We want to remove the carpet and install wooden vinyl flooring. We were thinking about putting cement board in order to make the floor flat.We were thinking that it would be a better option as oppose to laying the flooring on the wood. Would it be a good idea to lay down cement board?Should we just lay the vinyl on the wood?
as long as you're putting the cement board over a solid surface and not joists. Make sure the smooth side is up and all the joints are tight.
I would not put down cement board. If you want a smooth surface to lay the vinyl over (any lump, bump or irregularity will show through vinyl) use plywood.
Installing Vinyl Flooring On Concrete
If you are putting the vinyl flooring in a kitchen or bathroom then cement board is a good idea. Cement board is use to prevent water damage to the wooden underlayment. It is expensive but worth the cost if you need protection from water damage. If it's in a living room, bedroom, etc then use plywood. This will make your floor flat and make the vinyl sit and look better. It will also strengthen the floor, help eliminate squeaks and add a small amount of insulation to your floor. One other point. Use plywood that is sanded on one side with the sanded side up. This makes a smoother surface and the vinyl panels will stick better.
I would not use cement board or any boards at all. If the floor is not flat then attaching boards on top of it will not make it flat. Professionals use floor-leveling compound that is basically a thin cement that is poured on the floor to fill in any and all voids that will show through vinyl. I am assuming the tile that you are using will not need to be glued down and is the kind that simply has adhesive that attaches one tile to the next and allows the entire floor to float. If the tiles are square ones that have adhesive on the back that adheres to the floor, then my recomendation is to just paint the floor and skip the vinyl since those tiles never hold up and look good very long. The vinyl that lays in strips and adheres to the previous strip is a good, waterproof product. Cementboard is not waterproof and the uneven surface will not lend itself very good for your application.
