Sometimes old tiles are firmly glued to the floor or walls, so that their dismantling is very difficult. Is it worth gluing tiles on tiles, when is it possible to do so, and when not? The article contains all the necessary information on this issue.
Why tile on tile
This method of installing tiles is not a popular solution, and opinions differ about this method. There are several reasons why installing a new tile on an old one is preferable:
- Removing old tiles is hard work. Sometimes the coating is attached to the base so firmly that it cannot be removed without special tools. Sometimes you have to call special services, which costs a pretty penny. In addition, a large amount of construction debris and dust is formed, which means a waste of energy on cleaning the premises. We will have to free all the nearest premises from furniture, since dusting will be significant, and polyethylene coatings will not save.
- Going from the opposite, the installation of tiles on tiles will be much easier, and a lot of time will be saved.
- When demolishing the old coating, fragments of the cement-sand screed may break off. You will have to refill it and wait for the solution to harden.
- With this method, the consumption of materials is noticeably reduced: it is not necessary to level the surface. The preparation time is also reduced.
Is it worth installing a tile based on these reasons? Do not hurry. Other factors must also be taken into account.
Cons of the method
With some convenience of such installation, negative consequences are inevitable. What to expect from tile-to-tile fixing:
- Hiding precious centimeters, which will be especially noticeable in small rooms such as a bathroom. Old tiles and an additional layer of glue reduce the area of \u200b\u200bthe room if the installation is done on the wall. If the tile is placed on the floor, then its level will rise noticeably - you will probably have to increase the height of the threshold, respectively, reshape the door leaf.
- Too thick coating looks unaesthetic.
- If there were defects on the old masonry, then there is a risk of damage to the new coating in the same places. The cladding will collapse due to the increased load if there were cracks and voids on the old tile.
- In order for the adhesion of the surface to the adhesive to be strong, porous and rough materials are selected. Ceramic tiles do not meet these requirements, respectively, the new coating is not attached very securely.
- Additional processing of the old tile will be required. It differs from standard works. Sometimes such preparation takes no less time and effort than dismantling the old tile.
When such an installation is categorically inappropriate
There are unequivocal contraindications for attaching a new tile to an old one. These include the following cases:
- The old tile keeps badly and has defects.
- A new layer of tile on the floor will exceed the threshold level. In the bathroom, it is recommended to make the floor 2-3 cm lower than in the rest of the house, or install a high threshold. This reduces the risk of water entering the room in the event of a leak.
- The base is composed of separate and not large enough elements, and the entire load will fall on the bonding coating between the old tile and the base. This is fraught with rapid damage to the new tile. The bearing function can only be performed by a monolithic tile coating.
- The surface has a large slope and needs to be leveled.
Advice! If you are concerned about at least one point that warns against installing an old tile on a new one, then it is better to abandon this idea. Indeed, in case of failure, you will have to remove two layers of tiles and spend money on the third option.
How to stick
The preparation of the base in the form of an old tile is carried out in a special way. The quality of the cladding directly depends on the choice of adhesive composition. Ordinary cement mixtures are also suitable for the floor. For walls, dense and elastic compositions are selected.
Quick-drying mixes are a good choice, as they will prevent the coating from slipping. The adhesive must have high adhesion and provide a strong base. On sale there are special adhesive compositions for mounting tiles on difficult surfaces, for example, Ceresit, Ivsil Profit.
Important! If you put a tile on a too thick layer of glue, the polymerization will take much longer, respectively, the risk of delamination of the masonry and slipping of the top coating will increase.
Tile installation: instructions
How to stick ceramic tiles so that the cladding lasts for many years? First you need to do the preparatory steps:
- Inspect the old coating to see how firmly it is connected to the wall or floor.
- Carefully examine the tile for chips, cracks and other defects. Even 10-15% of the damaged coating is already a reason for dismantling. If the main part of the tile is strong, and there are damages in 2-3 places, then you can take a chance and install a new tile on top of the old one.
- If the old coating looks good, you need to test it: tap it with a wooden mallet. If cracks and rattling appear, the old lining must be removed.
- The seams between the tiles should also not stagger and fall out.
