For a durable tile floor, the layers beneath it must be flat and stable.
Before laying a new tile floor, it's best to remove any linoleum, whenever possible. If left in place, gaps can occur between the old and new flooring, resulting in movement and cracking of the tile assembly. In older homes, linoleum flooring may contain asbestos, which is unsafe for removal by homeowners. If asbestos is present, you can either have the flooring removed by a professional, an expensive proposition, or lay the tiles on top. The condition of your linoleum and the type of substrate that it's attached to will best determine prepare and lay the tiles. For the most successful tile installation, any linoleum left in place must be flat and secured firmly to the subfloor.
Inspect the Floor
To prevent movement, which can cause floor tiles to crack, it's important for the layers underneath to be stable. Inspect the old floor for any areas that move underfoot, and drive screws through all layers of flooring and into the joists to secure them firmly in place. If the linoleum has come loose from the floor in small areas, leave it in place by securing those areas. Cut the loose spots away with a utility knife, and apply a layer of thinset to fill in the resulting bare spots, leveling them with the surrounding linoleum. If the flooring is loose in large areas, remove it or cover it with an underlayment.
Flooring on Underlayment
If your linoleum flooring is attached to a wood subfloor or underlayment material, it's best to install an underlayment material over top. This removes any voids that can occur between the linoleum and tile. Apply a bed of thinset mortar over the subfloor, and embed the underlayment. Stagger the joints as you lay the sheets in place, leaving 1/8-inch gaps between them to allow for normal expansion. Cover the seams with joint tape and add a layer of mortar on top of them as a finish coat before laying your tiles.
Flooring on Concrete
For linoleum flooring attached directly and firmly to concrete, install the tile right on top after cleaning the surface thoroughly to remove all dirt and grease. If the linoleum is loose, remove it -- along with any remaining adhesive -- before applying the new floor. By scoring the surface layer of the linoleum every 2 feet with a utility knife, you can easily peel it away from the backing in manageable strips. The remaining backing can be removed by applying warm water and allowing it to soak, before scraping it away with a rigid floor scraper.
Underlayments
Several types of underlayment products exist to use beneath tile flooring. For areas where water is frequently present, such as bathrooms and kitchens, opt for a concrete, fiber cement or water-resistant gypsum product. These underlayments will not be damaged by water. To fit the underlayment sheets over the subfloor, make cuts by scoring the surface, using a carbide-blade cutter, and apply pressure along the cut line to snap the sections apart. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for securing the underlayment in place to create a flat surface for applying your tile flooring.
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