Tiling on tiles

[brendanbreeze]

A quick question

Would it be OK to use tubbed adhesive to fix new tiles on top of old ceramic/glazed tiles.

Thanks - Brendan

[diamondtiling]

Its not good practice to tile on top of tiles with powdered adhesive never mind tubbed stuff.

[Dontiler]

I would still try to remove old tiles and see what's happening under neath old tiles. Good luck

[Sir Ramic]

As Dom says, not good practice at all really but i know its still done.
The adhesive will stick the new tile to the existing if correct prep work is done 1st, ie clean walls with sugar soap and key the area lightly with a sander etc. Then make sure wall is dust free.

The problem is that you have no way of knowing how well the original tiles are stuck to the wall. From a visible point you may well say they look fine but adding extra weight to that wall could be the point that the original tiles decide enough is enough and decide to depart from the substrate.

Years ago it was almost deemed as tiling on tiles was a good way, but there were reasons. Years ago tiles were fixed with sand and cement bed and anyone who has tried to remove this will tell you its a real pain ( most of the time). So it was the adhesive makers who when they came out with ready mixed adhesive said that it was the way to do it....and so over the years it has been common practice.

Years have passed and coming across tiles fixed with sand and cement or Compo fixing as its called here is not so common. Most tiles will have been fixed with a ready mixed adhesive or cement based etc. Some tilers and IMO will incorrectly advise that its fine to tile to these tiles. There is no way other than removing the existing tiles of knowing if the tiles are secure.
I guess what i am saying in short is...yes the adhesive will stick the new tiles but no i wouldnt do it for fear of the weight of the new tiles bringing the walls down.

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

hi

[brendanbreeze]

The tiles in question are fitted between the work top and cupboards in a kitchen, so We're talking about half a metre high all around and they all seem fairly sound. Do you think that weight will be an issue in this case? The old and new tiles are small and light weight.

Is there any other way of keying them properly other than using a sander (which I don't have)

Cheers - Brendan

[Sir Ramic]

What size tiles are you fitting ? Weight ?

You should be fine in this case but tiling on tile is not good at the best of times.

Get a block of wood and some coarse sand paper or aluminium oxide cloth. Dont forget to clean those tiles as if they have been in a kitchen they will have grease on them.

[brendanbreeze]

Tile size = 110mm square. Not sure of the exact weight but very light.

So I'd be much better off using cement based powder?

Thanks

[Sir Ramic]

Yes go for the cement based and i would choose the single part flexi adhesive ...belt and braces etc. Should be fine

[brendanbreeze]

Great. Thanks for the advice. I guess it's less of an issue when your tiling over floor tiles (gravity on your side) or am I wrong?

[diamondtiling]

110mm square tiles? weigh one on a kitchen scales and times it by 90, that will give you a meterage weight, at least then you know what your putting on your walls, cement based adhesive is far better than tubbed.

[Sir Ramic]

110mm tiles...i am getting a feeling that these would be porcelain or vitrified so make sure adhesive is suitable

[Dave]

Just to add.. if the tiles are glass glazed as you say.. then dispersion adhesives will not bond.. you will need an S2 cement based adhesive..for direct bonding.

Ang to agree with comments above... pull them off and stat a fresh.

[paulyoung666]

The tiles in question are fitted between the work top and cupboards in a kitchen, so We're talking about half a metre high all around and they all seem fairly sound. Do you think that weight will be an issue in this case? The old and new tiles are small and light weight.

Is there any other way of keying them properly other than using a sander (which I don't have)

Cheers - Brendan

i asked exactly the same question not a couple of weeks ago , i was all for overtiling as i felt the old tiles were sound , i changed my mind and pulled them off , how glad i was , the old tiles came off the wall with no more than a wallpaper scraper ..................

[diamondtiling]

i asked exactly the same question not a couple of weeks ago , i was all for overtiling as i felt the old tiles were sound , i changed my mind and pulled them off , how glad i was , the old tiles came off the wall with no more than a wallpaper scraper ..................

Enough said.

[Sir Ramic]

i asked exactly the same question not a couple of weeks ago , i was all for overtiling as i felt the old tiles were sound , i changed my mind and pulled them off , how glad i was , the old tiles came off the wall with no more than a wallpaper scraper ..................

You usually find that everyone will say that "the tiles are still on the wall so are fine" The truth is as soon as you release tension by removing one tile, the others soon follow.

Only on friday did a client say to be that the tiles on the head of the window reveal were sound and didnt want to remove them for fear of further damage. i inserted a trowel into a slight gap i coould see and they all came away. His face was a picture of embarrassment and delight as the tiles didnt even break, came away in areas of up to 6 tiles (old 4" tiles) and then he saw the substrate was sound, so a quick coat of primer and we were away...total time 5 minutes max.