Laying new vinyl flooring over existing vinyl

[daveinspain]

I´m going to lay new vinyl sheet flooring over my existing vinyl in our Rapido. Do I need to glue all of it, just the edges, or can I use double sided tape on just the edges - I´ve looked at several you tube videos, all giving different advice!
I also have a strip of black(!) carpet about a foot wide between the cab and habitation floors which is glued down and impossible to remove, is it possible to glue the vinyl sheet over this? Any help or advice much appreciated!

 

[Figaro]

I think you'd need to use adhesive all over or risk having visible "bubbles"
If you tried extending it over the carpeted area it might look lumpy ? ........... or worse

 

[The Wino]

I would go for the double sided tape as if you change it again later it would be probably easier to get the stuff up that you're putting down. I would put a double width of tape over the carpeted bit and if the floor level allows a plastic edging strip.

 

[Minxy]

If you glue it and need to change it in the future (ie it gets damage) it would be a hell of a job to remove. Double sided tape is best but make sure the area is spotlessly clean first as the slightest bit of dust will mean it won't stick well. If you get a good/thickish vinyl it shouldn't bubble up over the existing vinyl and once laid go round all the edges with some clear silicone/acrylic sealant which will ensure moisture and muck can't creep underneath and it will also ensure it stays put.

As for the carpeted bit, I wouldn't attempt to lay vinyl over it as it won't sit flat and could look messy/lumpy, instead just use a nice rug, ideally one of the dirt grabber type as that way when you move from the cab to the rear you will wipe your shoes and not traipse muck through. If you get one that it slightly wider than the space between the seats you can trim it so you have a snug fit and it won't move.

 

[daveinspain]

Thanks all for your replies, I think I´ll try the tape and see how it goes. Not sure what to do about the carpet!

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[Minxy]

Do you have a photo of the 'offending' carpeted are?

 

[daveinspain]

Just off out to buy the vinyl, will post photo later if I can work out how to do it!

 

[TinaLes]

IMHO, Vinyl over carpet will never work or look right, think about how Pro vinyl fitters do it. They ensure the floors is level & clean, then they apply a rubberised contact adhesive with a spatula especially around the edges to secure it and stop it bubbling up with air or worse moisture.
We dont use fitted carpets either, the ones that cost over £300 supplied with our van are still in their boxes, simply because its too much of a faff to lift them up when we need access to the underfloor lockers.

Carpet runners, however, are much better for us as they are rubber backed, can be rolled up and taken outside for a good shake, or even put in the washing machine on return home.
Oh reckons they feel lovely underfoot also, especially in Winter.
Keep the receipt for the vinyl, you may need it
LES

 

[Brains]

Ensure the surface you are sticking to is mirror clean.
The slightest bit of dirt will eventually show through

 

[Diabalo]

As long as both surfaces are prepared properly then carpet double sided tape sticks like poo to a blanket.

Not sure you could lay it over the carpeted bit, I would have thought it would leave a hump.

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[daveinspain]

IMHO, Vinyl over carpet will never work or look right, think about how Pro vinyl fitters do it. They ensure the floors is level & clean, then they apply a rubberised contact adhesive with a spatula especially around the edges to secure it and stop it bubbling up with air or worse moisture.
We dont use fitted carpets either, the ones that cost over £300 supplied with our van are still in their boxes, simply because its too much of a faff to lift them up when we need access to the underfloor lockers.

Carpet runners, however, are much better for us as they are rubber backed, can be rolled up and taken outside for a good shake, or even put in the washing machine on return home.
Oh reckons they feel lovely underfoot also, especially in Winter.
Keep the receipt for the vinyl, you may need it
LES

Thanks for your reply TinaL, but I don´t want carpet at all - carpets and Spain don´t mix! But I take your point about vinyl over carpet, I don´t think it would work, but I thought it was worth asking the question as we hate the strip of carpet we have but can´t remove it.

