Thinset Over Vinyl Tile

Trowel on thin set adhesive.

Thinset over vinyl tile.

Don t work on a new piece until the first piece is completely finished. The sheet vinyl must be single layer only and well attached. Their glue will stick to vinyl. The cementlike consistency of thinset is important with heavy tiles such as ceramic and stone but with vinyl which is.

Thinset is usually composed of fine sand cement and a chemical agent that retains water. To do this scoop a small amount of thin set adhesive onto the floor then drag the edge of the trowel over it to cover the floor. To tile over sheet vinyl the following is generally recommended by most mortar manufacturers. Most manufacturers of tile cement thinset have developed a specialty thinset for setting tile that bonds well to sheet vinyl.

However as with all tile installations the entire subfloor below the tile is important not only the layer to which the tile is bonded. The sheet vinyl must be clean and free of wax or other bond breakers. This water retaining agent is typically an alkyl derivative of cellulose. Exposed areas between ridges of adhesive should expose the vinyl flooring.

Screw each piece down around its perimeter with screws about 6 inches apart and place mesh tape over the joints. Spread the thinset using a notched trowel in one direction and set the backer board. Thinset is a type of adhesive mortar often used to affix stone or tile to various surfaces especially concrete or cement flooring. While thinset mortar could hold vinyl tile in place it is not necessary.

Apply a layer of thin set tile adhesive to the vinyl using a notched trowel.