I'm redoing my kitchen floor and there's old ceramic tile down that's a pain to remove. I've heard some people just lay luxury vinyl plank right over the top after leveling it out. Would that actually work, or am I just asking for problems down the road? Looking for honest takes from people who've done this.
You can technically do it, but it's really a "it might work for a while" situation rather than a solid long-term solution. The main issue is that LVP is flexible and will conform to whatever's underneath it - so if your tile has any hollow spots, cracks, or uneven grout lines, those will eventually telegraph through the vinyl and create soft spots or dips. Over time, foot traffic puts stress on those weak points and the vinyl can fail faster than it should. You also risk moisture getting trapped between layers if there's any water damage in the existing tile.
If you go this route anyway, here's what actually matters: the subfloor underneath has to be rock solid (no bouncing), and you need a proper underlayment rated for that application - don't skip this thinking the tile alone is enough. Self-leveling compound over the tile helps too, but honestly if you've got significant grout lines or height differences, you'll be fighting an uphill battle. Some people have had okay results with a full skim coat of self-leveling floor resurfacer, which smooths everything out and gives you a real flat base.
That said, if the tile is well-adhered with no movement, no cracked pieces, and you're willing to spend time and money on proper prep and underlayment, it *can* work. Just know you're cutting into your vinyl's lifespan a bit. The nuclear option - removing the tile - takes maybe a day with a floor scraper or a rental oscillating tool, and then you've got a blank slate and peace of mind for years.
The real killer with this approach is moisture - tile traps water underneath, and LVP hates that, so you're setting yourself up for soft spots and mold within a couple years. If the tile is stable and truly level, you *might* get away with it for a rental or temporary situation, but for a kitchen where spills happen constantly, pulling the tile out is genuinely the smarter move even though it sucks.
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