The adhesive adheres well to the porous surface, penetrating into its structure. The tile, especially glossy, has a minimal ability to absorb moisture, that is, it has few pores. To facilitate adhesion, you need to clean the surface: use a grinder to make notches on the tile or remove the glossy layer completely. The bottom of the tile is water-absorbing. It needs to be at least 60% open. But this method is time consuming and dirty.
There is another way to make the surface rough: concrete-contact primer. It adheres well to the top layer of tiles and serves as a reliable base for tile adhesive.
- The surface must be cleaned of dirt and grease and wiped dry, otherwise the glue simply will not work.
- Cover fallen or unstable tiles with cement mortar so that the surface is on the same level. Wait for drying.
- Apply the primer with a roller or brush. Setting time - 2-4 hours.
- If the method is chosen with the removal of the upper part of the tile, then when working with the grinder, it is necessary to wear safety glasses.
- Apply the tile adhesive to the dry primer with a notched trowel.
- Lay the tiles in the usual way.
- Due to the low absorbency, the drying time of the glue will be longer.
- Grout with special compounds with a rubber spatula.
- Let the glue dry completely. Time of final polymerization - 3-4 days after installation.
Can you glue tiles on tiles? In conclusion, it is worth noting that this method of installation is sometimes preferable. But you should carefully inspect the old tile for defects, as well as carry out all the preparatory and basic work strictly according to the instructions.
Can you put new tiles on top of old ones?
Can you put tiles on tiles? This question cannot be answered unambiguously. Because in rare cases, you can be sure that the existing ceramics hold tight, have no voids and will not start to fall off under the weight of the new tile.
Weigh all the pros and cons and study the surface
You can practically put a new tile on an old one. But before laying, you should still weigh the pros and cons, and if, for some reason, you still decide not to dismantle the old coating, you need to carefully check whether it has enough reliable adhesion to the surface of the wall or floor. To do this, the tiles are tapped with a hammer and inspected. If it rattles when tapped or has cracks and swellings, then there is no way to put a new layer on it. It will have to be dismantled. If the elements hold tight, then you can proceed to.
Simple and reliable laying technology
The methods that craftsmen use when laying new ceramic tiles on old ones are different. Many advise making notches, cutting off the glaze with a grinder, etc. But if you use a special primer, then all these activities will be superfluous. Betonokontakt is exactly what you need for surfaces with low water absorption.
Before applying the primer to the old tile, it is thoroughly cleaned of dirt and grease. Concrete contact is applied with a roller or brush. Material before use and in the course of work carefully mix. The primer should not be allowed to get into the eyes, but if the mixture gets into the eyes, it must be washed off with plenty of water.
It is necessary to work with concrete contact with rubber gloves. Primer consumption is on average 300 g per m².
Acrylic-based concrete contact is produced. In addition to special fillers that increase the adhesion of the mixture, the composition of the soil includes sand and cement. Any hardly absorbent surfaces are treated with concrete contact. After applying the primer to the surface, it becomes rough. When the previous coating is processed, it is given three hours to dry.
After the primer has dried, the surface is suitable for laying new material on the adhesive solution. About how to do it.
Video: work technology
Do not forget that if not, but to lay a new one on it, then this will reduce the area of \u200b\u200byour room. Bathrooms in apartments tend to be small, so it's worth considering whether you need to reduce it even more.
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The option is certainly not the best to lay new tiles on the old one. It is better to dismantle the old tiles, it is possible that the plaster will still have to be beaten off. In short, to bring the ideal surface to an amazing view, so that later the tile does not fall off when laying a new tile. Everyone chooses how it is more profitable for him to make repairs so that there is no loss.
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11-03-2015Very often, when making repairs in an apartment, especially in the kitchen or bathroom, the owners are wondering about the old tiling. Can you tile on tile? What to do: dismantle or lay tiles on a layer of old tiles? If you remove the old coating, then the time period for the repair can be significantly delayed, and more finance will be required. This is due to the need to level the surfaces after dismantling.
Laying tiles on tiles is done after determining the condition of the old tile.
And separate time will need to be spent on the process of removing tiles from the walls or floor of the bathroom (kitchen) and on the subsequent removal of construction waste. It is in connection with these factors that the logical question arises about the possibility of laying new tiles on top of the old one. This is quite an acceptable situation, of course, subject to certain requirements.
