How could I update a floor with the aweful 2"x2" grid tiles??

Christy
by Christy

Actually they may be 1"x1" but it is the standard OLD grid tiles in yellow and cream. Terrible. Any ideas?


  14 answers
  • K. Rupp K. Rupp on Sep 22, 2020

    Hi Christy, I have been looking at some new products at Home Depot and Lowes. Have you seen waterproof flooring that looks like tile or wood. It is an interlocking floating floor that doesn't need to be grouted. It works great for areas that could possibly get very wet and great for homes in hurricane zones. You can even put them in basements, bathrooms and kitchens. You can also put it right over your old tiles. I am looking more at these lately because the styles are changing so quickly for flooring. Easy to put in and very easy to remove. It's as expensive as normal tiling but for diy its easier.

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Sep 22, 2020

    I’ve seen lots of people paint and stencil them with pretty great results.

  • The easiest and least expensive way is to give the tile and grout a good cleaning. If you still don't like the look, cover the floor with a rug.

  • Lisa Hunt Lisa Hunt on Sep 22, 2020

    Most of the time you can lay flooring over it, but you may have to use thinset or something to fill in all the grout to level it beforehand unless you are using a rigid material like tile or planks, so may be more than just your average DIY project...

    If you don't want to re-tile, I agree with the painting/stenciling idea. Or you could even clean the grout really good and then meticulously paint individual tiles to make a mosaic picture pattern. Make sure to do proper prep and buy the right materials. I am guessing it is in a bathroom, so you have to expect a lot of wear and tear.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Sep 22, 2020

    You can paint the tile, I just painted my grout and sealed it using out door paint. You can do a solid or stencil pattern

    You could lay a new floor over it. Either fill in the grout lines or put down luan. Then a new flooring on top of that.

  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Sep 22, 2020

    I agree you could definitely go over it with another tile or paint it out. Paint would be the least expensive and easiest. However, with a floor leveling compound, you could lay any floor right over the top of it.

  • Em Em on Sep 22, 2020

    I purchased a deep cobalt carpet tile that is adhesive on the back from Amazon. The tiles are 12 x 12 peel and stick and had a pattern on the pile like raised stripes. I turned each one in the opposite direction and love how it looks they were easy to cut to fit around the toilet and in corners. Did it in one afternoon with nothing but a pencil to mark the backing and scissors.

  • Maura White Maura White on Sep 22, 2020

    I love the idea of using floor leveling compound and covering it with a new laminate flooring!

  • 17335038 17335038 on Sep 23, 2020

    Keep in mind that if you do choose to cover your existing tiles with another type of flooring, you will need to contend with the transition pieces at the thresholds of any doorways attached to the room.


    The picture below shows a threshold difference between existing floor and old floor that has been covered.

  • Tile over it with a new flooring that you like. You could also do vinyl plank flooring right on top if the tile is in good shape

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Sep 23, 2020

    the new luxury vinyl flooring is easy to install and also easy to maintain - I would go with that -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp0H9-K8FVo

  • Lauren of Mom Home Guide Lauren of Mom Home Guide on Sep 24, 2020

    I would think you'd be able to use vinyl tiles or flooring over it. Good luck!

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Sep 25, 2020

    Hello there,

    You could consider using a tile paint on it to see if that helps. Don't have to do it all one colour. You could give it a border or a pattern (Flowers maybe yellow in the middle and white on out side for petals ) over the top of base colour. You could always cover it if it doesn't!. Enjoy the journey......