It depends on both the old flooring and the new. Some floating floors (click-lock LVP or laminate) can sometimes be installed directly over an existing hard-surface floor, as long as it’s flat, stable, and not carpet — this can save on removal and disposal costs.

That said, glue-down, nail-down, and tile installations generally require the old flooring to be fully removed, since those methods need direct, stable contact with the actual subfloor to be installed correctly and hold up over time. Removal is also usually the right call any time there’s a chance of underlying damage, moisture issues, or an uneven subfloor that needs to be addressed first.

A good installer will inspect your existing floor and subfloor before quoting the job and tell you plainly whether removal is necessary — it’s worth asking directly rather than assuming either way.