Criteria for assessing the condition of the old tile layer
To ensure that your decision to lay new tiles on top of old ones is balanced and correct, carefully examine and evaluate the quality of the old bathroom or kitchen wall tiling.
The most important thing is to find out how firmly it holds on the wall (floor).
If the old tile is cracked or has chips, then it is better to remove it.
- At the very beginning, the old tile is inspected for various damages, such as cracks, chips, or parts of the tile lagging behind the wall. Don't trust only your eyes. Even if visually it seems that the tile is located on the bathroom wall quite securely, this is not always the case.
- It is necessary to arm yourself with a wooden hammer and tap all suspicious areas. If you hear a characteristic rattling sound or after this procedure cracks appear on the surface of the tile, then the tile fastening does not meet the reliability requirements.
- Remove such old tiles from the surface of the wall (floor) of the bathroom (kitchen). If there are a large number of these sites and they make up a significant percentage of the entire surface area, then you still have to be patient, time, financial and proceed with the procedures for the complete dismantling of the tile. Next, you will have an operation to level the surface, and only after completing it, you can lay the tiles.
When it comes to ceramic flooring in the bathroom, one more thing is important: the level of the floor. It is necessary to check whether it will exceed the height of the threshold in the room, and only then lay the tiles on the existing tile layer.
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Preparing the surface of the old tile for laying the new coating
Scheme of laying tiles on the old tiles.
So, you have carefully examined all areas of the tiled surface and have come to the conclusion that the old ceramic coating of the bathroom can be left. So, we will lay tiles on top of it. And this requires the use of a special technology, slightly different from conventional styling.
In order for the adhesion between two tile layers to be strong, you need to make the old tile layer rough. This is necessary for good adhesion. How to do it? There are several easy ways.
- You can simply remove the top tile layer, as it is usually glossy. In this case, it will no longer interfere with the good adhesion of the two coatings.
- Another option involves applying notches to the tiled surface.
- The third method proposes to treat the old tiled surface with a special kind of primer.
All three of these options are quite feasible with your own hands. But keep in mind that the first two methods will be more time consuming. In the process of their implementation, a lot of dirt and dust is generated. If that doesn't stop you, you can use one of them. The third method is simpler, but requires certain financial costs aimed at acquiring a special primer composition.
To implement the first option, you will need a tool such as a grinder. With its help, it is much easier to remove the glossy layer of tiles, and make notches faster and easier.
In order for the laying of tiles to be possible, it is necessary to prepare the old layer, for example, to apply notches.
By carrying out this procedure, you will improve the quality of contact of the adhesive with the layer of old tiles. Please note that you can not remove the entire top layer of the old tile, it is enough if the percentage of the area processed in this way is 60%. If you settled on a method that involves notching, then usually the distance between them is from 1 to 2 cm.
Now - as for the treatment with a primer. This is the most modern way to make a smooth surface suitable for finishing it with any material. This method gives any surface roughness properties. Such a primer composition is called concrete-contact. Coating with this type of primer will provide you with high-quality adhesion to the glossy surface of the old tile; adhesive designed for ceramic tiles is very well applied to such a layer.
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How to properly lay tiles on old tiles: the technological order of work
If you have never finished with tiles, it is best to familiarize yourself with the basic rules and requirements for this process in advance. So you can avoid many mistakes that beginners make.
When laying floor tiles on top of old tiles, keep in mind that this will significantly increase the level of the floor.
- First you need to carry out surface treatment in places of chips and other damage. For these purposes, a solution of cement and sand is used. You can also replace the solution with a special tile adhesive. Irregularities are sealed flush with the main surface, after which you should wait for it to dry completely.
- At the next stage, it is necessary to carry out the final cleaning of the treated surface from the remaining contaminants. These may be the remains of a solution, glue, etc. All of them are peeled off, and the surface is wiped dry with a piece of cloth or sponge.
- Now, as noted above, it is the turn of applying the concrete-contact primer. This is done with a roller (brush). For its setting, 2 to 4 hours is enough. The exact time is indicated in the instructions that come with the primer.
