My husband is planning to retile our fireplace. He does not want to take our old tiles down.Any suggestion?

Monika O
by Monika O
  9 answers
  • Kitchen + Bath Artisans Kitchen + Bath Artisans on Apr 05, 2012
    The new tile will NOT bond to the existing tile and in a short time the tile will start to fail. It's very important that tile bonds to the substrate that it is being applied to. It will take some effort but in the end you guys will not have to do it twice. There are no short cuts when it comes to tiling.
  • Yeah, your going to have to remove the old if you want it to look good and last.
  • Sharon A Sharon A on Apr 05, 2012
    Gonna have to take the tiles down...
  • Ana M Ana M on Apr 10, 2012
    We tiled over our fireplace, but we tiled over brick, which I think hold different. We have not had any problems with it in 6 years, not any separation nor any tiles falling. We mortared to the brick directly and them grouted. I am attaching the before and after for you. I would be really careful to tile over tile because it might not hold if it is slick tile.
  • Monika O Monika O on Apr 10, 2012
    Thank you Ana. It looks very nice. It is good to hear from someone who actually done it.
  • tiling over brick is much different than trying to go over tile. You can get get a good bond to the brick.
  • Ana M Ana M on Apr 11, 2012
    Monika, I agree with Burco, I'd think twice about doing it over tile. I know friends who did that and the tiles popped off after a while.
  • Monika O Monika O on Apr 11, 2012
    Thank you for the help everyone. Hubby has no choice but to take the tiles down.
  • Ana M Ana M on Apr 11, 2012
    Good luck! taking the tile down is not as hard nor cumbersome as one might think, plus you get any aggression out, good therapy! Just need to have the right tools. We took up my entire tile master bathroom floor in just a couple of hours.