Tile over tile?

[726]

Can/ should this be done? Would like to cover an unsightly off white tile with something darker, next to a real wood floor, that is already half an inch higher than the old tile, due to the 3/8" wood subfloor the hardwoods are on. Thanks for any advice.

 

[l00p]

You can but I don't suggest it. You need to make sure the surface is conducive to adhesion. I am not sure your tile will be. Either put some hardiback on top or take up the old tile and then put your surface. It will last longer and be done right.

 

[alden]

If you're going to walk on this, it's probably not a good idea. It might be ok if it were just a backsplash or something. I'd be concerned that after wear and tear and house shifting the top layers of tiles would not age well.

What's under the tile?

Search around on this forum for tiling information. Lots of experts there, and I'm sure you'll find someone with your same question:
www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1

 

[pevodog]

I am in the same siituation. I have opted to rent a floor scraper over the July 4th holiday and remove the old floor tile. They say it takes an hour to remove 25 square feet this way. I got about 300 square feet to remove.

 

[Holden]

Backsplash - ok. Make sure you sand the old tile. Flooring - do it right and tear out the old.

 

[voteforhank]

I did this because I mostly wanted to see if it could be done successfully. I got news for you , it can. Mine is three years old, in San Antonio, which has a lot of slab movement for a lot of the houses down here.

I scuffed up my old ceramic tile with a Belt Sander. Mopped it really good with an etcher, and all the doors and windows open in the house.

I used a product from Lowes called Kerelastic which is a latex additive that you mix the thin set with, it is really sticky, when you try to clean your tools , your in for a suprise, it sticks tenaciously to everything.

Its a little expensive, but I gotta say, it worked like a champ for me, and I was dreading chipping up my old floor.

That said, the accepted methood is taking up the old floor, but its really tough going..