Can You Put Laminate Over Tile?

Laminate is a great, low maintenance option for flooring that can replace almost any kind you currently have.

However, if you already have tile in your house, you might not want to pull it up. In that case, you might be wondering if you can simply install the laminate over it.

The good news is that you can absolutely install laminate over tile. You just need to do a few things first to make sure the tile is properly prepared.

In this article, we have laid out everything you need to do in order to lay laminate over tile.

By following all these steps, you can be sure that your new laminate will be professional-looking. It will also ensure that the laminate stays in place and lasts for many years.

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Putting Laminate Over Tile: Basic Idea

To put laminate over tile, you need to follow a few basic steps, which include:

Check tile condition

Check height

Level the tile

Add a barrier

Install the new laminate

Why Put Laminate Over Tile?

While tile can be a beautiful addition to your home, it can also be very high maintenance.

Tile and grout need to be professionally cleaned regularly to ensure it stays in good shape. This can add up quickly and might make the tile more of a hassle than a convenience.

Laminate, on the other hand, is very low maintenance. All it needs is a thorough sweeping and mopping just like any other type of flooring.

Laminate is also very scratch resistant and durable. Tile can crack and break easily, which opens up your flooring to rot and other damage.

If you are looking to install flooring that will be easy to maintain and tough, laminate is your best option.

Check the Tile Condition

The first thing you need to do when installing laminate over tile is check the condition of the tile.

Tile has a tendency to crack and break if something falls on it. Over time, these cracks can expand and turn into real damage.

The grout that fills in the gaps between tiles can also crack very easily. When this happens, moisture and other debris can get under the tile and cause a lot of damage.

Check your tiling thoroughly before you start with your laminate installation. Look for any significant cracks or breaks, especially around areas like baseboards and thresholds.

If your tiling has any large cracks or several areas with broken pieces, it might be best to remove it. Inconsistencies like this can create problems down the line once your laminate is installed.

Check the New Height

You will also want to make sure that the laminate will not add too much height to your flooring.

When you install the laminate, it will not be sitting on the subfloor as intended. Instead, it will still have the height from the tile underneath.

This can cause problems in areas where the laminate transitions from other flooring.

To solve these issues, you will have to install some transition strips in these areas. They will help prevent trips and falls.

You should also make sure that you will be able to open and close any doors where the laminate is.

Level the Floor

Before you install the laminate, you should make sure that your flooring is level.

If there are any dips or slants in the tile, you should fill those in to make it level. Installing your laminate will be much easier this way.

If the spaces in between the tiles are deep, fill them in with silicone caulk. This will give your laminate a much more even space to sit.

If you are unable to level out the floor with the tile on it, it may be easier to simply remove it.

Add Moisture Barrier

Laminate needs a moisture barrier underneath it to be properly protected.

A moisture barrier can be a thin sheet of plastic specifically designed to keep water from penetrating. This will be very important since laminate is not waterproof.

Keeping moisture from getting under the laminate will protect your home from mold and rot.

Install the Laminate

Once you have properly prepared the space, you can install the laminate.

Laminate is easy to install and is designed to be used by almost anybody. It has a tongue and groove fastener that simply snaps into place.

Install the tile over your moisture barrier and make sure you leave an expansion gap between it and the baseboards.

This expansion gap should be about the width of a quarter. It allows the laminate to expand naturally without cracking or popping up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put laminate over concrete?

You can put laminate over concrete.

However, make sure you install a moisture barrier. Concrete can emit groundwater and cause mold and rot under the laminate.

Can luxury vinyl go over tile?

Luxury vinyl is very similar to laminate. It is easy to install and can be put over tile.

You should go through all the same steps laid out above for vinyl just like you would for laminate.

Can you put peel and stick tile over ceramic tile in a shower?

If you are putting peel and stick tile over ceramic in the shower, only do it on the walls.

It is not recommended to put peel and stick over standard tile for the floor. Water could get trapped under it and cause deterioration and other structural issues.

Conclusion

Putting laminate over tile is a great way to make your home’s flooring more convenient and low-maintenance.

By following the steps above, you can be sure that your new laminate will last longer. You can also be sure you won’t encounter any structural issues in the future.