tiling over existing floor tiles

scottlee

i have a 1940's house which has the origional terracotta coloured floor tiles down(not sure what there made of but they are hard to drill). i wish to tile over them but not sure which mix to use cause none say about tiling over tiles on the packet. would i get away with putting pva glue mix down 1st then using normal floor adhisive?thanx.

plumb1_2

As they are the original tiles 1940, it would be best(wise) to take them up.

handyman.

if the existing tiles are fixed solid, non loose, then tiling over them is fine. You use a cement based (powder) adhesive, like BAL from Topp tiles.

As for pva, read this, then never utter 'pva and tiling' in the same sentence again:)
http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/tiling/diy_Tiling_Why_not_to_use_pva.htm

handyman.

also,

with these old houses, if the tiles are on the ground floor, are they on a solid floor? (ie, not on joists/floorboards)

If this is the case, the tiles are normaly fixed to the DPC (damp proof course, normally poured tar), so when you take them up, this also comes up, and your left with a huge job on your hands

scottlee

yeah origional tiles are stuck down solid. just wondering if they'd be any issues with the cement sticking to existing tiles.looks like i'll try the cement based adhesive.looks like the pva would have been a bad idea.thanx for the warning.

plumb1_2

Google Ardex

Alan_M_2

It's likely you're refering to Quarry tiles, which, as long as they are well adhered to the existing substrate, are one of the best surfaces for tiling on to.

Make sure they are clean and degreased (mop them with a caustic cleaner of some sort) then tile as if it's a concrete base, BAL Rapidset, or BAL Goldstar (if you want a slow setting adhesive). Or as Plumb suggests any Ardex adhesive to the same specification.

scottlee

got some stuff from topps tiles which says on the packet suitable for quarry tiles.i'll give the floor a good scrub also. thanks all.