Can We Tile On Top Of Tiles?

[prefabs]

Is it possible to lay ceramic floor tiles on top of existing? To remove the existing will be a real pain, never mind leaving an uneven base. I did hear some time back about a cement which could be used when doing this, but never heard of it actually being used, or if it worked. Any help is much appreciated

[PattayaParent]

Lay a screed over the existing tiles and lay the new tiles on the screed as normal.

You may have to scarify the existing tiles, or just dig out the joints, to make a bond for the screed, or use an epoxy coating on it before pouring the screed.

Edited January 13, 2012 by PattayaParent

[sotsira]

I wouldn't recommend it, much better to remove the existing tiles and lay the new ones on a solid

concrete base.

Usually floor tiles can be removed quite easily with a wide flat chisel & hammer lifting up at one edge

to break their seal to the floor.

Use a good quality tile cement to bond them to the concrete base, like ready mixed "Weber"

[Kwasaki]

Well the answer is yes you can although it is not regarded as to be the best way to go, anyway :-

As long as the existing floor is sound and no loose tiles.

The increasing height of the floor is not going to cause problems.

Clean the floor area from any grease and dirt.

You use the correct adhesive for tile over tile to save on mechanical keying the surface.

[prefabs]

I wouldn't recommend it, much better to remove the existing tiles and lay the new ones on a solid

concrete base.

Usually floor tiles can be removed quite easily with a wide flat chisel & hammer lifting up at one edge

to break their seal to the floor.

Use a good quality tile cement to bond them to the concrete base, like ready mixed "Weber"

I think Weber is the name of the cement I heard about already. Is it readily available in Thailand?

[sotsira]

I wouldn't recommend it, much better to remove the existing tiles and lay the new ones on a solid

concrete base.

Usually floor tiles can be removed quite easily with a wide flat chisel & hammer lifting up at one edge

to break their seal to the floor.

Use a good quality tile cement to bond them to the concrete base, like ready mixed "Weber"

I think Weber is the name of the cement I heard about already. Is it readily available in Thailand?

Yes, you can get it in 25kg ready mixed bags, (you just have to add water).

Nearly all builders merchants sell it for around 140bt per bag.

[seedy]

Another way is to lay down wire mesh over the existing tiles, anchoring at grout lines.

Apply screed. Retile. This method will give strength close to original tile installation.

[KRS1]

Came across a house that was retiled improperly once by laying over the old tile. Wherever you walked would make a cracking/smacking sound.

Suppose they didn't do it the right way.

Edited January 13, 2012 by KRS1

[KarenBravo]

The stuff is called Self-leveling Cement.

i don't recommend laying over existing tiles. Best rip them up.

If you do raise the level of the floor, don't forget to shorten your doors.

[astral]

I would remove and start from scratch

Don't worry about unevenness. The tiler can lay a new layer of tiles using builders cement

and if he does a good job with a spirit level you will have a nice new floor

at the same level as it was before.

My bathroom was done that way a few months back.

If you lay tiles on top of old ones, doors may stick and heaven knows that else.

[Hssl]

With Labour costs as low as they are in Thailand why would you NOT rip out the old tiles?

[transam]

A hammer drill with a spade chisel will have them up in no time. Don't worry about damaging the cement under cos they lay tiles with cement.

[bbradsby]

tear up the old floor - the cost saved in not doing so will quickly be lost in removing, cutting & reinstalling doors and other related work that always pops up. Plus you won't be burying your door frames in holes, guaranteed to rot them out and thats a messy job... plus you wont get the dumb changes in floor level that scream "i'm too cheap to pay a baht more to do it right!"

[Spoonman]

A hammer drill with a spade chisel will have them up in no time.

How does that work, wouldn't the drill "turn" the spade chisel ?

+1 for ripping them up though, do it once do it right.

[NormanW]

I'm going to lay tiles on top of tiles as it would be better for my balcony floor height to be raised a bit more in line with the overflow pipe which is too high.

Will let you know the result once completed - not started yet - this year honestly.

[transam]

A hammer drill with a spade chisel will have them up in no time.

How does that work, wouldn't the drill "turn" the spade chisel ?

+1 for ripping them up though, do it once do it right.

Forgot, my drill has a non rotary setting to use as a hammer.

[Kwasaki]

I'm going to lay tiles on top of tiles as it would be better for my balcony floor height to be raised a bit more in line with the overflow pipe which is too high.

Will let you know the result once completed - not started yet - this year honestly.

Tile on tile as before if sound. post 4.

More height wanted. Seedy post 7.

Just look for complications in relation to your door opening to the balcony.

Edited January 14, 2012 by Kwasaki

[T_Dog]

I would remove the old tiles as several other posters have recommended. They come up much easier than you might think. If you lay screed or adhesive over the top of the old tiles, you have very little chance of having it bond well to the glazed surface of the old tile. (Even the epoxy concrete bonding agents are made for rough or porous surfaces.) Taking old tiles out is actually a fun project. Once they are out, you can lay on a level of concrete which you can make very level.