I'm thinking about installing ceramic tile flooring as I am in the process
of updating my finished basement. Presently there is an
old vinyl (or possibly asbestos) tile floor. Is is OK to put ceramic
tile on top of the existing tiles, or should I remove all tiles before
setting new tiles?

Thanks.

John

John,

It is better to remove the old tile as it might loosen up from moisture
of the new floor anyway. If is is asbestos, I would get an asbestos
abatement company to do the removal, don;t fool with your health down
the road.

"Redlocks" wrote in message
link.net...
I'm thinking about installing ceramic tile flooring as I am in the process
of updating my finished basement. Presently there is an
old vinyl (or possibly asbestos) tile floor. Is is OK to put ceramic
tile on top of the existing tiles, or should I remove all tiles before
setting new tiles?

Thanks.

John
I retiled my kitchen. It was a raised floor ( not a slab) tiled over the
original vinyl. There was about 250 Sq. Ft. I got only 2 12by12 full tiles
up, that's how well it stuck. The floor was about 1o years old not one
cracked tile. So I would say tile would stick to your vinyl. I was told as
long as the floor is in good shape you can tile over it. Also on mine I
destroyed the vinyl removing tile so it had to come out.

If it is asbestos, in many cases it's best to leave it alone as long as
it isn't damaged. I agree with getting an abatement company to quote
you. You might be surprised at how inexpensive it may be. I recently
had 3 heating ducts removed along with their asbestos blankets and it
was around $500 total, including the air sampling and testing
afterward. The abatement contractors may have some way of
encapsulating the tiles (spray?) so that you can safely put a floor
over the top of it, though you may need to put in some cement board or
something similar first and that would decrease your head room.