I screwed up the floor underlayment before installing vinyl tile. I wasn't able to smooth it before it dried.

Question

My question is: will I have to sand it down? There are several small ridges about 1/4 inch high. What will happen if I just lay the tile over it?

The original flooring was linoleum that had a faux tile look. It wasn't perfectly smooth so I thought I should apply the underlayment. I didn't realize how fast it dried.

Answer 1

if by underlayment you mean some kind of self levelor, i think thats what your talking about. it also depends on what kind of vinyl your using. if its some cheap real thin one then yes that would effect it. if you bought a thicker tile (you would be able to tell if it was significantly thicker) you might be alright as long as the floor isnt that not-level. if the tile doesnt work try and it comes up or wont lay good get yourself some vinyl tile adhesive thats what its called not sheet vinyl adhesive, vinyl tile adhesive. use that on the tiles that wont stay. if that wont stay try leveling your floor completely again. it can be done twice, try a self levelor lay it up to an inch thick and it levels itself out. $30 a bag and thats what i would recommind doing.

Answer 2

Ok 2 things: #1. If the new floor is shinny, the sag is going to be accentuated. All things that are shinny shows flaws. #2. You state the cabinets are installed.Because the cabinets are installed on the outside walls and the sag is in the middle. You may get away with just taking a little off the base cabinets fronts and sides

Answer 3

Being vinyl certainly if it doesn't crack it will eventually conform to the shapes of any rise or void beneath it.

I'm curious about what the substrate might be that even caused you to do underlayment for a vinyl tile?

Answer 4

floors always only as good as the subfloor; you gotta level it

Answer 5

even though its vinyl it will crack!