skip to main content

Flooring Bathrooms DIY

Peel and stick tile over travertine? Or paint it?

Robin Christine

4 years ago

I have travertine tile in my bathroom that I hate. I've been looking into a low cost update and have been leaning towards peel and stick tile over the travertine. Does anyone have experience with this? What was good or bad about it? What tile did you use?

It seems (but let me know if anyone has experienced it otherwise) that this is a better option than trying to paint travertine that is in the shower and bath area. But if anyone has done this, I would love to hear about that too.

(I might also do a combo of the two options)

Featured Answer

hcbm

4 years ago

I understand the tile is not to your taste and at the moment you feel anything will look better. Your tile is dark and not my taste either, though it looks to be in excellent shape. However, peel and stick will not last in a wet environment and harbor mold and damp behind it, as it can not be 100% water proof. Paint is possible, but only if done professionally and even then it must be babied and will eventually begin to chip and peel away. Honestly, I would get a nice bright shower curtain that you enjoy looking at and hang it up on a tension rod covering the opening of the shower. Then I would lay down as large a washable or outdoor rug as you can fit to cover as much of the floor as you can. That will cover a lot of what you don't like. Then save as much money as you can to renovate the whole bathroom. I know that is not what you want to hear and maybe someone with more imagination can guide you to better short term fixes.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
What is your LONG TERM goal for this space? Painting requires prep (removing the finish on the tile, scraping it up a bit, filling grout lines, etc) and peal and stick require almost the same thing.

If you are looking to cover up the travertine with SOMETHING then a remnant of sheet vinyl with some perimeter glue will do the job. Caulk the edges and off you go.

All of these options are short term fixes (1-5 years). What are your plans for the LONG TERM look of this bathroom? Are you planning an update in 1-5 years? If not, then you will want to look at long term solutions. A properly laid sheet vinyl floor is a great option. It will be more expensive because it requires more PREP and will need professional installation but it will offer 20+ years for your investment.

Can you share a photo of what you are currently living with?
Jane Avellino
4 years ago
What is the flooring And the rest of the house? The vinyl idea is a good, Or a little wood vinyl plank. I have the wood ceramic tile in my two small bathrooms and I love it. That or the vinyl would be waterproof.
Related Discussions
Must I seal plywood sub-floor before laying peel-stick Tile?
Q
Comments (6)
I had the same kind of Sub-floor put in for my beauty shop, I to used peel and stick tile. I primed the 3/4 inch plywood, let it dry. Follow the peel and stick directions for placement. My tiles never came up. You don't need the fancy stuff in the previous reply. I had traffic on my floor for eight years and it looked fantastic till the day we moved out of the home., OH...just make sure to use screws to fasten plywood, we had a floor come up because of nails used by flooring people. Have fun!
...See More
Novalis peel and stick over plywood
Q
Comments (0)
I want to install Novalis peel and stick over my plywood sub floor. Plywood is in great shape but my question is will the vinyl tile stick well enough to the plywood without primer. The instructions say do not install over a sealed sub floor. If primer will do nothing for it I see no reason to prime it. I am confused.
...See More
Peel and Stick backsplash on orange peel texture walls
Q
Comments (8)
I am glad I came across this post. My kitchen is being remodeled and they will be texturing the walls today because we went with an open concept into a small living room and dining room they are texturing the whole area. I am going to tell them to NOT texture behind the stove area because I am not sure what I want to put behind the stove for a backsplash yet. I am thinking of doing something easily removable in the future so I can change it up if I get tired of looking at it. I am even thinking of doing ceramic tiles on plywood and using french cleats to hang it.
...See More
removing peel and stick floor tile
Q
Comments (2)
Are these actually the thin peel and stick tiles or are they older vinyl tiles which are glued down? My friend had peel and stick in her kitchen and literally a Bissel steam mop provided enough heat to melt whatever was holding the tiles down. In fact, she had used the steam mop to clean the floors which is when they started coming undone and she decided to replace. There are lots of places that sell retro looking tiles but it would be almost impossible to find tiles that would match whatever is now on the floor even if portions could be salvaged.
...See More
Robin Christine
Original Author
4 years ago
@SJ McCarthy I'll eventually replace the tile in the bathroom. I'm doing my kitchen this year and want something that will make me not hate the room until I'm ready to spend the money to update the tile. So I'm really just looking for a next 3 years (give or take) DIY option.
Robin Christine
Original Author
4 years ago
@Jane Avellino - it's all travertine. Outside of the bathroom, my flooring is light red oak. I was going to do porcelain tile, but right now don't want to spend the money and am looking for a $500 or less solution to get me thru the next few years. It's not a large bathroom, but it has about 230 sq feet of tile
PRO
Footprints Floors | McKinney
4 years ago
why not use floating tile look LVT? over the top of the travertine? we've done tons of that, as long as its in good condition
Robin Christine
Original Author
4 years ago
@Footprints Floors | McKinney - mostly bc I don't think I can do it myself :) haha

