Installing ceramic tile over many materials will work well. But will ceramic tile work on linoleum? That’s a good question and the answer is … it depends!

Probably the most important step in a successful tile installation project is preparing the backing, the surface on which the tile will be installed. Save time and money by properly preparing the support so that it is solid and of the right material. Supports must be flat, solid, smooth and clean. Install tile on a resilient surface and you will have a fault. Any movement will lead to cracking of the grout and maybe even cracked tiles.

You can install tile on many surfaces, including linoleum or vinyl. Tiles are also often installed over old tile, plywood, brick, wall board, and cement board. As long as the surface is flat, solid, smooth and clean, you can use it as a backing. Now the surface may require proper preparation and the proper adhesive. Your tile supplier can help you with these decisions.

Ceramic tile on vinyl works if the backing is smooth, clean, and firmly in place. Any movement of the floor will likely crack the grout. Certain types of vinyl flooring are padded to flex. These floors will not work due to movement. A padded floor should be covered with plywood or cement board. You can also remove the flooring and remove that layer.

Be careful when removing old elastic floors. Until 1986, many floors contained asbestos, which is a health hazard if fibers are released into the air. The only way to know if this floor contains asbestos is by testing it. The best way is to simply assume that older floors contain asbestos. Don’t sand the floor. Usually the best method is to lay tiles on the floor. If the floor is loose, just cover it with exterior plywood.

Installing ceramic tile on linoleum will work very well with proper preparation and adhesives. Once you have the correct foundation, the installation is like any other foundation. This is often the best way to cover older, sturdy floors.