Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - bathroom floors!!

:confused: About to embark on a bathroom renovation and need some advice. The existing flooring is a 70s style ceramic tile. It's in really good condition with no cracks... it's just ugly!!

Is it possible to lay new flooring over the top of the old tiles? (eg. a Laminate or new tiles?)

Please give me some ideas... I'm up for anything!

Thanks

monicachan,

I personally would not lay any product over ceramic tiles.

First, the issue of assurances. Do you really know the tile is sound and that after 30 plus years the subfloor may not be in great shape?

Second, if you lay ceramic tile or a laminate over the floors, you have to deal with some issues like extending the toilet flange to be flush with the new flooring level. More than likely, the door leading into the bathroom will have to be cut down. If there is a closet within the bathroom, that door as well has to be cut. What happens when the tile starts to crack or grout starts to pop out and then you find out that it should all be replaced. Short doors now have to lengthened!? You change the vanity, what happens then?

Based on past experience, it always best to remove the existing flooring and ensure that all substrates are ready for the specific material that will cover them. Placing new ceramic over ceramic will require a mud base since the existing ceramic has ridges and may not be as flat as you would like, again increases the floor height. Besides, your existing glazed tiles make for poor adhesion and they may slide. The slightest movement could prove disasterous! New underlayment (durock) cement board would ensure that you would have no problems. Basically, tear out and install new. I do realize that you didn't mention about your walls within this bathroom and based on the age, I don't think it has tile on the walls. I might be wrong but this is another area to look at in your decision process.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Doug!!

Monicachan