Can I install new ceramic floor tiles over existing ceramic tile?

QUESTION

Tile over Tile Installation - Can I install new ceramic floor tiles over the exhisting ceramic tile floor in my kitchen? Does the old floor have to be prepared in any way? What type of morter/bonding agent should I use? The reason for the new installation: quite a few tiles have cracked over the years and we would like to update the look of the floor. The cracks are thin hairline cracks due to the home being over 100 years old and the foundation being uneven, a contractor tried to "jack up" the home after the tile was originally installed causing some minor cracks.

ANSWER

ANSWER - There is a lot to installing a tile correctly so I can only briefly answer your questions and give you references.

You can install ceramic tile over properly prepared existing ceramic tile if you use an appropriate thin-set adhesive recommended for that application.  Go to our website's Resources section under Expert Answers and go to Installation Products for manufacturers to determine which products you can use.

Keep in mind that the new tile will only be installed as well as the existing tile.  If the existing tile is not attached well then the new tile will not be well attached.

Tiles are not suppose to crack so it is either an indication they were not installed correctly or there are cracks telegraphing up from the substrate.  Those conditions needs to be repaired first.   In some applications you can use a crack isolation membrane but that would require that you remove the existing tile.

Our Expert Answers section on our website has more information on tile over tile installations that you can review.  To get some guidelines on how tile installations should be installed go to "How do I make sure Ceramic Tile, Natural Stone gets installed correctly by my tile installer?" and download Installation Guidelines.

Good Luck!

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