I've read a couple of posts about this topic but have a more specific question. My current kitchen floor is about 75 square feet and has vinyl flooring from the 60s.

I need to put my condo up for sale and the kitchen could use a little sprucing up before putting it on the market. Competition is tight and my kitchen is really outdated. I'm already going to lose money on the condo so I don't want to spend much money making it presentable.

I found some really nice peel 'n stick tiles on clearance for $0.66 a square foot. I'm also going to put in a new laminate counter top.

The original flooring tiles were 12" square but the pattern is four smaller squares with a slight indentation between the four pieces as if it were grouted. The new pieces I will be laying are 12" square tiles that are one large square.

Should I use a leveling product to fill those indentations before laying the new tiles? The rub is that if I can't sell my condo I could be stuck with it for a while and don't want the flooring looking like crap in a year.

Help!

 

Yep, vinyl shows the texture of what's beneath it so you want a level surface. I'd be thinking about a 1/4" plywood underlayment.

 

OR, for a little more effort (you'll already be on your knees), you could install ceramic or porcelain tiles. Install 1/4" concrete backer underlayment, tile, grout. You will be amazed at the upgrade it will give your condo over others. You can rent or buy a small tile saw.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm sticking with the laminate as it was $0.66 a square foot. I'm already over budget so can't afford anything more expensive.

Will be stopping by the hardware store on the way home to buy a leveling compound and primer.

 

Wait, you said vinyl and then laminate. Which is it?

 

Skimcoat the surface of the existing textured vinyl tiles, with Ardex Feather finish, or Mapei PlaniPatch, using a flat trowel. 2 coats at a minimum. As the patch sets up and dehydrates, is shrinks, leaving the embossed pattern on the tile, slightly. Enough to telegraph up into the new tiles once the adhesive sucks them down.

Don't forget to prime, before the patching compound to emboss and after before you peel & stick.