How can I replace my ceramic tile floors?

Carol Harley
by Carol Harley

I need to replace my ceramic tile floors. I hear you can just re-tile over the existing floor. Anyone tried? Are you happy with the results?

  3 answers
  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Oct 18, 2019
    Depends on your tile. There could be a height issue around the toilet and doorways. Make sure to remove vanity and toilet before you refile.
  • You can't tile over existing ceramic tile. Anything you place on top will fail in the short term. You must remove the existing flooring, then prep and install the new flooring according to manufacturers specifications for warranty purposes. Not what you may want to hear, but no sense in wasting hard earned money.

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Oct 18, 2019
    Naomi’s as always is correct. There is, however, a short term fix you may feel compelled to use. The floor must be smooth and even. You can use concrete to fill in any gaps, or a rasp to remove any raised spaces. Do not cement a toilet or other plumbing or cabinetry to the floor. Once the floor is both level and smooth, you can use industrial glue or cement to install a new floor, water sealed as much as possible. This will last a few years, according to the quality of the work and materials. Best wishes, Jewell.
    • See 1 previous
    • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Oct 19, 2019

      Thanks for asking, Naomie. I’m ten months away from the massive stroke I had Dec. 31. I can’t seem to catch up with 100 answers a month, but I’ve only missed one month creating a post. I can almost walk across a room. No talking problems, to my husband’s chagrin! And I can zip across Walmart in an electric scooter, so once a month I get to go shopping. But not to Hobby Lobby—no scooters. Family are all doing great. Both sons/dils and younger grands will be here Nov. 21-23 for early Thanksgiving. We may spend Jan. in Alabama, if nothing else happens to me. A PE, two different brain bleeds plus the stroke. But no heart problems. And 0% loss of abilities or memory for Alzheimer’s or dementia. (But I am tired of painting while I am in bed.) Thank the Lord!

      Now catch me up with you! Jewell