Tile over tile in a shower ??

Question

I met a General Contractor at one of my clients home today and he said they often do not tear up the tile in the master shower when there is a mud pan below. They will put levers over and tile over it all. SERIOUSLY? Anyone do this with luck?
Sounds wickedly risky in my book!

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

I have seen this type of work done. Reason, I was tearing the old work out. Nuff said.

3po3 · Answer

I have never heard of this, but it sounds like really bad karma. Having removed some difficult tile, I would have been really angry if I had found another layer of tile underneath.

Designs by BSB · Answer

This is a Contractor I (have) trusted. I am beside myself that he proposed this to my client.

KMS Woodworks · Answer

Not a good idea...ever. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/q-shower-tile-i-have-installed-backer-board-to-all-walls-and-am-ready-to-start-tiling-89532

Hamtil Construction LLC · Answer

No way. Not in a shower. The rare 'tile over' work we have done is on non- wet floors where there is concrete below, the situation really warrants it, and it's done correctly. Possible but not recommended... http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/qa/tile-over-tiled-shower-pan.aspx

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

I found that how to from Find Homebuilding to be ok as long as the shower is on a cement floor. What is not addressed in that forum is the moisture that gets past the tile and grout. All shower drain assemblies have a secondary drain point that is below the surface of the tile. Its primary being is to allow moisture that collects below the tile in the mud bed to have a way out of the system without collecting and causing damage to the floor above. The writer goes on to say that he uses a generous amount of thinset to place the new drain grate into place. I would be weary of this as it is possible for that material to plug the drain system located below the surface of the tile. 
In addition the writer uses a water membrane system. This is a great idea, however proper protocol dictates that this membrane not cover or seal off the below floor drain openings that are critical in preventing leakage should the water membrane fail. 
This point is all mute however if the shower pan is placed on a cement slab at or below grade level as any leaks will seep into the ground and evaporate away. 
The old adage goes your only as good as the weakest link. And if any tile on the floor or if the original installation is faulty then your new expensive floor would end up needing to be torn out to make the repairs that eventually will arise in short order.

Penn Contractors Inc. · Answer

not to beat a dead horse or worn out shower; however, this is a crazy idea and will lead to nothing but ill will and a leaky shower.

Designs by BSB · Answer

Here is his reply after I noted my grave concerns..

'Ok I admit it was probably a bad suggestion in this case, and I didn't mean to imply we would do it that way. Only that it might be a possible way to save some work if the right conditions existed. I understand not every tile guy is comfortable with the technique but most tile manufacturers do give detailed instructions on how to do it and offer products specifically designed for tiling over tile. Likewise we would never do anything we couldn't stand behind, I would have discussed it in more detail with my tile person before proposing it in an estimate. That being said we won't mention it again. '

CapStone Home Renovations · Answer

Besides, who knows how the pan is built, if it was done right, or if it's already damaged.

World Contracting LLC · Answer

there are always corners that can be cut at a considerable risk. Some people NEED a new shower but cant afford it etc etc....
That is not my type of client and not the work we offer. If we touch your job, Everything is going to be new and warranty'd by us and the mnfg products we use...

Dcz665 · Answer

In the midst of a bathroom renovation at our church the member overseeing the project (a construction o. supervisor) urged us to just level and then tile over the old 1960 tile job. To save money we agreed but the subcontractor HE contracted wouldn't do it, seeing it as a bandaid over bad. Luckily we listened to him as the flooring supports were rotting and would have failed. Think of how long a tiled shower will be in place. Now divide that by the extra cost of doing it right. It will probably work out to pennies a day.

Tile over tile in a shower ??

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Tile over tile in a shower ??

Shower Tile?

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