have two layers on sheet vinyl over kitchen floor. first layer is entirely glued down. second layer is glued around the perimeter. want to install bruce hardwood floor, but want to put in tile squares in contrasting color (as shown in home depot's floor covering dep't). i assume i can lay the flooring down on top of existing vinyl(s); also know that i will have to cut the vinyl to plywood floor in order to lay tiles. does anyone have experience/advice on doing this? btw...the reason for this approach: have dark cherry cabinets in low-light kitchen and don't want too much dark flooring. bruce's cherry-colored wood flooring is nice and hd's display with the inserted tile struck the right balance.

As everyone knows by now, we are remodeling our kitchen. All of our cabinets are ripped out. Underneath where the base cabinets were, there is a section of no plywood. As if they ran out, or wanted to save on wood (the whole 1'x8' section). I was going to fill it in with plywood. There is a layer of felt type material covering the subfloor of the section. The question I have is, can I just nail the plywood filler down, or should I remove the material, then glue and nail? We will then be laying cement backerboard and ceramic tile over it.