Ceramic tile has grout joints that are uneven so if you were to install the vinyl over top you would see the grout joints underneath the vinyl.
How to lay lino over ceramic tiles.
However if you can t remove the old surface or otherwise decide to install over it lay a backer board with thin set over the old surface to serve as your new subfloor material.
How old is the linoleum.
Provided the existing tile is not lumpy or broken and is cleaned this is a fairly simple process.
This isn t possible with every flooring material but it s often possible to install ceramic porcelain or stone tile over resilient flooring including standard sheet vinyl vinyl tile or linoleum.
Next if the tile s joints are deep you ll want regrout them to bring them flush with the tile so that the lines won t telegraph show through the vinyl floor.
Once the tile is leveled off your next step is to remove the toilet so that the floor can be laid under it not cut around it.
Sheet linoleum floors and tiles that were made before 1990 often contain asbestos which is a known cancer causing agent.
This will also increase the height of the finished floor by as much as 1.
Before you start laying tiles over an old linoleum floor there are a few things that you need to know.
Give the compound time to dry before moving on to the installation process.
Most hard tiles such as stone ceramic and porcelain will need a new underlayment put down over the old linoleum first.
Use a self leveling compound to fill in the grout joints.
You should be able to lay tile or marble over the linoleum.
When you re ready to install tile over linoleum a thin layer of mortar should be spread over the floor s surface with a flat edged trowel.
As with laying tile over vinyl as long as the subfloor and joists provide a firm foundation the linoleum is well glued down in good shape and clean.
You will need to use an adhesive of some kind to attach the linoleum tiles and cut them to size once dry fit.
After the thin layer has dried which should take about 30 minutes use a notched trowel to add a second layer over the first layer taking care to create even ridges over the surface.
Installing ceramic tile over vinyl or linoleum surfaces can be more complicated than expected and probably should be avoided whenever possible.
Installing over existing vinyl.