 

[TinaLes]

Any reason you cannot remove the existing carpet? its one of the first things to get dirty & worn looking, if it cant be removed even with the aid of a heat gun to help melt any adhesive underneath that would be a pain.
Its now understandable why so many top marques, even RV's fit either ceramic or ceramic effect floor tiles in their vans, but there again they have no payload issues.
We will all try and help you get the best we can resolve to your carpet replacement issue, some pictures may help if you can load them up on here.
We still love our rubber backed carper runners, in wet weather they absorb moisture near the door as we take our boots off,or if on or near any sandy beaches, any sand that finds its way in is not a problem as we lift them shake them out every day. But the vac also comes into its own.
You will get there, so many options.
LES

 

[7735]

I am an ex floor layer, laying one vinyl over another is not recommended the new vinyl will discolour because the colour will leach out from the one underneath. If you do decide to go that route put down a layer of paper felt first and then use an anti-plas double sided tape. Ordinary D/S tape will react with the plasticiser in the vinyl. Whatever you do, don’t try and stick one layer over another.
Spongy

 

[HugoBNB]

Retired flooring contractor speaking. I agree with spongy P31. Do not use adhesive or double-sided tape on top of existing vinyl for the reasons explained. However, there are looked lay vinyl from Altro, Polyflor and Tarkett, to name a few, that can be loose-laid over existing vinyl. There is also an adhesive sheet from both Uzin and Mapei that will adhere any vinyl over an existing vinyl without causing Plasticiser Migration (the vinyl blistering and discolouring.
In all cases the existing floor should be sound and cleaned. Unfortunately, your carpet must come up. Use a product called "Featherfinish" from Ardex to smooth the floor after removal.
If you can find a local flooring contractor you should be able to get all of this easily. If not, a branch of Carpet and Flooring UK may help you as a cash sale.
PM me if you need any further advice.
Good luck.

 

[HugoBNB]

Apologies. I see you are in Spain. Mapei have contacts out there. PM me if you need them.

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[iandsm]

I can't advise on the vinyl but in our Rapido the black carpet btn the cab area and main floor has lost colour due to sunlight I suppose, I haven't got around to doing it yet but I intent to use black fabric dye I think that will work OK.

 

[daveinspain]

Do you have a photo of the 'offending' carpeted are?

Finally managed to upload and resize photo - I hate Win 10!

 

[daveinspain]

I am an ex floor layer, laying one vinyl over another is not recommended the new vinyl will discolour because the colour will leach out from the one underneath. If you do decide to go that route put down a layer of paper felt first and then use an anti-plas double sided tape. Ordinary D/S tape will react with the plasticiser in the vinyl. Whatever you do, don’t try and stick one layer over another.
Spongy

Wow, thanks for your reply - that was unexpected! I´ve looked at various videos showing people (¨professionals¨) doing exactly that, so assumed it was OK. Only tape available is ordinary D/S tape, what is anti-plas? There are no specialist flooring contractors, only tilers and general builders

 

[daveinspain]

Retired flooring contractor speaking. I agree with spongy P31. Do not use adhesive or double-sided tape on top of existing vinyl for the reasons explained. However, there are looked lay vinyl from Altro, Polyflor and Tarkett, to name a few, that can be loose-laid over existing vinyl. There is also an adhesive sheet from both Uzin and Mapei that will adhere any vinyl over an existing vinyl without causing Plasticiser Migration (the vinyl blistering and discolouring.
In all cases the existing floor should be sound and cleaned. Unfortunately, your carpet must come up. Use a product called "Featherfinish" from Ardex to smooth the floor after removal.
If you can find a local flooring contractor you should be able to get all of this easily. If not, a branch of Carpet and Flooring UK may help you as a cash sale.
PM me if you need any further advice.
Good luck.

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, there is no practical way to remove the carpet easily, so it will have to stay put.

 

[Minxy]

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, there is no practical way to remove the carpet easily, so it will have to stay put.

