Can New Brunswick LVP go over old tile?

Yes, you can install LVP over old tile in New Brunswick — but only if the tile meets specific conditions first. Skipping the assessment step is where most NB homeowners run into trouble.

The tile surface needs to be flat, fully bonded, and in good condition. Walk the entire floor and press down on every tile — any hollow sound or movement means that tile is delaminating from the substrate beneath it. Loose or cracked tiles must be removed and the voids filled with self-levelling compound before LVP goes down. LVP is thin and flexible enough that it will telegraph any unevenness directly to the surface, creating visible high spots and accelerating wear. The industry standard for LVP installation is a subfloor that varies no more than 3/16 of an inch over a 10-foot span — old tile floors in NB homes often fall outside this tolerance.

Grout lines are the other critical factor. Standard ceramic or porcelain tile with grout joints deeper than 1/16 of an inch will show through most LVP products over time, especially in high-traffic areas. You have two options: skim-coat the entire tile surface with a floor-levelling compound to fill the grout lines flush, or choose a thicker, more rigid SPC-core LVP (stone plastic composite, typically 6mm or thicker) that bridges minor surface variation better than thinner WPC products.

NB-specific moisture considerations matter here. If the tile is in a kitchen, bathroom, or basement — common scenarios in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John homes — you need to think about what's happening beneath that tile. Old tile floors in NB basements often sit directly on concrete slabs that continuously release moisture vapour, especially during spring snowmelt from April through June. LVP is 100% waterproof on its surface, but moisture trapped between the tile and the LVP can cause adhesion issues with glue-down products and create mould conditions in the underlayment. Do a calcium chloride or RH probe moisture test on the concrete before proceeding — this costs $50–$150 and takes 24–72 hours but tells you exactly what you're dealing with.

One critical warning for older NB homes: if the existing tile was installed before 1986, the tile itself or the adhesive beneath it may contain asbestos. Installing LVP over intact tile is generally safe — you're not disturbing it — but if any tiles are cracked, crumbling, or need to be removed, stop and test before doing anything. Asbestos testing runs $25–$50 per sample and is non-negotiable under NB workplace health and safety regulations.

For a typical NB kitchen or bathroom tile floor in good condition, installing quality SPC-core LVP over top is a smart, cost-effective approach. You avoid the mess and cost of tile removal ($1–$4/sq ft), keep the existing moisture barrier intact, and end up with a warmer, quieter floor. Budget $5–$12/sq ft fully installed for quality LVP in the NB market, plus $2–$4/sq ft for levelling compound if the grout lines need filling.

This is a project where a professional eye during the assessment phase pays off. If you'd like help finding a local installer to evaluate your tile floor, New Brunswick Flooring can match you with a flooring professional in your area for free — browse the directory at newbrunswickconstructionnetwork.com/directory?trade=flooring.