If you are reading this article, then it means that you one of those that have considered putting new tiles over your existing bathroom wall tiles. Mind you, you are not alone. Many others have explored the idea of covering old tiles mainly, to reduce costs. But before you get on ahead with it, it may be best that you understand what that effort means.
When is it necessary?
Putting a new wall tile over can be practical but only if you have considered the state of the room. For one, it means that you are adding at least another 10mm to your wall. And this includes all four walls and maybe even your flooring. This mm change will eat up space which may not look much for a bigger bathroom, but it will factor in if the area is already small, to begin with.
Another factor is limited design. In some cases, you may be limited to the designs over the wall because your main goal would be to cover all those tiles. This means that there is no room to integrate painted walls or other complicated designs and accents without ripping out the old ones.
Lastly, is cost. Here we are talking about costs in the long run. Although adding that new tile now may save time and money, it may impact you in the future if your installation is not properly done. Untreated cracks over existing tiles may cause the new tile to also crack and fall out. And as well as achieving an even layout if your old tiles are not sanded and leveled. If most of your old tiles are too broken to get an overlay, it may be better to just rip them all out and start anew.
How to install new wall tiles over old ones?
Step 1: Properly assess the state of your existing tiles
Assessing your old wall tiles is a must – from floor to ceiling. This shows whether full strip re-tiling is a better option versus an overlay. It also depends on what type of tile is currently installed to determine how much or how challenging the work will be. If you are looking to employ a professional to do this work, then much of the load will be taken care of. But if you plan on a DIY approach, it may be tricky.
Step 2: Address the cracks
Repair the old tiles for cracks and damages before you overlay anything. Make sure that you also address those small chips and tiles that are already loose in their place. This ensures that it will be stable and you will have a solid foundation behind your new tiles.
Step 3: Level them out
With the use of a grinder and filling materials, you would need to ensure that you have a clean and even surface. Any bulges or irregularities have to be sanded down to make sure that your new tile will not carry over those flaws. Also, if you sand out the old tiles, it helps create a scuff which would be essential for the adhesive to stick.
Step 4: Layer the adhesive and start tiling
You should do this one tile at a time so that you can focus on the space and have a better outcome. You need to make sure that the surface is clean from any dust, grout, or sanded tile before installation. Consider using a degreaser to get any left-out dirt. And before tiling, you can even do a dry layering so you will have a pattern to follow. Once the new wall tiles adhere, leave it to set and then seal off and protect the groves by applying the grout.
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