If you have chosen another way to prepare the old tile for the subsequent laying of a new coating, then the glossy surface must be removed using a grinder. This method is described in more detail above. Just do not forget when performing this procedure to provide yourself with reliable protection. Hands must be in gloves, the use of goggles is also a prerequisite. Working with a grinder implies the possibility of getting parts of the tile into the eyes, to prevent this, never neglect personal protective equipment.
After these procedures, you can lay the tiles.
1. Application of glue.
2. Laying tiles.
The tile adhesive is applied using a spatula (smooth). But the alignment and giving it a relief shape is already done with the help of a jagged tool. Tiling is done in the usual way.
Another important point: if you put the tile on the old tile, the adhesive will dry a little longer than usual. This is due to the low absorbent properties of the base. All this does not allow for subsequent grouting work immediately after installation. It is better to wait about 3 or 4 days and only then do the finishing of the seams. A rubber spatula is best for applying the grout.
For a person, the desire to save money is natural. And we are talking not only about money or consumables, but also about time, effort, energy. Such desires can result in the solution of global problems. And they can be much smaller and push a person to solve "narrow" questions. For example, can you lay tiles on tiles?
Is it possible or not?
In this case, as in that popular expression: "If you really want to, then you can." In fact, the answer to the question: "Can I lay tiles on tiles?" - depends on many nuances and details. And all of them must be taken into account, because otherwise the savings can turn into excessive costs arising from the need to redo the work done.
Tap, listen, view
First of all, when deciding whether it is possible to lay tiles on tiles, it is necessary to inspect every centimeter of the future base. To do this, first carry out a visual inspection: examine whether the previous coating is well preserved. If cracks appear, chips or other defects are present, this is already an argument in favor of removing the old coating. Although the number of defective tiles is taken into account here. Regardless of whether you are facing a dilemma: is it possible to lay tiles on tiles on the floor or not, or are you planning to do it on the walls, if the imperfection of the tiles is a mass phenomenon, then get ready to dismantle the old layer. If not, you can still get by with "little blood" and take out broken or suspicious pieces, covering the holes with mortar or tile glue.
But that's not all. Armed with a hammer, you should tap each tile, clearly listening to the sound it makes. If your ear caught a rattling, too sonorous sound, then there are problems of an "internal" nature under this place. It is there that there are defects in laying the tiles. Instead of cement, there is air, so such a tile is completely unreliable as an initial coating. If there are quite a lot of such areas, then the question of whether it is possible to lay tiles on tiles will disappear by itself.
Floor and walls
Their main difference is in the direction of the planes where they are located, and, accordingly, in the loads. If there is a large mechanical effect on the floor from above, then gravity acts on the walls to a greater extent, pulling the tiles down. Because of this, for many craftsmen the question is: "Can I lay tiles on tiles on the wall?" - is quite controversial. Some unequivocally give a positive answer, others do not recommend doing this, others take doubts about how a large tile laid on a small one will behave and vice versa.
But most craftsmen are still sure that there is nothing wrong with the second layer of wall tiles. It is only necessary to withstand all the necessary technological requirements and use high-quality materials. The preparation of the primary, soil layer is of primary importance.
Thorough wet cleaning
All doubts about whether it is possible to lay tiles on tiles on the floor or on the walls are already behind. It's time to get to work. And you need to start by preparing the old tile to turn it into a ground layer. Since the tile is covered with glaze, care should be taken to increase its adhesion. To begin with, armed with either a rag with a solution of caustic soda, or organic solvents (gasoline, acetone, and others), treat the old tile, removing dust, grease and other contaminants from it. The second method is faster, but more harmful to health. The right to choose - on what to save - is provided to you. When processing, it should be remembered that most of the dirt is collected in the seams between the tiles. Therefore, these places should be given special attention.
To keep tiles from peeling off
The main doubt when solving the question: "Is it possible to lay tiles on tiles in the bathroom?" - high humidity in the room. But again, modern technology helps to solve this problem. The main thing is to increase the adhesion force between the new and old layers. And for this, after careful cleaning procedures, you need to start processing the base.
There are two ways to do this:
- mechanical;
- chemical.
