Tile is a wonderful flooring option that is stylish, durable,
and water-resistant. It’s installed using a type of mortar called thin-set,
and then grout is used to seal the spaces in between the
tile.
In order for tile to be installed properly, the
subfloor that it is installed on should be flat, secure, and level. Subfloor
surfaces such as plywood and concrete are excellent choices that allow the
thinset to harden and the tiles to be laid evenly.
Tile can
be installed over other types of flooring, as long as those types are secure.
For example, if you would like to tile over your outdated linoleum in the
kitchen, you certainly can. It’s not always necessary to rip up the linoleum
to install the tile. However, it’s important to be sure that the linoleum was
laid over a secure subfloor such as concrete or plywood, and the adhesive is
secure. If the linoleum is bubbling up in any spots, this will mean that
eventually your tiles will start heaving upwards, costing you time and money
in the end when they need to be ripped out and laid back
down.
The same principle applies to other types of
flooring. Tile really shouldn’t be laid over any type of floating floor such
as laminate or vinyl flooring, as these options won’t be secure enough to
keep the tiles in place and even. Once they start heaving upwards, the uneven
floor can cause home accidents and no longer looks attractive. Tile also
shouldn’t be laid over carpeting, as the carpeting will eventually break down
and cause the tiles to heave and move.
Tile could be
installed over the top of hardwood flooring, as it’s usually nailed together
and secured to the subfloor. However, hardwood flooring can sometimes be
uneven, and tile flooring works best when installed on an even
subfloor.
