wavy vinyl floor replacement

I have a problem in a house that is over two hundred years old. THe current floor (sheet vinyl) was installed about 15 years ago and is now showing wear. I have had two estimates for replacing the sheet vinyl with the same. one, armstrong, the installer says he will put down a quarter inch underlayment and then a new floor, and i will again have a new wavy floor. The other, mannington says no underlayment is necessary and he would install the mannington right over the old vinyl using a perimeter bonding method that would start off with some bubbles stretch and relax to conform to the contours of the existing floor. The price is about the same but I worry about raising the floor another 1/4 plus inch over the existing or the perimeter bonding not completely contouring and have springboard effect. Also worried that the current "brick pattern" might show through.
A subfloor was put over planking 15 years ago. I am also considering using some liquid leveling compound and was wondering how thick it can be applied and wether it can be applied over the existing vinyl. I have areas that need as much as 1/2 to 3/4 inch of buildup.
Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

Both installation methods are acceptable and approved by the manufacturers.

The pattern in the old vinyl only needs embossing where the adhesive will go. The adhesive is what sucks the vinyl down to every contour, showing the pattern from beneath to telegraph.

Perimeter bond installations are tricky, and must be done very quickly. to make sure no bubbles are present right after the installation. They will eventually go down, but taking a year for bubbles to go down(worst case) isn't fun for the consumer.

 

if the flor is deeply embossed[deep ridges where the pattern was stamped in]then i would opt for either the underlayment or use an embossing leveler over the entire floor not just the perimeter.The problem with trying to level the wole floor using a self leveler would be the deflection in the sub-floor if the floor moves alot then then the compound may not stick to the floor and break up or "blow"upyou could skim coat the floor to help with the "wavyness"then use 1/4 underlay to help smooth everything out wo'nt take it all out but will be alot smoother than what you have now

 

I would not use a perimiter glue vinyl over a wavy floor, I think it would produce a trampoline effect and the adhesive would fail.