Renovations

Hi. I'm renovating a 60's home, and really enjoying the process. I have painted, wallpapered, ripped out doors and shelving. I love seeing what people have accomplished. My next big project is to do something about the very old ceramic tiles. I'm wondering if I can cover them with vynal planks. I know I would have to fill in all the grouting to make a smooth surface. Any ideas on would it be a possibility or maybe have other options?

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Comments

Jason

Hi @Marg19,

Sounds like a fantastic project. Many thanks for sharing. It's great to see you make your first post on Workshop and I hope we'll see many more as your renovation progresses.

Can you please tell us where the ceramic tiles are in the house? And are you talking about floor or wall tiles?

It would be great to see some photos as well - it might help community members to provide more assistance to you. Let me know if you need a hand with uploading images to the site.

Jason

Kermit

Assuming you are talking about floor tiles, you are best to pull them up. See a similiar discussion here - https://www.workshop.com.au/t5/Interiors/New-flooring-on-top-of-old-tiles/m-p/1877

There's also a DIY video that should help...

KingStreetReno

I've recently covered my ugly 70's tiles with Formica laminate floorboards. They don't require any underlay as it is already attached to the floorboards.

My builders covered around 40sqm in one day and the transformation is huge! We also had waterproof laminate flooarboards installed in our bathroom over the top of tiles and they also worked really well.

Marg19

Thanks Jason for your reply. I'm still unsure on how to use this site but here goes.

thd tiles I'm talking about are floor tiles, and I think you would say they were ceramic. The grouting looks like cement. The house is over 40 years old.

i will attempt to send a picture. They are throughout the house, but the kitchen is the main area I would like to fix up first.

i had no luck sending a photo. Will try and do it via a reply to your email.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/1372#Comment_1372

Hi @Marg19,

I've moved your second post so its with your first. The best way to continue a discussion is to hit the reply button.

To add a picture to a post, just hit the button above the text editor that looks like a landscape painting. I've attached a picture below that has the button circled.

I hope you have found the replies you've already received from Workshop members helpful, and that others might also be able to add their suggestions.

Jason

Marg19

RodAndo

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/1373#Comment_1373

Are you thinking of laying vinyl planks straight on the top of the tiles or are you planning on either removing them or using a floor leveller?

Marg19

RodAndo. I am new to this site, and do not know how to reply directly to you. I was hoping to lay flooring over the top of the tiles, once I had filled in the grout areas. But what is a floor leveler? Maybe I should bite the bullet and hire someone to remove the tiles and go from there.

darylhewston

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/1377#Comment_1377

@Marg19

Hi, Floor leveller is a concrete based compound that you can mix up and pour over an existing floor to make level. It's not the easiest to use if you haven't done it before and can get very, very messy. I wouldn't lay vinyl straight over the tiles as you will eventually get indents where the joins are. Here is a video of what is required. Floor leveller is available in various size bags depending on application/size of room. You may want to get some advise from the vinyl supplier on your best options. Ripping up tiles is no fun game either.

RodAndo

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/62959#Comment_62959

Good answer @Marg19, you beat me to it.

I was looking at laying vinyl planks in an extension rennovation I'm currently undertaking. At the end I was put off as this will be going over a number of different sub floors including existing hardwood floorboards. I was worried about the shadowing that may eventually come through as the floorboards arent even and the time / effort and cost of sanding these back has pushed me to look at other options.

Andy_Mann

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/93963#Comment_93963

My lazy-butt thought would be to put down a thickish floating floor underlay, before installing the vinyl boards. But there's an if, the tiles need to have been laid well, that being the surface is even, without any major irregularities.

To get an idea of how regular or bad the tile surface is, try laying a straight edge on top of the tiles, shine a light underneath, & look for how much light comes through.

If it's all over the place, lift the tiles as shown in kermit's link to the Bunnings vid, & lay the vinyl tiles as directed on the packaging.

If it looks good, just underlay & install.

Hope this helps

Marg19

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/1359#Comment_1359

Thanks for that. I found it very useful.

Marg19

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/1369#Comment_1369

Thanks for replying. My tiles are probably around the same age, but look far worse. You have achieved a great look.

Marg19

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/62959#Comment_62959

Thank you so much. Yes, it looks messy, but is certainly another option.

Jason

Hi @Marg19,

How are your renovations going?

We have a discussion on Workshop today that you might like to join as I recall you saying that you wallpapered your home. It would be great to see some photos of what you have done and read about your design decisions. The discussion is Would you hang wallpaper in your house?

Thanks,

Jason

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