Tile over Tile?
I have a large room with 12 x 12 tile. If I want to tile over it, can I without pulling up existing tile? I don’t mind if the room is higher than adjoining rooms. Thanks.
I have a large room with 12 x 12 tile. If I want to tile over it, can I without pulling up existing tile? I don’t mind if the room is higher than adjoining rooms.
Thanks.
The question of tile over tile comes up from time to time. Some say they had good results, go ahead. Others say it is lazy or will result in problems like the need to trim door bottoms etc. Few explain to home owners how they can tell if their tile and substrate is sound and suitable for a new layer.
First, get down on your knees and tap each tile with your finger tips. You will be able to tell which tiles are loose or cracked. In the case of large tiles like your 12 x 12s or larger, you might also find air pockets, where your taps feel hollow. If you determine your existing tile and substrate is sound, you may decide to tile over the existing tile. If you find isolated defects, you may decide to repair those areas before a new layer, but defects suggest you remove the prior layers and start fresh.
Also about those large tiles: If they were applied to a porous substrate with thinset, you no longer have that condition now. If your existing tile or the new layer is small, you may consider the floor to be some what porous, because moisture can escape and air can get in through grout lines, however slowly. Porcelain and glass tile is impervious. Manufacturers recommend a latex modified thinset, which cures with air. Yet, if you apply another layer of large tiles over your large impervious tiles, air won’t get in. Unmodified thinset (without latex) cures with water. On a porous substrate, unmodified thinset may not have time to fully cure before the water escapes. If you are tiling large tiles over large tiles, consider using unmodified thinset even if this runs counter to the tile manufacturer’s recommendation.
hi,bvartist
thanks for your comment..i don’t know this before..but now,i knew..thanks
I’ve tiled over tile. In my case, 1″ over 1″. I think it’s fine as long as you use thinset (which you should use on any floor application) and that the existing floor is solid. If you are at all worried, there are two other things you could consider. You could take the finish off the existing tiles with a wire brush on a grinder, or you could screw down a thin layer of tile backer over the existing tile and tile over that.