adorned with old-fashioned tiles in questionable colours. The landlord or landlady doesn't always like the idea of ripping out the tiles, quite apart from the labour involved.
Click vinyl flooring can be laid over tiles, particularly in rented flats where the floor covering needs to be removed after moving out. A swift yet effective solution is desired. This type of flooring is installed as a floating floor. This means that it is not firmly bonded to the subfloor. Furthermore, it can thus be easily removed, which is ideal for returning the flat to its original condition.
However, restoring the old tiled floor to its original form is only possible if you dispense with extensive substrate preparation. However, depending on the product and the joint depth and width of the old flooring, this will affect both the appearance and the durability of the click vinyl.
Removing old tiles is tedious, loud and dirty and sometimes not appreciated by the landlord and landlady.
Disadvantages of the installation
To prevent the tile joints from pushing through and causing damage to the click vinyl, the tiled floor usually needs to be levelled when choosing conventional vinyl flooring. This means that the levelling compound is spread smoothly over the tiled floor. This is done so to remove any unevenness and create a homogeneous, even surface. A stable, dry, clean and even subfloor is normally a prerequisite for the installation of any vinyl floor.
Click vinyl flooring can be laid over tiles. This is particularly true in rented flats where the floor covering needs to be removed after moving out. A swift yet effective solution is desired. This type of flooring is installed as a floating floor. This signifies that it is not firmly bonded to the subfloor. Thus, it can be easily removed, which is ideal for returning the flat to its original condition.
So, if you want to lay click vinyl on tiles without levelling compound, you shouldn't choose just any vinyl floor. Today, manufacturers offer solutions that are specially designed for old laminate flooring and simple renovations thanks to stabilised product structures. It is always best to take a look at the manufacturer's recommendations to be safe when making your choice.
Laying click vinyl flooring on tiles without levelling compound - these vinyl floors are suitable!
If you want to save yourself the trouble, leave the tiled floor as undisturbed as possible. Then, ultimately lay click vinyl on tiles without levelling compound. To note that vinyl flooring with a stabilised product structure is a good choice today. The tiled floor should always be levelled when laying solid vinyl with a click system. We can inspect that this measure can often be omitted with HDF or rigid vinyl.
These two vinyl floors are often not only cheaper than solid vinyl but also have an additional backing layer on the inside. This is to avoid the so-called "telegraph effect". This means that the tile joints are not filled but bridged. However, you should note that this is only possible up to a certain joint width and depth. As a rule, manufacturers specify in the installation instructions. One must see the maximum width and depth of the joints to avoid risking damage to the click vinyl.
The click vinyl Tarkett iD Essential 30 "Smoked Oak Dark Grey" can be laid on tiles with a joint width of up to 5 mm and a depth of up to 2 mm without levelling.
HDF vinyl flooring - additional stability thanks to high-density fibreboard
HDF vinyl has a carrier layer made of highly compressed wood fibres and can therefore often bridge slight unevenness. However, HDF vinyl is not suitable for damp rooms because the interior of the board can swell in contact with moisture. Many inexpensive vinyl floors with a click system are HDF vinyl. If you would like to lay this click vinyl on tiles without levelling compound, you will also benefit from the increased dimensional stability and robustness.
Rigid click vinyl flooring: the all-rounder among vinyl floors
Rigid vinyl offers a particular advantage. If you want to lay click vinyl on tiles without levelling compound, rigid click vinyl is an ideal choice. Unlike HDF vinyl, rigid vinyl does not use wood fibre for stabilisation, but mineral flour or stone powder. This is why rigid vinyl flooring is also known as SPC vinyl (stone powder composite).
As a rule, you can use rigid vinyl not only to cover old tiled floors but also to furnish your bathroom. Another advantage is its high dimensional stability. In contrast to conventional vinyl floor coverings, rigid vinyl is less susceptible to temperature fluctuations and can therefore often be laid in areas with floor-to-ceiling glazing. This product is therefore suitable as a vinyl floor in bathrooms, kitchens, children's rooms and much more.
The rigid click vinyl Gerflor Senso Clic Premium "1213 Kariba blond" has integrated footfall sound insulation and is explicitly suitable for laying over old ceramic tiles with a joint width of up to 6 mm.
Click vinyl on tiles without levelling compound - when is impact sound insulation necessary?
When installing vinyl flooring with a click system, it is always recommended to use impact sound insulation. Floating installation creates a hollow body between the subfloor and the floor covering, which transmits sound to the floors below. If you want to lay click vinyl on tiles without using a levelling compound, the appropriate impact sound insulation can effectively level the surface. It is advisable to inquire in advance with the manufacturer of the impact sound insulation about its levelling effect.
If you would like to save yourself the additional installation of insulation, we recommend buying click vinyl with integrated impact sound insulation. Click vinyl with cork insulation is also becoming increasingly popular. The cork flooring not only has a sound-absorbing effect but is also thermally insulating and ergonomic. If you want to lay click vinyl on tiles without levelling compound, rigid vinyl with integrated impact sound insulation is always a good choice, as it combines insulation, suitability for damp rooms, dimensional stability and levelling properties in one product.
A vinyl floor with cork insulation has a sound-absorbing, heat-insulating, comfortable and often balancing effect.
By the way: PVC flooring can also be laid over tiles
Vinyl flooring by the metre is often even cheaper to buy and particularly convenient. Today, PVC flooring is also available with a special backing for loose laying up to a room size of 20 to 30 m² and laying on slightly uneven subfloors. The attractive PVC flooring from Gerflor vinyl flooring, for example, has a textile backing that enables it to be laid directly on ceramic tiles. If you want to lay PVC flooring on tiles, you should always choose a product with a textile backing and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
The PVC flooring Project Floors Herringbone/55 "PW 1265/HB" allows for loose laying in rooms up to 20 m² and features a textile backing that can conceal minor unevenness.