Looking at the photo I can see the issue now, perhaps the best solution is to stick a piece of the vinyl to a thin piece of ply cut to size/shape which can then be sat on top of the carpet and held in place by putting the edge under the metal runner.

You could also extend it to go in the space between the cab seats too (and hide the hatch) - note that you can easily remove the side plastic covers on the seat bases to make it a much easier job to fit and also hide the edges.

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[daveinspain]

Yes, that´s a good idea, Mel. The carpet is glued to ply/blockboard which I can´t remove because I don´t know where the fasteners are, so I could screw a thin piece of ply over the carpet and then glue the vinyl to that, covering the screw heads.

 

[7735]

Wow, thanks for your reply - that was unexpected! I´ve looked at various videos showing people (¨professionals¨) doing exactly that, so assumed it was OK. Only tape available is ordinary D/S tape, what is anti-plas? There are no specialist flooring contractors, only tilers and general builders

Any good independent carpet/vinyl shop should stock anti-plas tape, don’t bother with carpetright or tapicarpets they are a waste of time.

spongy

 

[daveinspain]

Any good independent carpet/vinyl shop should stock anti-plas tape, don’t bother with carpetright or tapicarpets they are a waste of time.

spongy

Thanks Spongy, but there are no carpet/vinyl shops here! Flooring is either tiles or laminate. I´ve looked on google, and will get some anti-plas tape off the internet.

 

[Rosehip]

Waking up an old thread as I was about to ask a similar question

I'd like to lay some thick cushioned vinyl rather than carpet in our swift 122. The carpets are getting very scruffy but the flooring underneath looks OK and I'd rather it stayed like that.
I was going to aske if we could just loose-lay over what is there now and if anyone had done that.

 

[Brains]

I was about to comment, then I saw I already had back in 2020, with the same comment- see #9

As above be aware even a single grain of sand, with eventually create a high point in the new tiles.
So if you are going to lay new vinyl on top of old vinyl each old tile will need to be super clean, as in wiped down individually with an alcohol wipe or similar.
If you have any diviots or gaps in the old tiles, these will need to be filled first.

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[Brains]

Waking up an old thread as I was about to ask a similar question

I'd like to lay some thick cushioned vinyl rather than carpet in our swift 122. The carpets are getting very scruffy but the flooring underneath looks OK and I'd rather it stayed like that.
I was going to aske if we could just loose-lay over what is there now and if anyone had done that.

Other option is office carpet tiles.
Cheap, indestructible, and if someone spills red wine, then just replace the individual tile.

 

[Rosehip]

Office carpet is good, but fancied vinyl so could easily sweep up and wipe down - we only have hard floors at home, I'm not used to carpets!
might see if I can get a cheap remnant of cushioned vinyl and see how we get on - maybe a 'paper' underlay to separate the two layers?

 

[Minxy]

Office carpet is good, but fancied vinyl so could easily sweep up and wipe down - we only have hard floors at home, I'm not used to carpets!
might see if I can get a cheap remnant of cushioned vinyl and see how we get on - maybe a 'paper' underlay to separate the two layers?

We have vinyl in our MH on top of the mock wood-slat effect covering, cut to shape but not fitted 'perfectly' (hubby did it! ) and in 3 sections so we can get at the floor hatches to lift them and also makes it easier to remove and put back in as vinyl can tear very easily.

On top of the vinyl we have 3 'dirt gripper' type cotton twill rugs with rubber backing which we an take out and brush/shake easily. You can get the expensive ones but the likes of B&Q etc do their own versions which are a lot cheaper - just make sure you get the proper cotton twill ones and not the crappy nylon stuff as it's useless.

 

[Rosehip]

thank you, thats a very helpful reply

 

[Reallyretired]

My Rapido had very thin vinyl under the carpet, more like wallpaper than proper flooring. We had proper vinyl flooring laid on top by a professional with no problem. The bit of carpet we left as it seemed difficult to remove.

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