The first one is rather unpretentious. We take a grinder with a diamond disc and comb the glaze from the old tile. Or, with another tool, we make notches, holes, grooves - well, how the hand lies. In short, we mock the old coating as we ourselves can, if only to damage the top layer. For we remember that glazed tiles have a water-repellent property, but we need, on the contrary, that the adhesive base is more firmly absorbed into it. Having finished the "act of vandalism", do not forget to turn on the vacuum cleaner and thoroughly (maybe even several times) vacuum the bathroom. For dust is also the enemy of adhesives.
If dusty work is not to your liking, take gloves, a roller and apply a special primer to the cleaned floor - traditional for this method "Betonokontakt" or "Ceresit CN94" or less well-known so far Ivsil Basis-Beton, "Plitonit-Grunt-Superkontakt" . It is a pleasure to work with Betonokontakt. Thanks to its color, you can always see whether the entire surface is well and evenly processed. Having finished the exercises with chemistry, we leave to rest for three hours, until the coating dries and begins to resemble sandpaper. By the way, before treating the base with reagents, carefully close the pipes and other places where the primer is not supposed to be used. Otherwise, you risk getting an indelible stain on the reputation of your bathroom.
What to glue?
Puzzled by the question: "Is it possible to lay tiles on tiles in the bathroom on the wall?", Many proceed from the alleged savings in materials and, accordingly, money. But you should not save money by buying cheap adhesives for these works. After all, they must "work" in rather specific conditions. Strong fixation materials that can withstand increased stress in an uncomfortable environment are more expensive than classic options. But it’s better to immediately “plant” the tiles on them than to repeat this action several times later.
Good fame, due to the high level of adhesion, has earned Ceresit CM-17 tile adhesive. It works great on smooth surfaces. And one more bonus from its use - tiles on the wall can be laid from top to bottom.
Experts say that when using the Vetonit Renovation adhesive mixture, you can not worry about roughening the bottom layer on which the new tile is laid. Although this is exactly the case when reinsurance does not hurt, especially for non-professionals.
The Ivsil Profit adhesive is commonly used for laying porcelain stoneware. And since it is designed to withstand this heavy material, it will do just fine with the second layer of tile. In addition, the price for it is lower than that of the adhesive materials mentioned above.
The process itself
It doesn’t matter which of the questions you are facing: “Can I lay tiles on tiles in the bathroom?”, “On the floor?”, “On the walls?”, The main thing is that you do not need to forget about the small nuances of the work. Well, firstly, you should choose the location of the new tile so that its rows do not repeat the old ones, so that the seams between the tiles differ from those on the first layer. This will give the structure additional strength.
Secondly, there is no need to strive to lay the tiles on a thick, thick layer of glue. This can lead to an increase in drying time, shrinkage of tiles and other troubles. Well, we should not forget about the final grouting.
"Eaten" space
The main disadvantage when laying the second layer of tiles is the reduction in the volume of the room. By the way, one of the reasons for not doing this in the bathroom is to raise the level of the floor after installation. In principle, laying a new tile on an old one, subject to technological standards and using appropriate materials, is possible indefinitely. But, when thinking about whether it is possible to lay tiles on tiles in three layers, do not forget to measure how many centimeters your bathroom or kitchen will decrease.
Imagine a repair procedure that requires complete dismantling of existing finishing structures. Even an experienced master will shudder from such a volume of work, not to mention a simple layman - only a week or two of continuous work can be spent on eliminating old materials.
Therefore, when renovating a kitchen or bathroom, the question always becomes - is it possible to lay tiles on tiles, or will you have to be content with the traditional method of resolving the issue.
The advantages of this method are obvious - it is much easier to lay the material on a ready-made flat surface, and at the same time you do not have to pollute the house with a lot of dust and ceramic fragments.
However, it is necessary to remember about the disadvantages - you can only lay tiles on a very durable surface, not subject to cracking and capable of withstanding increased loads, otherwise after a while it will begin to collapse.
When working with tiles that you are going to lay on the floor, there are much fewer problems than with a finishing agent that is designed to organize the surface of the walls.
The reason for this is quite simple - the wall tile is also affected by gravity, as a result of which it pulls itself down on its own. It is possible to put an additional layer of material, covering the old plane with it, however, it is necessary to approach this issue with the utmost care and conduct thorough preparation.
