Tried glue down vinyl plank over old sheet vinyl vs rip it all out first. Huge mistake.

Did a bathroom last month in Nashville. Old sheet vinyl was stuck on there good. Guy at the supply house said just put the glue down LVP right over it, save the labor. I was skeptical but went with it. 3 weeks later the customer called me saying planks are popping up along the seams. Went back and the old vinyl was delaminating underneath, pulling the new floor with it. The second bath I did I ripped everything down to the subfloor, patched it right, used a good primer. That one's solid. Has anyone else had bad luck with this shortcut or did I just mess up something else?

2 comments

2 Comments

juliaa655d ago

Used to think you could get away with it if the old sheet vinyl was well bonded. This post changed my mind. Had a kitchen job last year where I did that same shortcut, old vinyl looked perfect. Six months later the new glue down was buckling in a few spots. The customer was cool about it but I felt like an idiot. Never again, subfloor prep every time now.

michael_williams5d ago

Drove me crazy when I learned that lesson too. Had a bathroom floor I did in a rental property. Old vinyl was flat and tight as a drum. Laid new LVP right over it. Eight months later the seams started lifting. Had to tear it all out and start fresh. Learned real quick that good looking old vinyl still traps moisture underneath.