Self-adhesive tiles are easy to work with, as you can easily DIY the installation process. The main reason self-adhesive tiles have become popular is their cost-effectiveness. The simple installation process of self-adhesive tiles will not require any professional guidance.
If you are hunting for a tiling option that will not bite the bank, then self-adhesive tiles are great. The fact that self-adhesive tile can be laid over the existing floor is another aspect that grabs customers’ attention.
However, before installing the self-adhesive tiles over the existing floor, it is essential to know whether they will adhere to the floor. If you have laminate flooring and are trying to lay self-adhesive tiles over it, this blog is for you!
Self-adhesive tiles will adhere to the existing flooring or tiles. This is a huge benefit, as you don’t have to spend time and effort removing the existing flooring and preparing the subfloor.
Unfortunately, these peel-and-stick tiles will not adhere to certain surfaces. Therefore, checking whether it is possible to lay self-adhesive tiles on your existing flooring is crucial.
It is possible to install self-adhesive tiles over existing laminate flooring. This helps upgrade the look of your house in a budget-friendly way. Before installing peel-and-stick tile over the laminate flooring, it is essential to prepare the existing floor to ensure durability.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is composite; the base layer is made of particleboard wood. On top of the base, an image layer and a transparent wear layer are present.
This flooring option is quite popular, as it is inexpensive to upgrade your house. You can laminate flooring in hallways, kitchens, bedrooms, dining areas, and other places that do not have high moisture.
There are some pros and cons to installing laminate flooring.
Pros
The smooth surface of laminate flooring makes the cleaning process easy. Wet mopping is optional when cleaning laminate flooring.
Instead, you can dry-mop the floor to remove dust and dirt. If you have pets and kids at home, you might be worried about the flooring getting scratched.
Laminate flooring is an excellent option in such a situation as it is scratch-resistant. This flooring is relatively less expensive and a perfect choice for high-impact houses.
Cons
Laminate flooring is unsuitable for high-moisture regions as it can get ruined. The top layer of laminate flooring may get chipped easily.
This inexpensive flooring option reduces the resale value of your house.
Also, you can only use laminate flooring in some places, as it is not suitable for bathrooms, laundry rooms, or main areas of the kitchen due to moisture.
Is It Possible to Install Self-Adhesive Tiles Over Laminate Flooring
Imagine that you have installed laminate flooring in your house. After a prolonged period, you think of upgrading to enhance the look of your home.
In such a situation, you might wonder whether removing the existing flooring before installing new tiles is mandatory.
Fortunately, there are some tiles that you can install over laminate flooring. One such option is the self-adhesive tile. Although you can DIY the installation process, knowing how to install tiles over laminate flooring is essential.
By reading the next section of the blog, you will gain some information on laying self-adhesive tiles over laminate flooring.
Laying Self-Adhesive Tiles Over Laminate Flooring
As mentioned, the self-adhesive tiles will adhere well to the surface of laminate flooring. Hence without removing the old laminate flooring, you can tile over it using peel-and-stick tiles.
Carefully follow the instructions below when installing tile over laminate flooring.
Step 1
The most crucial factor is ensuring the old flooring is leveled perfectly.
If there are any height issues or cracked flooring, it is important to fix them before installing the new tiles. Therefore, ensure to prepare the old flooring.
Step 2
Clean the laminate flooring well to get rid of dirt and dust. It is better to vacuum the surface well.
Step 3
To ensure strong adhesion, the surface must be thoroughly cleaned. Therefore, it is better to wash the laminate flooring and scrub it to remove any dirt build up on it.
Use a cleaning cloth to let the surface air dry, or manually dry the floor.
Step 4
Next, you can measure the room and plan the tiling process.
When installing the tiles, peel the backing off and stick the tiles firmly to the surface.
You will need to cut the edge tiles to fit the space perfectly. Use the sheer to cut the tiles to the desired measurements.
Note: It is recommended to wear safety gear when cutting the tiles. If you witness poor adhesion, this may be due to wet laminate flooring or surface dust. Therefore, ensure that the old laminate flooring is clean and dry.
Pros and Cons of Installing Self-Adhesive Tiles Over Laminate Flooring
Thus far, you might have understood about laminate flooring and whether you can install self-adhesive tiles over such flooring.
Following are some pros and cons of laying peel-and-stick tiles over laminate flooring.
Pros
- You can save money, time, and effort that you will be spending on removing the old flooring.
- Since peel-and-stick tiles are easy to install, you can DIY the project without a professional’s help.
- Properly installed self-adhesive tiles over the laminate flooring will last for years.
- This is an inexpensive method of upgrading the look of your house. The budget-friendly process of installing self-adhesive tiles over laminate flooring will save a lot of money.
Cons
- If the existing laminate flooring is cracked or not uniform, tiling over it will show imperfections.
- The lifespan of the laminate flooring may impact the durability of self-adhesive tiles stuck over it. Therefore, examining whether the old laminate flooring is in good condition is necessary.
Final Thoughts
Laminate flooring is a highly durable and stain-resistant flooring option. After a prolonged period of installing laminate flooring, consider upgrading the look of your house by reinstalling the new tiles.
You don’t have to remove the old laminate flooring in such cases. Instead, you can tile over the flooring using self-adhesive tiles. Self-adhesive tile will bond well to the prepared laminate flooring.
Since there are different colors and patterns of self-adhesive tiles, you can match them with your interior design.
The significant benefit of tiling over the existing floor is that it reduces the cost and effort of removing the old flooring.
FAQs
Can I Install Tiles Over Old Tile Adhesive?
No, it is not recommended to tile over the old adhesive.
For a professional finish and durability, you must remove the old adhesive and clean the substrate before installing new tiles.
Is Laminate Flooring Durable?
Yes, laminate flooring is extremely durable, as the wear layer makes the flooring scratch- and impact-resistant.
Do I Need Put an Underlayment Before Installing Self-adhesive tiles over Existing Floor?
No, suppose the existing floor is in good condition. In that case, you can install the self-adhesive tiles directly into the flooring without an underlayment.