Can luxury vinyl tile be installed over current tile in a bathroom without creating uneven transitions at doorways?
Asked by Vernon Mills 
6 months ago
Last Updated: May 21, 2024
We’re thinking about installing luxury vinyl tile on top of the tile in our bathroom. Most of the information I’ve come across says it should be okay. But I’m a bit concerned about the areas near the doors where it meets the flooring in the other rooms. Won’t the bathroom floor end up higher there? And will the flooring not be level in those spots?
Take a couple of hours and remove the old tile, you’ll be happy you did. Make sure to keep your floors even. And I agree with the other comment. Vinyl is not luxurious at all. Porcelain tile is a much better upgrade compared to vinyl. I have three dogs, so every room in my house has LVP or sheet vinyl. However, as a professional floor installer, the only flooring I would consider luxurious is high-quality tile or hardwood.
If you use the term luxury in your product, chances are it’s not really luxury. Honestly, it’s just a trend that won’t last long! 😅
That’s literally the name of it 🙄
That’s exactly what I mean 🙃
It’s actually vinyl plank flooring, the term luxury is just a marketing ploy
Definitely! I used to sell it all the time…I can’t understand why it became popular 🙄
Spend a couple of hours removing the old tile, you won’t regret it. It’s important to keep your floors level. And I agree with the other commenter, vinyl is not luxurious. Porcelain tile is a significant upgrade compared to vinyl. Personally, I have LVP or sheet vinyl in every room because of my three dogs. But, as someone who works with floors, I believe that true luxury comes from high-quality tile or hardwood.
I have tried both approaches, but I find it better to remove the old flooring first. This allows you to address any issues.
If the floors are not even, you can use a threshold to compensate.
Exactly, the height will increase so transitions or reducers that match both adjacent floors in height and color will be necessary.
It’s better to avoid using Luxury and Vinyl in the same sentence.
We installed it over the bathroom tile and the hallway had carpet. The transition is very subtle and hardly noticeable. Feel free to reach out to me, I can share a picture with you when I’m back home 🙂. I had my doubts too but it turned out amazing.
You’ll also have to consider the toilet since it will need to be raised, requiring a raised ring. Additionally, door jams will need to be trimmed to adjust for the height difference.
You’ll need a transition strip for this part.
Our countertop is nearly 2 inches taller than the previous one. It’s driving me crazy! One day, I’m going to rip it out to see what’s underneath. I heard the trim was custom-made and probably cost a fortune. In my dreams, there’s a beautiful original floor hidden beneath the plywood under the tiles. We’ve discovered some incredible things behind the 1970s wall paneling and the textured ceilings, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
That’s a common technique. PERHAPS someone used a jack plane to shave down the higher side for a few minutes.
It’s good to hear that because the contractors I hired were always warning me to be cautious! I’m tempted to remove the tile and investigate what’s underneath, but I’ve been hesitant.
Hey Cheryl, you should be able to gently pry it up. It might be held in place by stops and your door jamb, or it could be glued down to the subfloor, or secured with nails. I think there are nails in the picture. If there are nails, it’s best to pry it up and then pull the nails through the back to remove them, instead of risking damaging the good side.
Do you want to pry up the board and then take out the nails since it has some in there?
Hey Cheryl, I recommend using finish nails for this. Instead of struggling to remove them and potentially damaging the finish, try prying them up and either pulling them out from the back or cutting them off flush.
Yep, you should use a reducer molding where the floors meet.
You might notice that the flooring won’t be completely even, so it’s best to go with a higher quality LVP to avoid any issues with splitting.
What type of flooring do you have now? Vinyl or ceramic? Personally, I’m not a big fan of LVP…some may look good but I can’t stand the cheap sound it makes when you walk on it…sounds so artificial.
No worries. If there’s a slight difference in height, I simply use a transition strip. If that doesn’t work, you might have to remove the tile and backer board before installing the LVP.
We went with LVP flooring, so don’t mind the negative comments. Some brands, like Karndean, offer a lifetime warranty but only if the installation is done correctly. Keep this in mind when laying it down.
Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it. What type of tile is currently on the floor? Ceramic, stone, linoleum, or a different vinyl? This seems like a quick fix that may not last long. It’s best to do the job properly by removing the old flooring, preparing the subfloor, and installing a high-quality finished floor. When it comes to luxury vinyl plank, check the thickness, wear layer, color depth, and whether it has a release pad. Keep in mind, vinyl plank flooring is not a lifetime solution. Maybe reconsider your plan as you might be overlooking some important factors.