Can You Put Laminate Over Tile? (Detailed Breakdown)

Laminate is a floating floor, and it does not need any adhesive agent to stick to the subfloor. Therefore, it is possible to put laminate over any floor. This means you can put laminate over tile flooring easily.

Installing laminate over tile is possible, so you do not have to spend money and time removing the old tile. Laminate flooring is easy to install, maintain, clean, and upgrade your home.

You can get the beautiful look of wood by installing laminate if the tile floor is level and unbroken.

Can You Put Laminate Over Tile?

Yes, you can put laminate over a tile such as ceramic tile, but your current floor is in perfect shape. It is important to keep your current tile flooring in good condition before installing laminate on it.

If the existing tile flooring is uneven or damaged, you shouldn’t do this because it might cause some issues during and after its installation process.

There shouldn’t be any loose patches, deep fissures, deteriorating grout, or cracks in the tile floor. If you find these smaller problems in installed tile flooring, you should repair or rip it out before considering the new installation, but never try to install a laminate floor over damaged tiles.

The level of tile flooring is an important aspect to consider in evaluating any floor condition. The

floating floor type, even laminate, can have structural and locking issues if you have tiles popping up or lifting excessively. Typically, anything off-level by 1/16 inch must be corrected before the laminate is applied on top.

Don’t forget to consider the floor height, grout joints, and cleanliness. Another issue that homeowners often overlook is floor height.

Laying laminate over tile will raise the floor’s height, which may obstruct doors, obstruct appliances, or reduce headroom in some spots. Although it might seem like a small or inconsiderable space, it can be more important than you think.

Tools and Materials Required

The following tools are required to install laminate over the tile.

How to Install Laminate Over Tile?

Floating laminate flooring does not need to be fixed to the subfloor. This is great news for people who do not have enough time and energy to remove the old flooring.

Prepare the surface before installing the tile flooring. Collect all the tools and materials required for the DIY laminate flooring installation method.

It is very simple to put laminate flooring tiles over existing flooring. Follow the instructions given below to put laminate over the tile.

Step 1 . Adjust Your Planks and Prep the Subfloor

Lay all the laminate planks in the room where you will install them and place them for 48 hours. In this way, the planks get the heat and humidity conditions in the room.

Now, prepare the subfloor. Make sure the floor surface is even and clean. If any of the tiles are damaged, replace them now.

Step 2 . Trim Door Jambs

While putting flooring, cutting the trim from doorways is easier than cutting your flooring to fit the shape. When you cut wood from the bottom of your trim, the flooring fits underneath, giving a smooth result.

Put a laminate piece above your underlayment and keep it in line alongside the door frame. When the laminate top meets the frame, mark it with a pencil. In this way, you will be able to cut the planks.

The small pieces of wood can be removed by a jamb saw. While installing, the flooring should slide smoothly in the small gap.

Step 3 . Install Underlayment

Place underlayment before installing laminate. Underlayment is a thin foam made to absorb sound and warm your floors. If there are any gaps or dents on the subfloor, it works as a bridge.

There is built-in underlayment with most laminates. You ignore this step in such a case. If you have to place underlayment, start the process by unrolling it with two rows.

Use a utility knife to trim the pieces to fit the width of the area. Use any adhesive agent to stick together the pieces.

While laying the sheets of underlayment, check that they have not overlapped. If they overlap, this will create bumps on the floor. To install laminate in high-humidity rooms, you must install a vapor barrier before underlayment. A vapor barrier can be used in the kitchen and bathroom.

Step 4 . Lay Your First Row of Laminate

Now start installing laminate against the longest wall. If there is a window or fireplace, you must start along that wall. Place the planks in the first row but keep their tongue side to the wall.

Keep the groove of the pieces in place and secure it by pressing down. Place all the planks in the row until the last one reaches. To fit the last piece according to space, you can cut it.

Step 5 . Continue Laying Planks

While placing planks in the next row, make sure the plank in the second row is longer or shorter than the previous row ones. Use a tapping block to fit them.

When installing the last row, you may have to cut the width of the plank according to the place.

The thickness of laminate planks is 1/4 to 1/3 inches, which will increase the height of the floor. Use a jamb-saw to cut the bottom of the door coverings so that the planks fit underneath.

Potential Problems

There are some potential problems that you must pay attention to. You might have to do additional work if you ignore these problems. Some problems are described here.

Rough Tiles With Wide Grout Lines

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The tiles on the subfloor must be smooth, even, and clean. In case of unevenness or if the grout lines are deep, many issues can be made. For example, If the laminate floor joint comes over a bump on the tile, the tiles separate when you step on it due to pressure on the plank.

You can easily solve this problem. You can level the floor with a leveling compound. Put it on the subfloor and leave it to set. After its setting, you can start your floor installation.

Too High Floor

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The addition of laminate and underlayment increases the height of the floor. It could be seen in the doorways to the other floors. This problem can be solved easily by transition strips.

Separate the two types of floors by leaving a small gap and nail the strip in that place. The difference between the two heights will not be visible.

Humidity

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As laminate is not resistant to water, humidity can damage it. Do not pick it for the areas where water is used a lot. Therefore, laminate flooring for the bathroom is not successful.

There is a solution to this problem. You can add waterproof underlayment and mop the spills quickly when any accident happens.

Pros and Cons of Laying Laminate Over Tile

Before installing laminate over the tile, consider its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

• Easy to install
• You can DIY it without any experience
• It saves your time because removing tile is not required
• Achieve a surface by installing laminate that is impossible to get by tile
• resistant to certain damages
• Soundless

Disadvantages

• Cannot install it over broken tile flooring
• Increases the height of the floor

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Fine to Put Laminate Over Tile?

Laminate can be installed over the tile, but the tile should be in good condition. The surface should not be uneven and broken.

Is It Necessary to Put Underlayment for Laminate Flooring Over Tile?

It is good to place underlayment before installing laminate flooring over tile because it provides warmth, moisture protection, and a soundless environment.

What Flooring Can You Put Over Tiles?

Check that the flooring is in good condition. Now, you can install any floating floor over tile, such as laminate, vinyl, etc.

How to Install Laminate Flooring Over Ceramic Tile?

You can install laminate flooring over ceramic tile if it is in good condition. Now start installing underlayment and placing laminate planks in the first row against the longest wall. In this way, complete all the rows one by one.

Can Laminate Flooring Go Over Ceramic Tile?

If the ceramic tile is flat, unbroken, smooth, and uniform, laminate can go over the ceramic tile.

Final Thoughts

If the tile is in good condition, uniform, smooth, and level, you can put laminate over the tile. In case the tiles are broken, loose, or uneven, removing them will be better.

Before installing laminate flooring, it’s good to install a waterproof underlayment. It will protect the flooring from moisture.

You can change the appearance of your room by saving your time and money. I hope this article will help you.