Should I remove old vinyl before installing new flooring or can I go over it in NB?

In many cases you can install new flooring directly over old vinyl in New Brunswick, but there are critical conditions that must be met — and one safety issue that could change your approach entirely. The decision depends on the age of the vinyl, its current condition, and what type of new flooring you plan to install.

The most important consideration is asbestos. Vinyl flooring and the black adhesive (known as cutback adhesive) used in NB homes built before 1986 commonly contain asbestos fibres. If your vinyl dates from the 1960s, 70s, or early 80s — which is extremely common in older homes across Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, and smaller NB communities — you should test it before disturbing it. Asbestos testing costs just $25–$50 per sample and can be done through accredited labs. If the vinyl tests positive for asbestos, do not sand, scrape, break, or pull it up yourself. Disturbing asbestos-containing materials releases hazardous fibres that cause serious lung disease. You have two safe options: encapsulate it by installing new flooring over top, or hire a licensed abatement professional to remove it properly.

When going over old vinyl works well: If the existing vinyl is firmly adhered to the subfloor (no loose edges, bubbles, or curling), relatively flat, and in stable condition, you can install many types of new flooring directly over it. Click-lock LVP and laminate floating floors work especially well over old vinyl because they do not require adhesive bonding to the substrate. Lay the appropriate underlayment with a vapour barrier (essential in NB, especially over concrete) and install your floating floor on top. The old vinyl actually acts as an additional moisture barrier. New sheet vinyl or glue-down LVT can also be installed over old vinyl with proper adhesive and preparation.

When you should remove it: If the old vinyl is peeling, bubbling, crumbling, or has significant damage, it will compromise the new floor above it. Loose vinyl creates a weak bond layer — adhesive-applied flooring like glue-down vinyl or tile cannot grip a substrate that is itself coming loose. Severely damaged vinyl also creates uneven spots that telegraph through thin flooring. Additionally, if you are installing ceramic or porcelain tile, removal is almost always necessary because tile requires a rigid, stable substrate and thin-set mortar does not bond reliably to vinyl surfaces.

For NB basement installations specifically, going over old vinyl is often the smarter choice even beyond the asbestos concern. Removing vinyl from a concrete slab frequently pulls up the adhesive in uneven chunks, leaving a rough surface that requires extensive grinding or self-levelling compound ($2–$4 per square foot) to smooth out. If the vinyl is well-adhered and flat, installing a dimpled drainage membrane ($1.50–$3.00 per square foot) over the old vinyl and then your new flooring on top gives you moisture management and a smooth substrate in one step.

The cost difference is meaningful. Professional old flooring removal runs $1–$4 per square foot depending on the material and difficulty. For a 500-square-foot basement, that is $500–$2,000 in removal costs that you may be able to avoid entirely by going over the existing vinyl. However, going over it does raise your finished floor height by the thickness of the new flooring plus underlayment — typically 8–15mm total. Check door clearances, appliance fitment (especially dishwashers and refrigerators), and transitions to adjacent rooms before committing to this approach.

If you are unsure about asbestos content or subfloor condition, a professional flooring installer can assess both during an estimate visit. Getting matched with a knowledgeable local installer through New Brunswick Flooring is free and takes the guesswork out of these decisions.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• RenoMe
• Arctic Fox Construction Inc.
• M&L Commercial and residential services
• First united design & construction inc.
• FRS Flooring Solutions