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BillV- tiling Q, counter top etc...

pepperidge_farm

14 years ago

Have a general question about tiling a counter top, it is ultimately in my kitchen, though, also about an old back splash...

We have a relatively new (5 years) laminate counter top in the kitchen that was intended to be temporary- it replaced something that could in no way wait (it's a fake green granite- looks very nice, but..). Unlikely that we will have the cash to buy a solid stone right now (college costs for 2!!) but my labor is free! Is it possible or recommended to tile over this surface? I would contemplate putting down a membrane first? Or would I need to build it from scratch? What types of tile would be OK on a kitchen counter- any limitations? It is just so new and flat and level... and there already.

Also, have an old back splash that is made of the same tile that is on the floor- so it is a matte 12" gray tile with white insets and thick gray grout lines. Can I scrub and scuff and tile over it ( I still have good modified thin set left from the bathroom)? I think getting it off would ultimately mean a total tear out, and we just can't do that right now, but I am dying to update the look of the kitchen.

So my question about the back splash led me to want to do the counter too... :-) But I would be just as happy to just do the back splash.

TIA

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Comments (7)

bill_vincent
14 years ago
Before I answer, could you show me a pic of your existing countertop?
pepperidge_farm
Original Author
14 years ago
Will these 2 views give you enough? Even some extra, with the flour- it was apple pie weekend...
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bill_vincent
14 years ago
You're good so far. There's no raised drip edge, and a nice square inside corner. How about the end of the counter, as well as the outside corner(s)? Is it just as square, or rounded at all?
pepperidge_farm
Original Author
14 years ago
OK, that's good... the counter is a "U" with the right side as you see it up against the oven, and the left is also an unfinished end that goes up against the refrigerator. So all the edges are square.
bill_vincent
14 years ago
If that's the case, then yes you CAN tile right over it, although it's recommended that you start fresh. The reason being then you don't have to worry about the laminate parting, or "delaminating" from the base underneath. However, if you want to go over what you have, scuff it up good with a sander, and then use some thing like Laticrete's 317 thinset mixed with their 333 liquid latex, or Mapei's Kerabond thinset mixed with their Keralastic additive. You want something strong that's not going to lose its bond, and those are about the two strongest thinsets I know of.
pepperidge_farm
Original Author
14 years ago
OK, I get it. Thanks a bundle.

No issues with the back splash, right? I can just go over it in the same way?

Again, Thanks Bill!
bill_vincent
14 years ago
No issues with the back splash, right? I can just go over it in the same way?

The only issue would be hiding any exposed edges (it'll show two layers of tile-- not good), and you can do that with something like a chair rail or piece of wood trim.

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