skip to main content

Flooring Remodeling

should I remove tile floor?

4 years ago

We just bought a house, we want to replace with laminate wood flooring or any kind wood floor, some contractor said we can do self leveling and put wood above tile, or remove tiles first. Both gonna cost a lot money, we are trying to find out if they are just trying to sell us service. The laminate flooring is 8mm thick and and tile is in good condition. Can we just lay extra underlayment on top of tile instead of spending all the money of self-leveling?

Featured Answer

dianeski

4 years ago

The tile floor would look a lot better if the grout blended better. For less than $1000 you can have the grout stained to match the tile which will renew the look of this floor. We had this done and it made a huge difference! Also, large area rugs are beautiful and cover much of the floor anyway. Just some other ideas to consider before you commit to spending $$$ for new floors.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
4 years ago
One of the biggest wastes of money is removing perfectly good tile. Float a wood floor over it please.
User
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Do you want to undercut all of your trim and doors? And have a hack install? There isn’t a thing wrong with that tile! It’s a classic. No reason to spend 20K to eliminate it. Learn to love it.
Related Discussions
Should we remove 4'x2' kitchen island and insert tile underneath?
Q
Comments (8)
Thanks brickeyee. I know you're a floor guy and assume then that the tile need not be taken back many many feet, as the floor store said, but just remove the ones that are partials? I did get the color of the grout from the builder. It amazes me how unwilling this tile dealer/installer was to even sell me the tile. The sales guy used the phrase "if we're willing to take your job" a couple times ago, was quite uncooperative, said he had to look into it and would get back to me. That was nearly a week ago now. Sigh.
...See More
Should I Remove Glue Behind Plastic Tile
Q
Comments (3)
If you have trouble removing the high spots it will probably be easier to cut out that section and and put up fresh plaster or use drywall. I tore down drywall and replaced it when I was trying to replace wallpaper because it turned out to be cheaper and faster than trying to strip it off. Also that way you have a nice smooth surface to work with.
...See More
Should I add tile w/o removing current Corian 4' backsplash?
Q
Comments (13)
Ok, I follow what you mean now, brickeyee. However, I don't' believe this is an issue with Corian. After the tile is done, I had already planned to have the fabricator refinish the Corian countertop to remove scratches, etc. Corian is pretty impervious to this type of thing and I don't believe sunlight affects it like it might Formica. Also, if I do end up choosing to remove the Corian backsplash, the tile that would replace it would be very close in thickness (most travertine is close to same thickness as my backsplash)so I would be safe there as well. If it wasn't for some of the idiosyncrasies of my Corian backsplash install, I don't think I would run into these issues if I decided to remove it.
...See More
Should I remove hardwood floor to install new vinyl?
Q
Comments (23)
When I was a child growing up in a 100 year old house, my parents bred chocolate labs and golden retrievers. We had at least 4 80+ dogs in the house at all times, plus puppies and cats, plus 4 kids and our friends , and 3 adults. Hardwood throughout. My own 200 year old home has the original hardwood floors. There is a reason for this. Hardwood floors can take endless beatings and survive. Please don’t think hardwood can’t stand up to hard traffic. You would be doing yourself, your house, and future occupants of your house an incredible disservice if you cover good hardwood with a faddish synthetic.
...See More
Gemma Shi
Original Author
4 years ago
We do want to laminate wood planks over, the question is do we need to spend money on self leveling or just add foam underlayment? Our laminate is padded and 8mm thick
SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
If your laminate is padded you are NOT allowed to add more. Your contractor is NOT 'selling' anything. They are telling you how this is supposed to work.

Right now you have a tile floor that is worth $12 - $15/sf. That cost was built into your purchase price. If you have a 1000sf home (just for argument's sake) then $12K - $15K of your purchase price is the flooring (just like the roof is worth $25K).

If you remove the tile or cover it in self-leveling compound (either way it is ruined) you are 'killing' a major part of your investment. You would then trade that $12 - $15/sf floor for something worth $4/sf. Your house just lost $8 - $10/sf.

I know you want 'wood' look something. I get it. Laminate is not equal in value to tile or solid hardwood. If you want to 'kill' flooring that is worth $12 - $15/sf then you really should REPLACE it with something equal in value = sold hardwood = $10 - $14/sf (including cost of installation).

And remember: laminate should NEVER go into a kitchen! Nor should it go into bathrooms or 'wet' entrances.

To answer your question, you are welcome to install the laminate over top of the tile (SAVE the tile...please please please) and live with the bounce and the clicking and the shifting and the issues with floor heights through doorways, etc, etc.

The tile is a SIGNIFICANT portion of your mortgage. Please leave it in place until you can afford to install an equally valuable floor such as solid or high-end engineered hardwood.
PRO
Calvetta Bros. Floor Show
4 years ago
Another option is luxury vinyl planks. Also have a wood look like the laminate but they are waterproof and scratch resistant and you can install over existing floor. They have a bit of a "give" so you don't need to worry about leveling. There are a lot of great LVP options in the market; we're certain you can find the exact look you're going for! Good luck! Visit calvettabrothers.com for images of inspiration!
PRO
Johnson Flooring Co Inc
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
If the tile is relatively smooth a floating floor should go over it without needing to level/smooth. Check to make sure there are no high or low corners and address them if there are any.

Related Stories

INSIDE HOUZZ Cover Your Floor in Virtual Tile Using Houzz’s Enhanced App

The updated View in My Room 3D tool lets you virtually cover your space with tile to see how new flooring would look

REMODELING GUIDES Get Floored by Creative Use of Tile

By Samantha Schoech

Don't get stuck in a subway-tile rut. Unlock the imaginative power of tile for floors and walls that will knock their socks off

REMODELING GUIDES Transition Time: How to Connect Tile and Hardwood Floors

By By Any Design Ltd.

Plan ahead to prevent unsightly or unsafe transitions between floor surfaces. Here's what you need to know

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Kitchen of the Week: Graphic Floor Tiles Accent a White Kitchen

By Jeannie Matteucci

Walls come down to open up the room and create better traffic flow

TILE 6 Questions to Answer Before You Install Tile Flooring

Considering these things before tackling your floors can get you a better result

REMODELING GUIDES Your Floor: How to Find Right Stone Tile

Get the Pros and Cons of Slate, Travertine, Sandstone, Marble and Granite

BATHROOM DESIGN Floor-to-Ceiling Tile Takes Bathrooms Above and Beyond

By Becky Harris

Generous tile in a bathroom can bounce light, give the illusion of more space and provide a cohesive look

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Install a New Tile Floor

By Erin Carlyle

Is it time to replace your tile floor? Here’s how to get it done, which pros to call and what it will cost

BATHROOM DESIGN Floor Tile Options for a Stylish Bathroom

From the countless choices of bathroom tile available, we focus on some of the best looks for the floor

REMODELING GUIDES 10 Tile Patterns to Showcase Your Floor

By Debbie Snider

There's more to a tile floor than the tile itself; how you lay out your tile can change the look and feel of the room

Sponsored

Remodel Repair Construction

9 Reviews

Industry Leading General Contractors in Westerville

More Discussions

Black granite countertops, honed,leathered or polished? HELP please.

115

unequal drywall sides at box bay kitchen window:NEED TILE HELP

9

Kitchen sink depth for my 24 inch deep ikea cabinet

2

Is this marble seam acceptable? I'm feeling iffy...

15

Classic quartz countertops for white and blue kitchens

7