How to Tile over Tiles

Tiling over existing tiles might seem risky, but it can actually be a practical choice if you’re looking for a quicker and more cost-effective DIY alternative to retiling your bathroom or kitchen from scratch. However, it is not necessarily simpler, and you must be just as careful with your measurements and prep to avoid any problems. Let’s take a look a closer look at the process of installing tile over existing tile.

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Tiling over existing tile saves time, money, and mess while potentially avoiding damage to underlying pipework.
Loose tiles won't support the extra weight of new ones, and adding a second layer will raise the floor level.
Success relies on thorough prep work, making sure that none of the existing tiles are fractured and the wall or floor is completely flat.

What are the benefits?

There are a few different reasons you might choose to lay tile over existing tile instead of removing the old tiles first.

The main two are the potential to save both time and money. By skipping the step of taking down the original tiles you’ll save hours and if you’ve hired a contractor, the labour costs will certainly be lower.

There’ll also be less waste to dispose of as you don’t need to get rid of the old tiles.

Plus, tiling over tiles lowers the risks that come with removing tiles from your walls and floors, such as damaging waterproof membranes and pipework.

What can go wrong?

When laying new tiles over old ones, there are a few risks to be aware of.

The biggest risk is that the finished result can look especially untidy or unprofessional if done incorrectly. If the original tiles aren’t completely secure to the wall, it can be a bit like building on a shaky foundation, as the added weight of the new tiles might cause tiles to fall off the wall.

With floors, you have to take into account the fact that the floor level will be slightly raised after the tiling is done, and this can affect doors, appliances and skirting.

How to tile over tile: a step-by-step guide

Inspect the tiles you’re going to cover up for cracks or any signs that they might not be totally secure to the wall or floor. Any fractured or loose tiles cannot be tiled over.

Using your straight edge or spirit level, confirm that the existing tiles on the floor or wall are completely level and flat. There must be no deviations exceeding ±3mm.

With a mechanical sander, go over the surface of the tiles to remove the surface sheen. This will make it easier to attach new tiles on top of them.

Clean away any dust and residue from when you sanded the tiles and apply primer if needed.

Use your notched trowel to apply a consistently thick layer of adhesive to the wall or floor. Make sure to also ‘backbutter’ the new tiles with adhesive as you place them.

Using tile spacers and levellers, fix your new tiles (using a rubber mallet if you need to) and grout the new joints.

Hopefully we’ve answered the question for you as to whether you can tile over tile, and you now have a wonderful new look for your kitchen or bathroom.

Remember to take into account the new wall and floor level.

If you’re still not sure, consider our trusty installation service, which can take care of everything for you.

FAQs

We don’t recommend tiling over fractured tiles as this could lead to tiles falling off the wall. Any tiles with cracks will have to be replaced.

The most common mistakes made are usually in the prep stages. Not making sure that the original tiles are completely flat and bonded to the wall can be incredibly costly.

As long as the original tiles are completely sound, we estimate you could save between £500 to £1000 on repair and disposal costs.