Bathroom - tile over tile or not??

The tiles in my bathroom are a bit dated but they are on well. I would like to retile the bathroom. Is it advisable to tile directly over these existing floor and wall tiles. Or should I just remove these old tiles first.

I'd like to do what's best.

omeara1113

Done the same recently and removed the tiles, made a big job of it and removed the slab as well and replaced with new slabs. The job looks great finished

omeara1113

omeara1113 wrote: »

Done the same recently and removed the tiles, made a big job of it and removed the slab as well and replaced with new slabs. The job looks great finished

Did the same a few years ago. You know that you’ve done it properly!

muffler

Deleted User wrote: »

The tiles in my bathroom are a bit dated but they are on well. I would like to retile the bathroom. Is it advisable to tile directly over these existing floor and wall tiles. Or should I just remove these old tiles first.

I'd like to do what's best.

We got a bathroom refurb done and I wasnt there when the guys were working at it but they asked my wife if she was okay with them tiling over the existing tiles and not knowing any better she agreed to it. I wouldnt have allowed it if I had been there so I waited to see a tile or two falling off and then get them back to do the job properly but that was 8 or 9 years ago and its been perfect.

My other concern was the weight of a double layer of tiles on a stud partition but again it was all good. The job is only as good as the tiles that are already there and also the sturdiness of your partitions if you have them.

Thanks folks, both ways would be an option then. It would be great to just tile over them if all went well.

dok_golf

Nothing to do with the studiness of the partition. The weight is transferred downwards into the floor. The partition keeps them upright.

GreeBo

there is no issue tiling over tile... it's actually a good surface to tile oon... however you would want to be 100% happy with what it's going on underneath the origin all tiles.

Typically it's mold and damp because no waterproofing was used.
Unless i knew what was there I'd be removing and waterproofing myself.

pnecilcaser

If you are going full on refurb I would always recommend using a tanking system around the shower, ask your tiler about it. Costs a bit extra but I got it done when I had new shower and tiles installed in my bathroom.

policarp

Deleted User wrote: »

The tiles in my bathroom are a bit dated but they are on well. I would like to retile the bathroom. Is it advisable to tile directly over these existing floor and wall tiles. Or should I just remove these old tiles first.

I'd like to do what's best.

Are your walls studs?
Are your floors concrete?
Different answer for different questions.

Victor

Wall tiles may have little adhesive holding them up and tend to be designed to not have things stick tot he face of them. My sister had her kitchen re-done and asked me to take off the tiles. It took about half an hour to remove them all.*


* For years after, my niece would accuse me of breaking the kitchen

policarp

policarp wrote: »

Are your walls studs?
Are your floors concrete?
Different answer for different questions.

It's upstairs. Mostly stud walls, one external block wall. Not a concrete floor either.

BrokenArrows

Victor wrote: »

* For years after, my niece would accuse me of breaking the kitchen

I dont get you?

fineso.mom

BrokenArrows wrote: »

I dont get you?

I presume he means his niece was a child when he did it . To a child it would have looked like he was ' breaking' the kitchen.

mr_cochise

My tuppence worth is that it can be done on the floor but should not be done on either floor or wall. There is something inherently lazy about it.
Lazy work leads to lazy standards, me thinks!!!

liam7831

mr_cochise wrote:

My tuppence worth is that it can be done on the floor but should not be done on either floor or wall. There is something inherently lazy about it. Lazy work leads to lazy standards, me thinks!!!

Agreed, a lad did it on my house tiled over existing on kitchen floor did a terrible job just wanted to do a quick shoddy job. Make them do it properly and take up old ones

mr_cochise

mr_cochise wrote: »

My tuppence worth is that it can be done on the floor but should not be done on either floor or wall. There is something inherently lazy about it.
Lazy work leads to lazy standards, me thinks!!!

As the boy, Roy famously said “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail”

Rows Grower

Deleted User wrote: »

It's upstairs. Mostly stud walls, one external block wall. Not a concrete floor either.

Better off to get the tiler to recommend a plumber or vice versa.

Make sure the old tiles are well cleaned, and use a flexible adhesive and grout.

You could take off the tiles around the window reveal too if you didn't want to narrow the window frame, better job afterwards.

This is all assuming there are no cracks in wall or floor grouting or leaks at the moment.

You'll probably have to take a half inch off the door, depending on the finish you prefer you might want to replace the door saddle.

No big deal compared to having your whole home like a demolition site and having to pay the extra expense because you didn't want to lose a half inch space around the bathroom that you are never going to notice anyway.

Victor

BrokenArrows wrote: »

I dont get you?

She was 3 at the time.

MrMusician18

Tiling on tiles looks ****e on corners, particularly return ones.

Rows Grower

MrMusician18 wrote: »

Tiling on tiles looks ****e on corners, particularly return ones.

When tile on tile is done properly you won't be able to notice.

GreeBo

Rows Grower wrote: »

When tile on tile is done properly you won't be able to notice.

+1

Tile on tile makes no difference to the finished look, assuming both layers of tile are done properly of course.

awec

Rows Grower wrote: »

When tile on tile is done properly you won't be able to notice.

Surely the tiles will be sitting a good thickness off the wall which will look really odd if you don't have the full walls tiled?

Doop

Also... Tiling over floor tiles will increase your step up??

Do it once do it right...take up the old, particularly if you are paying someone to do it.

vicwatson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/110338306#Comment_110338306

I know my tiler "tanked" the wall before putting existing tiles up, these are "glass" mosaic, would I need to use a primer before tiling over them? They are very sound on the wall.

Blue4u

Take the tiles down, it is very easy. I done it recently and lucky the wall was skimmed underneath. I then got a steamer to take off wall paper and took the old adhesive off the wall with the steam. Made a perfect job

seamus

Unless there's a really good reason why you can't take the old tiles off (say if they're glued-down cork or something), then I think spending the extra time to do it is worth the effort.

Your main issue really is in the floor tiles where you're likely to have damp, cracks and unevenness over the years. Put new tiles on top of these and your floor will be crap in six months.

vicwatson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118192171#Comment_118192171

No chance, it would mean removing the shower enclosure and then replace the whole plastered wall so this is not going to happen.

Just wondering about the need for a primer though