Can You Put Laminate Over Tile? A Guide to Installing New Floors

If your home or business has outdated tile flooring that you’ve considered replacing, you’ve probably wondered if you can you put laminate over tile. After all, tearing up tile takes time, and time is money.

The short answer to this question is yes, you can put laminate over ceramic or porcelain tile. But, of course, there are caveats—and to do it right, you’ll need to weigh a variety of factors.

Here’s a quick guide to help you determine whether you can have new laminate installed over existing tile.

Consider the Condition of Your Existing Tile

You can rule out putting laminate over tile if your tile is in poor condition.

Think about it: Your new laminate flooring needs something solid and level in order to properly adhere and lay correctly.

If your old tile is cracked or loose, you will need to remedy this. If it’s just a few loose tiles, you can pull them up and reset or replace. Same for if you have just a few cracked tiles. However, if the majority of tiles need repair, it might worth pulling them all up and starting from scratch.

If your tile floor isn’t level due to an issue with failing tile or poor subflooring, you’ll need to remove it before you install laminate. Your new laminate will only be as level as the floor below it.

Be aware: Even if you feel your tile is level, there are probably slight dips around the grout. You’ll need to sand these areas level or fill them prior to laying your new laminate.

Think About the Height of the Floor

Your floor will gain some height if you put the new laminate over existing tile.

Depending on the room, this may not be an issue. However, it’s important to not overlook this factor. Gaining even a small amount of height can affect the movement of doors and height of appliances.

The Need for Baseboard

Laminate flooring needs about a 1/4″ gap between it and your walls to allow for normal expansion and contraction. This means you need a baseboard or quarter-round molding (attached to the walls, not the floor) to hide this gap.

You might currently have baseboard or trim that you can remove and raise. If not, you’ll need to add it.

So, Can You Put Laminate Over Tile? It Depends

This guide touched on just a few important factors to weigh when considering if you can you put laminate over tile on your floor.

If you are looking to replace your flooring, the best option is to call an expert. They can come to your business or residence and take a good look at your existing flooring. A professional or company who has experience working with different types can also help advise you on which will work best for you.

If you are in the Racine, Milwaukee, or northern Illinois area, get in touch with us today and schedule a free in-home estimate. With our flooring experts, you can feel confident that you’re choosing the best, most cost-effective, and lasting solution for your flooring needs!