Q: I want to re-tile my floor, but I&#;d rather not go through the hassle of ripping up the existing flooring first. Can you tile over tile in order to save time?
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A: The short answer is, most likely, yes. If your tiles are in relatively good condition&#;evenly placed, without cracks, and not appearing to retain any moisture&#;then you can probably leave them underneath your new layer of tile when going about installing a new floor or even a backsplash.
Before you begin tiling over tile, conduct a thorough assessment of the base layer to pinpoint any surface irregularities, which can cause foundational problems down the road. Mildew and deep discoloration in the grout often signal an absorption issue&#;meaning that trapped water has damaged the grout and could thus rot the new tile from below. An absorption issue will fester and worsen when the tiles are covered up. Likewise, if the original tiles were not properly installed, the new overlaying tiles won&#;t lie flat or line up. If you do discover either of these issues, it&#;s better to start from scratch than to tile over the existing floor.
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Tiling over an uneven surface will give you less-than-stellar results, so level out any globs of dried grout with a sander and secure loose tiles with fresh tile adhesive before beginning the project. Then, lay out your new tiles and cut them to fit around the walls and fixtures, as necessary. Once all pieces of tile are cut to size, move them out of the way so that you can scrub down your base layer with a degreasing soap. Let the surface dry completely before you start taping off the edges of the project area with painter&#;s tape and laying out plastic sheets to protect surrounding surfaces.
Photo: istockphoto.comGenerally speaking, thin-set adhesive (also known as thin-set mortar) is great for setting tiles in areas subject to moisture, like bathrooms, while mastic adhesive is best for drier spaces, like kitchens. Scoop the adhesive of choice from its bucket with a trowel and apply a thin layer to a section of tiles only a few feet wide, for starters. Don&#;t attempt to cover a full floor or backsplash at once; since curing times may vary, you&#;ll want to set each tile before the bonding agent is too dry to do its job. Score the surface adhesive with the toothed edge of your trowel by drawing straight lines along the wet surface, as these grooves aid in the drying and adhesion process.
Set each tile atop the adhesive you&#;ve scored and firmly press it into place. Once these are in place, you can rotate through spreading adhesive, scoring, and laying tile until you&#;ve completely covered the space.
Tip: To save even more time, apply your adhesive directly to the back of your new tiles rather than prepping the area with thin-set adhesive. This method, though, should be saved for situations where the original tile is in perfect condition and you&#;re really only looking for a temporary fix until you can attempt a more in-depth renovation project&#;placement this way won&#;t set the tiles so securely that they last for generations without needing repair. Take a cue from the blogger at Renov8or, who chose to lay crisp white subway tile over an old layer of beige squares in the kitchen simply by applying silicone adhesive to the back of each individual tile, and placing them over the old tile with spacers in between to save space for even grout lines. While silicone isn&#;t a recommended adhesive for tiles that will encounter lots of water (a shower wall, for example), this simple fix could cut your project time in half on areas where heavy splashing won&#;t be a concern in the long run.
No matter what kind of adhesive you&#;ve used beneath the new layer of tiles, you&#;ll need to apply grout in the grooves between them. This step protects the entire surface from moisture creeping into the seams between each tile and leading to water damage or out-of-sight mildew growth. For the sake of speed, use premixed grout from the hardware store, and apply it quickly in a single round. Or you can choose to mix the grout yourself; just be sure to use an application tube with an opening small enough to fit the troughs you&#;re filling.
So, in short, you can tile over tile as long as you&#;re working on a fairly sound surface. The surface of the existing tile should be free of mold and mildew, completely level (including grout), and without any warping or strangely-placed tiles that might otherwise interfere with a smooth new layer. Also, keep in mind that it&#;s best not to lay heavy new tile over existing tile floors unless the foundation beneath both is concrete. Otherwise, the excess weight can cause structural issues. Now go forth and enjoy your new, easy-to-install tile surface!
Most often, you should remove existing tiles before installing new tiles. However, old tiles can sometimes be difficult or almost impossible to remove. If the original tile is still in excellent condition and you want to install tile over tile, you can do so, but follow the below steps to complete the project successfully.
When answering the question, &#;Can you install tile over tile?&#; the deciding factor is the condition of the underlying tile. Inspect the tile to determine whether it can handle the tile over-tile process. Ensure your old tile floor is level. Look closely for any cracks and check to make sure it&#;s a strong foundation. Any damages or issues could cause problems in the future.
Also, address any issues with your subfloor before adding another tile layer; in particular, determine whether your subfloor can handle the added weight. If you don&#;t know how to do this, contact a professional for assistance. Also determine what the height of the floor will be after applying the new tile to be sure it doesn&#;t affect any appliances, doors, or other obstacles, including creating a tripping hazard.
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To prepare your surface for a tile-over-tile process, clean the surface with a multi-purpose cleaner. Also, inspect the adhesive by lightly tapping on each tile with a hard object. If it sounds hollow, that tile will need to be removed because the adhesive is no longer sufficient.
Once the dirt and grime have been removed, sand the old tile until it feels rough. This will give the new tile something to grip onto. Then, apply a very thin coat of thin-set mortar, filling in the current grout lines. This provides a more even foundation for the new tiles to adhere to. Let this thin-set mortar cure for 24 hours before moving on to the next step.
Since you will be applying tile to tile instead of tile to the subfloor or other backing material, the type of adhesive you need might be different from the first time you tiled this space. Although the adhesive might work initially, it may not last in a tile-to-tile application. Even if it does last, you may later encounter issues with moisture and/or mold.
Oftentimes, thin-set mortar will work. It is moisture-resistant and heat-proof, making it ideal for bathrooms and kitchens. It is also a solid adhesive and resistant to mold. However, contact a professional to assist in evaluating your old tile, your new tile, and what adhesive would work best.
Epoxy mortar also can work well.. Since it cures quickly, it&#;s usually only recommended for professional use, though. Epoxy mortar is often used in industrial or commercial settings since it is harder to work with and more expensive.
Possibly the most difficult part of tile installation is determining how much tile is needed, tile size and grout joint size, as well as how much to purchase. When purchasing your materials, always buy 10% more tiles than you need and follow the famous &#;measure twice, cut once&#; rule.
To make sure you achieve the design you want, lay out your tiles before applying the adhesive, and always start in the center of the room so you don&#;t box yourself in.
Once your tile is installed, grout between each tile. Once the grout has cured, apply a sealant to prevent moisture and dirt from getting trapped.
Sometimes, you just want a fresh look in your bathroom or kitchen. Installing tile over tile or painting over tiles might be the best way to achieve this look.
One of the benefits of doing it this way is the amount of time you will save. Since you won&#;t remove or dispose of the old tile, it halves your project time. Since you also won&#;t need to purchase any tools or materials for the removal process, installing tile over tile will make your project much more cost-effective.
It is also reasonably eco-friendly since you won&#;t dispose of any old or used materials.
As you inspect your existing tile, you may come across a few tiles that need to be removed or replaced. If this number adds up to a large section of your floor, then abandon your plan to install tile over tile and remove the old tiles instead..
Once your new tiles have been installed, keep them clean and well-maintained. If you notice any cracks or necessary repairs, make them quickly so that moisture or dirt doesn&#;t get trapped underneath the tiles.
Although installing new tiles can be done by an inexperienced homeowner, you will likely encounter a number of difficulties and need professional help for numerous points. Find the local handyman near you to perform this difficult job. Here at Mr. Handyman, tiling is one of our handyman services.
Our professional installation jobs are always backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise&#;. Save yourself the time and hassle. Request service with Mr. Handyman today!
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