Placing tiles over existing ceramic tiles

My kitchen has floor tiles. They are stuck to the concrete floor and are impossible to remove without either damage to the concrete or the pipes that run through them. I intend to roughen the existing tiles and place new ones on top. What primer should I use and also what sort of cement?

Replies from 13 tradespeople

Best thing to do is to get of any loose tiles and then use a 2 part laytex (probond FL390) and use that to cover the tiles and is also self levelling which will give you a nice smooth flat floor in order to tile on top.

As long as the tiles are sound and grease free we would rocomend scoring the service of the tile to provide a key. Most brands of tile Addhesives offer there own range of primer to accompany there adhesive. Other than that an sbr/water mix primer would work equally as well

Not really a good move take off existing and have a real tile tile on tile really would look shabby

Make sure the surface of the existing tiles are not loose, free of mold, level and without any warping or strangely-placed tiles that might interfere with a smooth new layer.

Prime the surface with a tile on tile primer ( I recommend BAL ) and use a none slip flexible adhesive. ( BAL )

OD Tiling Ltd

This will create many more issues than just removing them which can be done without any damage. Once removed level uneven areas with leveling compound, apply pva, floor tile adhesive and tile. It's not a small job but would be worse if not removed as this would raise the floor level and you would have to remove and plane any existing doors and then re hang them.

Tile adhesives are cement based. If you have a concrete subfloor all you need to use is tile adhesive. Don't splash out on polymer modified, extra flexible products. Please don't use ready mixed stuff. Buy powder adhesive and mix it on site

An eco prim grip and a flexible cementitious adhesive

All tiles can be removed albeit some could be extremely difficult ,but if done carefully and with sds drill with tile remover bit on they will come up ,if sub floor is left damaged ,prime area,then latex over with leveling compound ,then i would lay a anti-fracture mat (like BAL rapid Mat)its only 2mm thick and tile.
I would never recommend tiling over tile.

Hello, there are special primers for tiling over tiles - you do not need to roughen first. Then can just use standard floor tile adhesive, cheers Tim

there is a primer called prime grit or one that plasters use on smooth walls blue grit then you will not have roughen the tiles then I would use an s1 adhesive for fitting tiles

You can use a self levelling compound over the existing tiles providing any loose tiles are removed first, depending on what brand screed you use always best to use the suggested primer with it.

Yes but you should at least scratch the surface with the grinder so the adhesive will better bond
Richard

Mapei Eco-Prime Grip,
Ardex x7 adhesive.

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