Installing New Kitchen Tiles
I have 6″ terra cotta tiles on my kitchen floor. I want to redo the floor with new 12″ porcelain tiles. Is it advisable to take up the old tiles and start over, or can I tile over the existing floor? Thanks
I have 6″ terra cotta tiles on my kitchen floor. I want to redo the floor with new 12″ porcelain tiles. Is it advisable to take up the old tiles and start over, or can I tile over the existing floor? Thanks
I would recommend removing the old tile, but first see if any of the old tiles are cracked or if any of the grout is loose or missing. This will show you where there may be problems with your subfloor. By removing the old tile you will be making sure your new floor will not have any problems in the future. There is no need to pour a slab 3” thick for tile anymore. Depending on the size of your kitchen, a slab of cement can add a huge amount of weight to your floor joists. With modern latex modified thinset mortars, cement backer-boards, and plastic fabric uncoupling membranes such as Ditra made by the Schluter Co. large size tiles like the ones you intend on using can be laid safely, without cracking, as long as your original sub floor meets the standards for allowable deflection set by The Tile Council of America (WWW.TILE.USA.COM) Go to September 2005 issue of Fine Home Building Magazine.
You have to remove the old tiles otherwise your floor is going to raise 3″ off the original level.
After removing the tiles you should install new and thinner plywood, felt paper, wire mesh and pour at list 1 1/2 inchs of concrete; let it set and then install the new tile with thinset mortar.
That is the right way to do it.