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Can You Put Peel And Stick Tile Over Ceramic Tile? (How To)

If you have a ceramic tile floor in your home and you want to change the look, you might consider using some peel-and-stick tile. Does it work well enough to consider?

It is possible to put peel and stick tile over ceramic tile after you have filled the grout lines and cleaned the ceramic tile properly. Peel and stick tile can really change the look of the room in a hurry once everything is prepared.

Putting tiles on the floor

There are a few things to consider any time you are putting peel-and-stick tile over ceramic tile. These three factors are going to make a difference in how successful you are.

1. Clean: Unless you clean the ceramic tile properly, the peel-and-stick tile is not going to stick. It’s more than getting the dust and dirt up off of the tile, you also need to remove any wax and grease using a stripper.

2. Smooth: One of the biggest problems that most people run into when putting peel-and-stick tile over ceramic tile is that the ceramic tile isn’t smooth enough. Any lumps or bumps are going to show through the peel-and-stick tile quickly.

Along the same lines, any grout lines that exist in the ceramic tile are also going to be a problem. You will have to fill in the grout line so that it is smooth and flat.

3. Dry – Cleaning the ceramic tile is important but making sure it is properly dry is equally as important. Moisture will keep the peel-and-stick tile from sticking and if it gets behind the tile, it could result in the growth of mold.

Can You Put Peel And Stick Tile Over Ceramic Tile? (How To)

Even though this may seem like a relatively simple DIY project, there are still some serious hazards that need to be considered. Thinking about these in advance and planning for them can help you to avoid injury.

1. Lacerations – When you are cutting any peel-and-stick tile with a utility knife, you run the risk of cutting your hand. You may also cut another body part if it gets in the way.

Always pay attention to the location of your hand, especially the hand that is not being used for cutting. Never cut toward yourself and always use the sharpest utility knife blade possible. A dull knife is more likely to cut you.

2. Back Injury – Since you will likely be bent over putting down the new floor, you could easily injure your back. If possible, work at a table to cut the tile at a comfortable height. You should also wear knee pads.

3. Eye Injuries – Always wear safety glasses when doing any DIY projects. It is very easy to get something in your eye and cause permanent damage.

Now that we know the basics of how to keep ourselves safe and a few little tips to help keep us on track, let’s consider some more specifics about doing this job. In particular, we will now take a look at any problems to watch out for when putting peel-and-stick tile over ceramic tile.

Should You Put Peel And Stick Tile Over Ceramic Tile?

Putting tiles on the floor

You shouldn’t have too many problems when trying to put peel-and-stick tile over ceramic tile. That doesn’t mean that there are not any potential problems, because here are a few to consider.

1. Damaged Ceramic Tile – In many homes, the ceramic tile is fairly impervious to damage. The only thing that can really go wrong is to put something sticking on it, such as tape, and then remove it.

Keep that in mind when applying peel-and-stick tile to ceramic tile. Many of us do it as a temporary measure or because we are renting a place and want to change the look. When you peel up the peel-and-stick tile, it could leave behind a damaged ceramic tile floor.

2. Water Issues – There may be times when water is a problem with peel-and-stick tile. It may get under the tile and could cause it to lift or may even allow mold and mildew to form.

The best way to avoid this problem is to ensure that the floor is flat and smooth when you are putting the peel-and-stick tile over it. You can also reduce this issue by running a weighted roller over the floor, which you can rent from a local hardware store.

3. Grout Lines – This is an issue that is often overlooked, especially because it doesn’t tend to show up right away. When you first put down the peel-and-stick tile, it will look nice and smooth but gravity will eventually cause it to fall down into the grout lines of the ceramic tile underneath.

You may need to float the areas of the grout lines or fill them somehow so this is not a problem. It will not typically be an issue if you are covering ceramic tiles on the wall with peel-and-stick tiles. It is seen more on horizontal surfaces because gravity causes the tiles to fall into the grout lines.

4. Selling the Home – There may be a tendency to put peel-and-stick tiles over ceramic tiles to dress things up before you sell a home. Peel and stick tile is not going to last as long as ceramic tile.

