Concrete often has scratches holes marks and drips that create a very uneven surface that cannot be used to lay tile while wood boards can warp over time creating hills and valleys instead of the straight smooth needed for proper tile insulation.
Can you use self leveling concrete over vinyl tile.
Answered 20th jul 2015.
Make sure the concrete is dry and avoid self leveling patches.
For the purpose of installing vinyl plank flooring the concrete does not have to be perfectly level only smooth.
Yes you can and it s probably a good idea.
Fill the low points with a self leveling compound for the quickest dust free work around.
Make sure the substrate you are pouring over is secure and the tiles are adhered.
Do not use self leveling compound over glazed ceramic tiles or over floors where a majority of the installed tiles have cracked.
If the concrete holds moisture however the tiles may.
Ordinary concrete isn t necessarily the right product for skim coating over a vinyl tile floor but there are various self leveling specialty concrete formulas that can be mixed on demand and applied over the tiles on the floor.
This can be used for both concrete or wood applications.
Look for products that can be applied over cutback adhesive or vct vinyl composition tile.
It is not recommended that you but self leveling screeds over vinyl tiles can cause yourself a bigger head ace in the long run and i know it can be a night mare of a job but always better to take tiles up and start from scratch.
Depending on the condition of the floor and the thickness of the plank it may not be necessary to use a concrete toppling.
If there are large expansion joints or cracks in your concrete you can fill and smooth them using premixed leveling products from home improvement stores.
If you can avoid it you should probably not use a leveling compound on a vinyl floor.