I'm looking at the options I think I can handle.
PRO
Footprints Floors | McKinney
4 years ago
the lvt is click lock, some you can even grout the seems. think of LVT as short Fat planks, they're actually easier DIY install with a mallet and table saw/ guillotine
Robin Christine
Original Author
4 years ago
The table saw part is what I'm not comfortable with....
hcbm
4 years ago
Are you trying to cover the tile in the wet shower area or outside of the shower?
millworkman
4 years ago
Anything over the tile in the shower will cause a larger mess than the tile currently installed. Do not do it.
Robin Christine
Original Author
4 years ago
@hcbm - Ideally yes. Even if it is just plain white shower/tile paint
millworkman
4 years ago
100% good money after bad.
SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
Covering the floor is one thing = super easy. Covering the WET areas (shower walls, etc) is another (super difficult = total mess = renovation needed today, not 3 years from now).

Go ahead and cover the flooring if you must. Don't do anything with the splash zone tiles. If you choose to work with the tile paint....try not to use the shower for the next 3 years...

Related Stories

KITCHEN MAKEOVERS Hand-Painted Tile Inspires a Long-Awaited Kitchen Remodel

By Becky Harris

Houzz stories provide a Massachusetts couple with inspiration and lead them to designers who transform their kitchen

TILE Is It Over for Subway Tile?

By Amanda Pollard

Should we ditch the ubiquitous rows of rectangles for a rival, or is subway tile a classic that’s here to stay?

BEFORE AND AFTERS Before and After: New Paint, Counter and Tile Refresh a Kitchen

By Erin Carlyle

A former restaurant owner chooses a new palette inspired by her beloved Lake Michigan

COLORS OF THE YEAR Will These 9 Paint Colors Take Over Homes in 2020?

By Jennifer Ott Design

Major paint companies choose colors of the year that are fresh, upbeat and mostly on the cool side

PAINTING What to Know About Milk Paint and Chalk Paint — and How to Use Them

By Karen Egly-Thompson

Learn the pros, cons, cost and more for these two easy-to-use paints that are great for giving furniture a vintage look

DIY PROJECTS DIY Backsplash Makeover: Get a New Tile Look for Less Than $50

Give old tile a painted faux-stone facade for a brand-new look at a superaffordable price

KITCHEN DESIGN 10 Gorgeous Backsplash Alternatives to Subway Tile

By Vanessa Brunner

Artistic installations, back-painted glass and pivoting windows prove there are backsplash possibilities beyond the platform

KITCHEN DESIGN Let Creativity Spill Over in the Kitchen

From artful arrangements to faux tile, imagination belongs in the kitchen as much as any other room in your house

TILE The Pros and Cons of Moroccan-Style Tiles

Hand-painted, encaustic cement and cement-look Moroccan-style tiles can be both on-trend and timeless

DECORATING GUIDES Design Debate: Should You Ever Paint a Wood Ceiling White?

By Mitchell Parker

In week 2 of our debate series, designers go head to head over how classic wood ceilings should be handled in modern times

Sponsored

More Discussions

Aquaproof laminate flooring

4

Karastan Belhancourt - Linen Wash or Vintage Teak Oak?

0

Problems with Texas traditions LVP

2

Coretec Premium softstep lvp over hydronic radiant heat

0

LVT (tile or stand look) with “grout lines”??

1