There is no denying that renovating your home is a large task.
Even if you are doing a simple renovation task, such as replacing flooring or painting your bedroom, it can be very time-consuming, and it can be difficult to know where to start.
If you are trying to give your bathroom or kitchen a little bit of an uplift, then you may consider doing a smaller job rather than a full renovation. A good way to do this is to replace the tiles.
However if you are deciding to do this, then it is likely that your bathroom or kitchen already has tiles.
If this is the case, then you might be wondering if you need to rip out the existing tiles, or if you can simply tile over the top of the existing tiles. In this guide, we’ll be exploring this, so keep on reading to find out more!
Can You Tile Over Tile?
So first things first, can you tile over tile? In one word, yes, you can tile over your existing tiles.
For a lot of people, tiling over the existing tiles is a much more acceptable option than ripping out their existing tiles for a lot of reasons.
Tiling over existing tiles can give you a nice, flat surface to attach your new tiles to.
Whereas a wall which has had tiles removed is often bumpy and uneven, making it difficult to attach tiles to the surface of the wall/floor.
Due to this, it is often easier to simply tile over the existing tiles and save yourself a lot of hassle.
There are some circumstances when tiling over the existing tiles isn’t always the best idea.
For example, if the tiles that you are considering attaching to have become loose on the wall/floor, or if they have a bumpy and uneven texture.
But most of the time, it is possible to tile over existing tiles, and this is something that a lot of people do.
Is Tiling Over Tiles A Good Idea?
While you can tile over existing tiles, you might be wondering if this is actually a good idea.
It can be tricky to know if this is the best idea for your home, and if this quick renovation job could actually end up being a large problem.
Generally speaking, yes, tiling over tiles is a good idea.
If you are looking for a quick and easy fix that will transform your bathroom or kitchen and give it a refresh, then tiling over tiles is a good idea.
As soon as you start stripping existing tiles, this job can quickly become rather time-consuming and tricky. So, if you are looking for a quicker fix, then tiling over tiles is a good idea.
As we mentioned earlier, however, there are some factors to consider before tiling over your existing tiles.
For example, you need a clean and smooth surface to attach the tiles to.
So, if you have bumpy, textured tiles then it might not be the best idea.
In addition, if you have smooth tiles, they will need to be cleaned thoroughly before you add the new tiles on top.
So, you cannot simply attach new tiles to old tiles, there is still a considerable amount of prep to go with it.
However, tiling over existing tiles will almost always be easier and quicker than removing the tiles and then attaching the new tiles to the wall beneath.
What Is The Best Way To Tile Over Tiles?
The best thing about tiling over existing tiles is that the method is exactly the same as starting with a fresh wall or floor.
Essentially, the tiled floor/wall acts as your base, so you do not need to learn any additional skills to tile over existing tiles, you can use the tiling skills that you already have.
The hack to applying new tiles to existing tiles successfully is to prepare a good base. If there are any bumps or lumps in your existing grout, then this will ruin your new tiles.
So, you will need to get a sander and sand back any lumps or bumps to create a clean and level surface before you start tiling.
Now, we know that preparation work is a little tedious, and that is probably part of the reason why you are contemplating tiling over your existing tiles.
However, the small amount of sanding required to create an even surface is really nothing in comparison to the work that is necessary for removing the existing tiles, preparing the wall and then tiling on top.
So while the prep work is a little tedious, it is a lot more efficient than removing the existing tiles and adding new tiles. The finished look will be almost identical too!
Pros And Cons Of Tiling Over Tiles
There are lots of pros to tiling over tiles, however there are some cons associated with this too. So, let’s take a look at what they are.
Pros
- Save Time – Tiling over existing tiles can save you time and removes the hard work of stripping existing tiles before adding the new tiles.
- Safer – Avoiding the removal of the existing tiles removes the need for hazardous work making it safer.
- Cost Effective – You do not need to purchase heavy-duty equipment for the job as you will not be removing the existing tiles.
Cons
- Condition of Tiles – In order for this to work, the existing tiles on your wall/floor must be in good condition. If the tiles are in poor condition then you likely will be unable to do this as they will not provide a flat surface for the new tiles.
Summary
In short, yes, you can tile over tiles. Tiling over tiles is a time-saving method which is great if you simply want to freshen up your kitchen or bathroom.
In this guide, we’ve taken a look at some of the pros and cons of tiling over tiles, and lots more.
Thanks for reading!
Hi, my name is Joel Adams and I like to think of myself as a professional DIYer. Whatever odd jobs a person needs to be done around the house, I’m their guy.
I’m talking shelves, making sideboards and tables, painting feature walls… the list is neverending!
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