Can You Install Vinyl Over Laminate

How to lay vinyl plank over existing flooring.

Can you install vinyl over laminate.

A common question that gets asked on home forums and by private retail is can i lay vinyl over laminate flooring. Laminates seams can tend to separate or even crack if not supported well. Vinyl flooring cannot effectively bridge over or smooth out substrate imperfections in the way that thicker inflexible floor coverings can. One of the evolutions of the do it yourself industry has been the creation of easy to use and easy to install products such as vinyl plank flooring.

Solid hardwood or engineered wood for example can bridge gaps holes and seams as well as smooth over surface embossing. If you decide to install the planks over the laminate and end up having issues because of the laminates imperfections you not only wasted cash on the luxury vinyl but doubled your workload because you have to rip up the luxury vinyl planks and the laminate planks. Vinyl plank flooring is flexible in nature and it is recommended that vinyl flooring should only go over slid well adhered substrate that is smooth. Remember that laminate flooring like swiss krono usa s laminate wood flooring is a floating floor it will expand and contract as temperature and other conditions change.

Paper backed vinyl offers a good base to install over however flexible cushiony vinyl usually glued around the perimeter should be removed because these allow too much seam movement. This means that the choice of subfloor i e what you install laminate over needs to provide the right support. It is important to have the floor as flat and well prepared as possible to allow the laminate to be smooth and seamless when installed. If you decide to install laminate flooring over vinyl flooring remember to first clear the vinyl of any debris and obstacles.

I have been asked this question quite a few times by homeowners looking for an easy fix or renovation of their flooring.