What is the cost to install plywood over an old Calgary basement tile floor for LVP?

Installing plywood over existing basement tile in Calgary typically costs $3-6 per square foot for materials and labor, but this approach is rarely recommended due to height and transition issues.

The more practical and cost-effective solution is direct LVP installation over the existing tile after proper preparation. Modern LVP and SPC flooring are specifically designed to install over existing hard surfaces, including ceramic and vinyl tile, as long as the substrate is stable and level. This eliminates the plywood cost entirely and avoids raising your floor height by 3/4 inch, which creates problems with door clearances, transitions to adjacent rooms, and basement ceiling height.

Preparing existing tile for LVP installation involves filling any loose or missing tiles with floor patch compound, grinding down high spots or lippage between tiles, and ensuring the surface is clean and level within 3mm over 1.8 metres. This preparation typically costs $1-3 per square foot depending on tile condition. A quality underlayment designed for LVP over tile ($0.50-1.50/sqft) provides cushioning, moisture protection, and sound dampening that Calgary condo buildings often require for STC/IIC ratings.

If plywood installation is absolutely necessary — perhaps due to severely damaged or uneven tile — expect $2-4/sqft for 5/8" or 3/4" plywood subfloor plus $1-2/sqft for professional installation. The plywood must be screwed every 6-8 inches into the concrete slab below using concrete screws, and all seams must be sealed. However, this raises your basement floor significantly, requiring door trimming, new transitions, and potentially creating headroom issues in already low Calgary basements.

Calgary basement considerations make direct-over-tile installation even more attractive. Basement concrete slabs in Calgary stay cold for months and can have moisture migration issues. Adding plywood creates an additional layer where moisture can be trapped, potentially leading to mold or rot. Quality LVP with attached moisture barrier performs better long-term when installed directly over properly prepared tile with appropriate underlayment.

The most common scenario in Calgary basements is 12x12 ceramic tile from the 1980s-2000s that's structurally sound but dated. A simple surface preparation ($1-3/sqft) plus quality SPC flooring with attached underlayment ($4-9/sqft installed) gives you a beautiful, waterproof, comfortable floor for $5-12/sqft total — significantly less than plywood plus LVP installation.

Before any basement flooring work, moisture testing is essential. Calgary basement slabs frequently have elevated moisture levels that require mitigation before any flooring installation. A calcium chloride test or relative humidity probe test should show less than 3 lbs per 1,000 sqft per 24 hours moisture vapor emission.

Need help finding a flooring installer? Calgary Floor Installers can match you with local contractors who specialize in basement LVP installation and can assess whether your existing tile is suitable for direct installation or requires additional preparation.