Australia’s Vinyl Flooring Market Is Forecast to Hit USD 5.7B: Why Tile Removal and Floor Levelling Still Decide the Finish

Australia’s vinyl flooring market is forecast to reach about USD 5.7 billion by 2034, but in Sydney and NSW renovations, the final result is still decided before the vinyl is installed. Old tiles, adhesive residue, uneven slabs, strata access, acoustic expectations and floor levelling quality determine whether vinyl looks premium or exposes every defect underneath.

The Australian vinyl flooring market is attracting serious attention. IMARC Group reports the local market reached USD 1,220.0 million in 2025 and forecasts it will reach USD 5,699.4 million by 2034. That scale reflects a broader shift in residential and commercial fit-outs: property owners want durable, low-maintenance flooring that can refresh a space without the weight, disruption and cost profile of traditional finishes.

Yet the growth story has a practical limit. Vinyl can be visually forgiving in a product showroom, but it is not forgiving on site. In Sydney apartments, older homes, retail tenancies and strata buildings, the decisive work often happens after the old surface is removed and before the new floor is opened from the box.

That is where tile removal, adhesive grinding, slab preparation and floor levelling become the real finish drivers. A vinyl floor is only as clean, flat and stable as the substrate beneath it.

The Market Is Growing, But Site Conditions Are Getting Harder Vinyl’s rise is not difficult to understand. It offers a wide design range, comparatively fast installation, lower maintenance than some natural materials and strong appeal for investors, families and commercial operators seeking practical surfaces. But the Australian renovation environment is not a controlled showroom.

Across Sydney and NSW, project teams are frequently dealing with:

older ceramic tiles installed over thick mortar beds; multiple layers of vinyl, timber, carpet, underlay or adhesive; apartment slabs affected by prior patching or grinding; kitchen and hallway thresholds that no longer align; moisture-sensitive substrates in older buildings; strata approval and lift access constraints; tight settlement-to-renovation timelines after purchase. These are not minor details. They directly affect whether vinyl planks sit flat, whether joins remain clean, whether adhesive bonds correctly and whether the finished floor feels stable underfoot.

For Sydney projects involving existing tile, the first commercial question should not be “which vinyl colour?” It should be “what will the substrate look like once the tile is gone?”

Why Tile Removal Still Controls The Vinyl Finish Tile removal is often treated as demolition. In reality, it is the first stage of finish preparation.

Once tiles are lifted, the exposed substrate may show high ridges, hollow patches, chipped concrete, old thinset, waterproofing remnants or uneven transitions into adjoining rooms. If that surface is not mechanically prepared, the vinyl installation inherits the defect.

This is why dust-extracted tile removal and adhesive grind-back matter in vinyl projects. The objective is not only to remove the visible tile. It is to create a substrate that can be assessed, corrected and made suitable for the intended floor system.

Remaining thinset or adhesive ridges Common risk for vinyl flooring: Telegraphing, hollow spots or poor bond Operational response: Concrete grinding and residue removal Uneven slab height between rooms Common risk for vinyl flooring: Visible transitions and door clearance issues Operational response: Level survey and floor levelling plan Cracked or chipped slab Common risk for vinyl flooring: Movement under vinyl or failed joins Operational response: Crack repair, patching and substrate review Old moisture staining Common risk for vinyl flooring: Adhesive failure or future movement Operational response: Moisture assessment and primer selection Strata apartment access limits Common risk for vinyl flooring: Schedule blowouts and incomplete preparation Operational response: Lift booking, waste planning and staged delivery Vinyl Makes Flatness More Visible, Not Less One reason vinyl is popular is its clean, continuous look. That same visual simplicity can make substrate errors more obvious.

Thin planks and sheet vinyl can reveal lines, undulations and residue marks through the surface. Even thicker luxury vinyl products still rely on a stable and even base. If the floor is not prepared correctly, the issue may appear as lipping, soft movement, open joins, adhesive release, shadowing or an uneven feel when walking across the room.

This is where self-levelling compound in Sydney becomes a project control tool, not simply a finishing product. Levelling can correct small variations, improve transitions and create a more consistent plane for vinyl installation. But it must be used over a correctly prepared substrate, with the right primer, depth and curing allowance.

Poor levelling can create its own problems. Too little preparation can stop the compound bonding. Too much water can weaken the surface. Rushing installation before cure can trap risk under the final floor.

The Sydney Renovation Context Is Different Sydney’s flooring conditions are shaped by its building stock. Inner-city apartments, older strata blocks, post-war homes, beachside units and investor renovations each produce different substrate risks.

In a newer apartment, the challenge may be acoustic compliance and strata approval. In an older unit, it may be magnesite, old adhesive or inconsistent slab levels. In a terrace or freestanding home, the issue may be room-to-room height variation after different floor coverings are removed.

NSW Government strata renovation guidance notes that changing floors, walls or ceilings can require permission, and owners should check their scheme’s by-laws before starting works. For flooring, this is especially relevant where vinyl replaces carpet or tile in an apartment environment.

That approval context changes the project sequence. A vinyl installation may look simple on a quote, but the operational pathway may involve:

checking strata by-laws and renovation approval requirements; confirming building access, lift protection and working hours; removing existing tiles, carpet, timber or vinyl; disposing of waste lawfully and efficiently; grinding adhesive, thinset or surface contamination; assessing slab flatness, cracks, moisture and height transitions; levelling or patching the substrate; allowing correct cure time; installing vinyl only when the base is ready. Skipping any of those steps can turn a product decision into a defect dispute.