Most people who are shopping for a home recognize this problem and will immediately wonder what is under the peel-and-stick tile. It may even make it more difficult for you to sell the home and it certainly isn’t going to add to the value.

What Tools Do You Need To Put Peel And Stick Tile Over Ceramic Tile?

Tools used for tiles

Now is the time when you should gather your tools. If you are sure that you want to put the peel-and-stick tile down, having these tools at your disposal and ready will help the job to go smoothly. Gather the following:

Broom and Dust Pan

Mop and Bucket

Floor Stripper

Rags

5 Gallon Buckets

Levels

Straight Edge

T-Square

Tape Measures

Pencils

Utility Knife and Blades

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on December 15, 2022.

Kneepads

Safety Glasses

Cutlass Gloves

You may also have some tools that you use on almost any DIY project. If so, make sure you have them nearby because you will likely find a way for them to be used on this project as well.

What Preparations Do You Need To Put Peel And Stick Tile Over Ceramic Tile?

Putting tiles on the floor

When you’re doing any job around the home, preparing for the job is probably more important than actually doing it. Unless you prepare properly, the job is not going to go well.

Here’s what you need to do to successfully put peel-and-stick tile over ceramic tile.

1. Strip – There may be grease and grime on the ceramic tile floor that you don’t recognize. If the floor has been down any length of time, you should use some heavy-duty stripper to remove all of it.

Be careful when using stripper so that you don’t get it on your skin or in your eyes. It’s always a good idea to wear goggles when doing this.

You should also thoroughly wash the floor after using stripper to remove any of the old grime, grease, and used stripper.

2. Clean – Sweep the surface thoroughly and consider using a shop vac to get up even more dust and dirt. Make sure you pay particular attention to the edges of the room and around any obstacles where dirt and dust can hide.

You should then mop the floor with clean water. Make sure you fill up the mop bucket rather than just putting a couple of inches of water or it will get dirty very quickly.

Anything that is left on the floor, such as dust, dirt, grease, or grime, will keep the peel-and-stick tiles from sticking. They may stick for a little while but you will not be as happy with the project.

In addition, any little pieces of debris that are under the peel-and-stick tile are going to show. You would be amazed at how much even a little piece of stone or wood that is almost unseen will be seen in a big way.

3. Measure and Mark – You should already know the dimensions of the area that is being transformed with peel-and-stick tile. Otherwise, you couldn’t have purchased enough tile to cover it.

At this point, you should just measure from wall to wall in two directions and mark the center of the room. Move out in both directions about 18 inches and do the same so you can draw a straight line in that area.

This will get you started on the right foot. If you put the first piece down accurately, all the other pieces will be accurate. If you make a small error at the start, it will be expanded as you go across the room.

How To Put Peel And Stick Tile Over Ceramic Tile

confused man standing

Since you now have the room set up properly for the new peel-and-stick tile, here’s how to put it down.

Step 1: The First Piece – The first piece is probably the most important piece. It has to line up properly because everything else is going to be based on the first piece that is put down.

Peel the paper off of the back and put the piece in place. After being sure that it is lined up properly, use the edge of your fist to press down and remove any air bubbles from under the tile.

Step 2: Continuing – Continue to peel the back off of the tile and put them in place one by one. Line up the edge and gently lay the tile down on the floor or other surface. You can then gently pull it into place if it is not quite right.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on December 15, 2022.

Be careful with each tile you put down. Any mistakes you make are going to be compounded as you continue.

Step 3: Edges and Obstacles – When you run into any obstacles or get to an edge, you will have to cut the peel-and-stick tile. Do this by marking the back of the tile on the paper and cutting using the straight edge and utility knife. The tile should snap easily.

Step 4: Finishing – After the floor has been put down, you can finish it by running something heavy over it. It is possible to rent a heavy roller at a hardware store for this purpose.

You can put peel-and-stick tile over ceramic tile but you need to make sure the old title is perfectly clean. You should also fill in any cracks or grout lines so they are level with the rest of the floor.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on December 15, 2022.

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