Installing vinyl over ceramics

Q: Can I apply vinyl or linoleum over 1970s-style, terra cotta ceramic tiles in our kitchen? If these tiles are anything like the ones we took out of our bathroom (installed over a half-inch-thick foundation bed of concrete embedded with wire mesh), I’d like to avoid the trouble of removing them.

A: Yes, it is possible to apply vinyl over ceramic tiles, but only if you prepare the surface properly first. I'd start by installing 1/4" or 1/2"-thick plywood over the ceramics. You'll need to find the location of floor joists, then drive screws down through the new ply, through predrilled holes in the tiles and its masonry base, then at least 1 1/4" into the underlying floor joists. Drive these screws every 8" along all joists. This creates a flat, clean surface that supports tiles (even self-sticking ones) quite nicely. Also, if the old ceramics are good and flat, you can install some types of laminate flooring directly over a suitable underlay.