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Tiling

How to tile over a bitumen floor with vinyl tiles still on

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.49 PM

I’m looking to tile my hallway with porcelain tiles. The floor is currently covered in old vinyl tiles on a bitumen floor (1950’s BISF house). I would rather not have to take up this floor (not 100% sure if it has asbestos or not, although the rest of the house has been tested negative) and it has been suggested that I could lay a uncoupling mat straight on top and tile over this way. I’d like to hear opinions if this is a viable option? Am I correct in thinking that I wouldn’t be able to pour self levelling compound on top of the current vinyl tiles? I can see self levelling compound has been used in my kitchen by previous owners with the same bitumen floor and it seems to be ok even after 10+ years! DIY enthusiast who is trying to learn as much as possible, any advice welcome!

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5 Answers

Anonymous user

No problem use blue grit first I have done many over the years no problem just make sure the sub floor is sound
Answered17 November 2022
0

JKB Property Services

Rating: 5 out of 5
Milton Keynes
Remove original floor before anything. To risky to lay all your tiles on top. If original floor adhesive fails it will be an expensive risk
Answered17 November 2022
0

Spectrum Interiors

Rating: 5 out of 5
Kettering
Remove the vinyl tiles first, old vinyl tiles would normally have had asbestos added as a bonding fibre but is considered a low risk, but ensure you use a mask and dispose appropriately. The use the blue grit bonding agent then self levelling compound.
Answered22 November 2022
0

SDB Building and Maintenance Tiling Specialist

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weston Super Mare
You can leave existing vinyl tiles unless loose, then remove the loose ones. Then like the other tiler mentioned paint/roller blue grit primer the existing floor, once painted which takes approx 45 mins to dry you can then tile over the top
Answered23 November 2022
0

Tony Monaghan

No reviews yet

Bicester
Never leave existing tiles down hire a bully stripper take and dispose, then prime.and latex .
Answered30 December 2022
0