Such a solution is most often used for the bathroom and kitchen - that is, those rooms where ceramic cladding is common, resistant to moisture and high temperatures.
Checking the old coating
First of all, you need to understand whether the builders followed the technology when they laid the old tiles - for this it is better to take the smallest steel hammer and tap the entire surface with it, without missing a single square. If there are cavities inside, then the strength of the coating will be broken - this will be displayed in a ringing echo that will come from under the ceramic layer.
As a working tool, you can also take a special hammer equipped with a copper tip - it has the best acoustic properties, which are important in this case. If there are small chips or open seams and ends, try to understand on what basis the tile was laid.
The best option is a building mixture consisting of synthetic and 
mineral components - laying tiles using such a tool is recommended by most professionals.
Synthetic mixtures hold tiles made of materials such as:
- ceramics;
- tile;
- porcelain stoneware;
- composite ceramics.
Preparing for the second layer of tiles
Now it is necessary to provide the necessary adhesion properties, because the finishing tiles in the bathroom often have a smooth glossy surface that is not able to properly hold the surface layer of a large mass.
To do this, remove the top layer using a grinder or grinder with a special brush consisting of steel wire. In addition, the old surface can also be treated with an abrasive disc, creating cross-cuts on it, which increase the adhesion efficiency of the adhesive composition.
As a basis that needs to be laid under a new material, it is better to use a concrete contact composition containing various synthetic components that increase the strength of the connection. It is worth adding acicular quartz to it, which replaces sand if it is necessary to create especially strong concrete structures.
Applying tiles to the wall
At the beginning of work, the seams should be additionally cleaned with a chisel in order to improve their filling with building mixture. Using a trowel or spatula, we put the concrete contact on the old tile, not forgetting to level it to achieve the maximum quality of the created surface.
The material consumption should be about 300 grams per square meter - this means that it should not be applied in a very thick layer.
If such a recommendation is not followed, the strength of the finish will be called into question. If you work in the bathroom or kitchen, and not in the utility room, then the floor and furniture should be covered with plastic wrap - otherwise, ugly pink and gray spots will appear on all interior items and structures that are almost impossible to wash.
After 5-7 hours, glue is applied over the concrete contact - it is best to select the most durable synthetic modification. It is worth remembering that, unlike the base, the glue hardens almost instantly, so further work is carried out in small parts of 1-2 square meters.
The tile must be pressed with force to the surface and then released, checking the strength of its connection - in this way the entire treated area is laid out. While the glue has not yet hardened, you can correct the bumps and adjust the depth - for this you should use a rubber mallet.
We must not forget that between the squares there should be a gap of 1-5 mm for expansion with temperature changes.
floor laying
Features of the flooring
Unlike walls, tiles placed on the floor are not affected by gravity. However, another difficulty arises here - passing people, installed furniture and various devices, as well as transported equipment, press on it daily. Therefore, floor tiles must be checked no less carefully than wall tiles - a similar method with a hammer is used for this.
In addition, you can find a heavy box or object with a flat base - you need to drag it all over the floor and make sure that the tiles located on it do not fall in even a few millimeters. However, the latter method is unlikely to be applicable for a bathroom with its limited space.
After you have checked the old tiles, you can start work, generally following all the recommendations described for the walls. However, the floor will require the use of a mineral mixture with a small amount of synthetic additives - it will provide greater elasticity and the ability to withstand significant temperature fluctuations.
In addition, the old surface can not be processed so intensively - it will be enough to walk on it with a metal brush. Before laying the adhesive on the floor, it is worth moistening the base so that it is better connected to it - this is not required only when using ready-made solutions sold in large buckets.
street work
A rather interesting question is whether it is possible to do this if you are laying paving slabs to create outdoor structures - paths, playgrounds, terraces. The answer to it is much easier to find - you just need to check the quality of the fit of the blocks and try to get one of them using a solid, durable knife or mount.
If paving slabs can be reached with considerable effort, then it is laid very firmly and tightly - otherwise it will move under the mass of the new surface, violating its integrity.
The process begins with a new cushion of loose soil, gravel and sand falling asleep on top of the material - each of these layers must be compacted individually. On top you need to lay paving slabs, to increase the strength of which you should use a small vibrating machine or a mallet with a large striker.
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