Compliance Is Part Of The Finish Floor preparation can involve demolition, grinding, dust control, waste movement and chemical primers. Those activities carry workplace and building obligations, especially in occupied apartment buildings or commercial premises.

SafeWork NSW identifies crystalline silica as a health risk when materials such as concrete are processed without appropriate controls. That matters when tile removal, concrete grinding or surface preparation is part of the flooring scope. Dust extraction, containment, personal protective equipment and clean work practices are not optional extras. They are part of responsible delivery.

NSW Government guidance on residential building contracts is also relevant where renovation work reaches contract thresholds or requires written scope clarity. The more complex the substrate, the more important it becomes to document what is included, what is provisional and what can only be confirmed after removal.

For owners, builders and project managers, the lesson is simple: the best vinyl projects are not only selected well. They are scoped well.

Where Costs Usually Move Vinyl flooring is often promoted as cost-effective, and it can be. But the final project cost depends heavily on what sits underneath the existing floor.

The most common cost movements occur after removal, when the true condition of the substrate becomes visible. That is why a site review should separate the visible installation cost from the possible preparation cost.

Tile bed thickness Why it changes the scope: More labour, disposal and grinding may be required How to manage it: Inspect tile build-up and allow contingency Adhesive contamination Why it changes the scope: Vinyl may not bond or sit correctly How to manage it: Specify adhesive grind-back before install Floor level variation Why it changes the scope: Transitions, doors and skirtings may be affected How to manage it: Measure levels before ordering final trims Strata access Why it changes the scope: Lift time, noise limits and waste movement affect productivity How to manage it: Book access and confirm working rules early Curing time Why it changes the scope: Levelling compound cannot always be covered immediately How to manage it: Sequence trades around realistic cure windows Elyment’s floor levelling cost guidance for Sydney can help owners understand why preparation varies by substrate condition, depth, access and finish requirements.

The Builder, Installer And Owner Need One Sequence Many flooring problems come from split responsibility. One trade removes the old floor, another grinds, another levels and another installs. If the handover between those stages is weak, the final installer inherits risk that may not be visible in the product quote.

For vinyl projects, coordination should identify:

who is responsible for removing the existing floor; whether adhesive removal is included or excluded; what flatness tolerance the vinyl system requires; whether moisture testing is needed; who approves the substrate before installation; how door clearance, skirting and trims will be handled; what happens if additional levelling is required. This is particularly important for apartment work. Elyment’s apartment floor levelling service in Sydney is built around strata access, dust control, lift logistics and cure-time planning because those factors often decide whether a small flooring project stays controlled.

The Real Question Behind The Vinyl Boom The forecast growth of vinyl flooring in Australia does not reduce the importance of trade execution. It increases it.

As more property owners choose vinyl for apartments, rentals, renovations and commercial refreshes, more projects will involve replacing older surfaces. That means more tile removal, more adhesive grinding, more slab surprises and more levelling decisions.

The market may be measured in billions, but the finished result is still judged in millimetres.

A premium vinyl floor should not show the history of the building underneath it. To achieve that, the project needs a preparation-led scope, not a product-led assumption.

Planning A Vinyl Flooring Project After Tile Removal? VINYL FLOORING, TILE REMOVAL AND SUBSTRATE PLANNING

Elyment helps Sydney and NSW property owners, builders and project teams review removal scope, adhesive grinding, floor levelling, strata access, compliance considerations and installation sequencing before the final flooring decision is locked in.

Request A Project Review

What Property Owners Should Do Before Ordering Vinyl Before committing to vinyl flooring, owners should ask for a preparation review that covers the existing floor, the removal method and the expected substrate condition. This is especially important when old tiles are involved.

Confirm whether tile removal includes adhesive or thinset grind-back. Ask whether the slab will be checked before levelling. Confirm whether primer and compound selection match the substrate. Allow time for cure before installation. Check strata approval, acoustic requirements and working hours. Clarify how thresholds, skirting and doors will be managed. Keep a contingency for hidden substrate correction. The most expensive flooring mistake is often not choosing the wrong vinyl. It is assuming the old floor can be removed without changing the project.

Practical Questions Can vinyl flooring go straight over old tiles? Sometimes, but it depends on tile condition, height, movement, grout lines, moisture and manufacturer requirements. In many Sydney renovations, removing tiles and preparing the slab gives better control over the final finish.

Why does floor levelling matter before vinyl? Vinyl can reveal substrate lines, dips and ridges. Floor levelling helps create a consistent surface, but it must be installed over a properly cleaned, primed and stable substrate.

Do strata apartments need approval for new vinyl flooring? Often yes. NSW strata guidance says changes to floors can require permission, and by-laws may include acoustic requirements. Owners should confirm approval obligations before removal or installation starts.

What is the biggest hidden cost in vinyl flooring projects? The biggest hidden cost is usually substrate preparation after removal. Thick tile beds, adhesive residue, uneven slabs, cracks and access limitations can all change the original scope.

Sources and References IMARC Group: Australia vinyl flooring market figures and forecast NSW Government: Strata renovation guidance SafeWork NSW: Crystalline silica health and safety guidance NSW Government: Residential building contract guidance Elyment: Dust-extracted tile removal and adhesive grind-back Elyment: Self-levelling compound in Sydney Elyment: Floor levelling cost guidance for Sydney Elyment: Apartment floor levelling service in Sydney Elyment: Request a project review