CAN YOU INSTALL LAMINATE FLOORING OVER TILE?

Flooring Installation

CAN YOU INSTALL LAMINATE FLOORING OVER TILE?

March 27th, 2023 — by Peter Hunt Expert in Flooring Installation

Peter Hunt

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Flooring Expert over 7 years in Business

Have Questions?

please check to see if there are any cracked, broken, or missing pieces of the tiles. (Any imperfections in the tile can cause installation issues and or future issues with moisture and expanding and contrasting.) You’ll want to purchase a click lock product and not a glue down, if you are interested in future use of the tile.

Installing laminate on top of tile will increase the total thickness and may cause issues when it comes to transitioning rooms, ending doorways, and fitted appliance spaces. If you have cabinetry that is designed for your appliances and fits snug with only the tile underneath, your appliances will no longer fit when installing laminate on top.. Lastly you’ll want to leave a 3/8″ gap around the perimeter (baseboard will cover) that is left for expansion.

One of the biggest issues you may run into is the height or thickness of the room

How to Install Laminate Flooring Over a Tile Floor

The short answer is yes; you can install laminate flooring over a ceramic tile floor if the tile floor is in good condition and the tile is well attached, level, and flat. The process would be the same as installing a laminate floor on a concrete slab.

However, if the existing ceramic tile floor isn’t flat and smooth, or if it has a tile that is out of level or has a protruding corner, your laminate flooring will make you feel like you’re walking in a funhouse!

In that case, you can either opt to tear out all the tile and start from scratch or use a leveling compound on top of the tile floor to even it out prior to installing the laminate.

Good luck with your project,

YES BUT.Installing new laminate is a job on its own, not to mention taking out the existing floor. This leaves people wanting to take some shortcuts, such as leaving the existing tile and installing the new laminate on top. This indeed can be done, just know there are risk factors.