One of the biggest renovations that homeowners make to their bathrooms is getting brand new tile flooring. Replacing tile flooring is difficult because ripping up the old tile is cumbersome and time consuming. However, many times, reflooring can be completed without tearing out the old materials if you are wanting to replace the old tile with new tile rather than a different material. This method of retiling can make your bathroom remodeling go much faster and cost quite a bit less as well. 

Best Practices for Tiling Over Tile 

Before deciding if you should tear out the old tile or just tile on top you should:

  • Inspect the older tile to ensure no indications of mold or mildew is present, 
  • The tiles are level and in good condition

If mold, mildew, or broken tiles are found, it is better to go ahead and replace the tile rather than lay tile on top of the old during bathroom remodeling. 

How to Tile Over Tile 

Before you begin tiling you will need to ensure a level surface by sanding the old tile and make sure there are not lumps of dry grout. 

Next, you will need to ensure all tiles are secure by adding tile adhesive to secure any tiles that are loose. 

To begin laying new tile, you will need to cut the new tiles to fit. 

Degrease your surface area and let the floor dry completely before laying tile. After the surface is dry, an adhesive called thin-set mortar should be spread only a few feet at a time. Score the surface of the adhesive. 

After scoring, firmly press each tile into place. Once all adhesive is covered in tiles, move on to the next section of the floor. 

Lastly, you will want to seal the work by spreading grout between the tiles and into the grooves to protect the new surface. Premixed grout is easy to find at a home store as well as all the other bathroom remodeling materials you need. 

Being able to tile over old floor tiles will save you time and money during your bathroom remodeling project; however, if you aren’t sure if you should remove your tile or not, ask an expert!

If you need to speak to an expert about your bathroom remodeling project, contact The Bath & Kitchen Gallery at 813-454-0592.