concrete over tile

[workerbee2]

I wanted to know if there is some type of concrete product that I could skim over existing tile. The tile has a texture but is the ugliest color ever. I saw some type of concrete product being used on a DIY show that was being skimmed on a counter top then stained. I did not want to have to tear up the ugliest tile ever made.

[Nick Arrera]

Welcome to the site workerbee2 .. Where is the tile located in the house / and what type of tile is it ? What are you installing over it ?

[workerbee2]

I guess it would be ceramic tile. It's in a house I just purchase so I don't know much about the tile but I definetly know that its not terrazzo, marble or slate. I would like to rough it up and put down a thin layer of some type of concrete mix and then stain it. It is located in the kitchen and breakfast room. I just didn't know if there is any type of concrete mix available that could be put down in a thin layer (almost like a leveling compound) and then stained.

[Kman]

I would think that anything you put down that thin, other than SLC, would be likely to crack. A lot.

[Bud Cline]

Mapei International makes a self levelling product suitable for topping and staining. Or, they did, a few years ago.

[Commercial Floor Rep]

What's under the Tile? Wood or concrete? If it's wood you'll probably want to take up the old tile just from a weight stand point. Ardex has a product called SD-T that is self leveling and can be applied over ceramic tile and stone over concrete substrates only. The Tile must first be primed with Ardex EP 2000. SD-T can be applied from 1/4" to 2" in one application. Pigments can be added either integrally or topically. You can get SD-T in gray or white.

Good luck with your project.

Chuck

[TFP Admin]

Bud Cline said Mapei International makes a self levelling product suitable for topping and staining. Or, they did, a few years ago.

Workerbee, you can do a search for Ultraplan M20 Plus at MAPEI USA

T

[workerbee2]

Thank you Bud - Mapei International has Ultraplan M20 Plus and can be found at Lowes.

Thank you Chuck - Ardex has SD-T but I could not find a distributor but will keep looking. (Searched site & via search engine).

Both of these products according to the spec sheets should fit the bill. Now to determine if it is more cost effective to prep, skim & stain or remove tile, pour concrete & stain.

Again thanks to both of you.

[workerbee2]

And thanks to you TFP. I guess you posted while I was searching. I didn't check for new posts B 4 I posted my cudos.

[Bud Cline]

I would take a long look at using the SLC over the existing tile. I'm thinking the stability would be there and may be less weight than removing old tile and poring new concrete because less thickness would be required in my thinking. To pour new concrete would require a much thicker lpour.

Only problem would be the old tile is likely to telegraph thru to the surface of the SLC. But there may be some design benefits to that also.

[The Carpetologist]

I have floated over tile, but at the time, everyone said there was nothing that would work unless you abraded the tile first. It was not a large area, 8 X 8 I believe but I hit it with my angle grinder and the float job (regular patch) worked fine. Just a bit labor intensive.

If they make products that are for doing that, then that is great!

[Floorguy]

Is SLC recommended as the finished floor, or just as an underlayment to be covered?

With that said, checkout Decorative Concrete from Scofield - Stamped Concrete, Concrete Colors, Concrete Acid-Stain, Concrete Resurfacing Materials, Decorative Concrete Training and more.

[Bud Cline]

SLC's used for leveling and repairing generally are not intended to be wear-surfaces and can not be used for a finished floor. There are however SLC's that can be used for finish floor toppings and can be stained at the same time.