Laying laminate floor tiles over ceramic floor tiles?

newbieFTB

I'm buying a house with very dated ceramic floor tiles in the kitchen, I saw some really nice looking laminate tiles in B&Q which are a glueless click system type fitting... it says in the blurb that they can be laid over existing tiles:

you can lay laminate or wood flooring over ceramic or vinyl tiles (although not over carpet, sheet vinyl or matting)

Any ideas whether this would need underlay on top of the existing tiles before I put the new laminate tiles down (or rather my Dad does!).

It does mention needing 'Foam, wood fibre or polystyrene' underlay but not sure if that's specific to laying over tiles or what type would be best.

Pic of floor:



Link to tiles: http://www.diy.com/departments/harmonia-black-slate-effect-laminate-flooring-205-m-pack/172416_BQ.prd

Thanks for any input

Ruski

I'd stay away from laminate in a kitchen - it only takes one unnoticed leak and the whole floor is ruined.
You can get Vinyl click together floors nowadays, as a happy medium.

Both need a minimum of a foam underlay, and the finished result will depend on how level the existing tiles are...

Or do the job properly and re-tile with slate effect tiles

HTH

Russ

newbieFTB

Ruski wrote: »

I'd stay away from laminate in a kitchen - it only takes one unnoticed leak and the whole floor is ruined.
You can get Vinyl click together floors nowadays, as a happy medium.

Both need a minimum of a foam underlay, and the finished result will depend on how level the existing tiles are...

Or do the job properly and re-tile with slate effect tiles

HTH

Russ

Thanks Ruski, it did say on the packaging it was suitable for kitchens and seems to get excellent reviews on the B&Q site.

Is tiling much harder / more time consuming than laying laminate? My Dad is pretty handy but thought laying a tiled floor was a big job?

Ruski

Laminate is easier - but is that what you want? Like I said - laminate is a wood fibre based product and if it stands in water (e.g. a leaky washing machine, burst pipes etc) the floor will not survive

But that's a risk you weigh up

Dad can do laminate floor = cheap labour.

Tiled floor - probably 4 times more effort. (lift existing, prep floor, lay new and grout up)

Your call I'm afraid, but it sounds like a good compromise for you will be the vinly laminate solution.
Me on the other hand would go lino (tile effect!!) or tiled floor. (Other solutions are available!)

HTH

Russ

p.s. customers kitchen floor that I have done twice due to leaky boiler ruined first one

Ruski

@newbieftb - forgot to say the image above is a Howdens Laminate floor fyi

Russ

newbieFTB

Ruski wrote: »

@newbieftb - forgot to say the image above is a Howdens Laminate floor fyi

Russ

Thanks again Ruski, for some reason I can't see your pic now but saw it when it was first posted.