Home & Commercial Epoxy Floor Coating Professionals
When it comes to flooring, tiles have been the most popular choice for a long time. However, more people nowadays are getting interested in the several advantages of epoxy floors. The main advantage being their seamless finish. Therefore, many homeowners are trying to switch and get their epoxy over tiles, which leads them to wonder, “does epoxy stick to tile?”
Considering that removing tiles can be expensive, time-consuming, and messy, the idea of placing new epoxy resin floor over tile flooring sounds quite interesting. So, is it possible? Does epoxy stick to tile? Although many contractors’ answer to this question is yes, it doesn’t mean it should always be done. There are some important aspects to consider before sticking epoxy flooring over tiles. Continue reading to find them out prior to getting the best out of the epoxy flooring benefits.
As previously mentioned, the main concern is the adhesion of epoxy onto the tiles and the tiles onto concrete. So, does epoxy stick to tile after the glazing process? Well, some floor tiles may have a glossy finish that can make the sticking more difficult, so it’s necessary to remove the gloss by grinding. Nevertheless, when it comes to non-porous and vitrified tiles, grinding might not be enough to get a strong bond, so a specialist primer is commonly needed in these cases. Also, sealers can be applied on tiles to prevent them from looking dirty, so they’ll need to be ground as well.
Besides gloss, another aspect to consider before adhering epoxy is the condition of the grout lines. As a porous material, grout absorbs grease and grime, which can affect the epoxy adhesion. If you’re pursuing a new epoxy kitchen floor, it’ll be necessary to remove everything in advance, as this area is considerably exposed to oil contamination.
Lastly, considering the quality of the bond between the floor tile and the concrete is highly important. If some tiles are already loose, they represent a weak point in the flooring. This means it might be better to remove them all in order to use the concrete that’s underneath instead.
After making sure the tiles and grout are clean, it’s time to get them flat applying a leveling compound. First of all, you need to apply up to 5mm/2” to cover grout lines completely. Nevertheless, it’s important to keep in mind that leveling compounds are different, and while some of them might produce a flat surface, others could give undesirable results, such as expanding and contracting to the tiled floor and making the grout lines visible again, or causing a porous surface that leads to bubbles. It’s necessary to be careful while applying epoxy resin floors to prevent grout lines from appearing again, especially with metallic pigments; which frequently flow and settle in low-viscosity resins.
When the floor condition only allows for removing tiles, tile lifting can be done easily in most cases. However, it’s the glue underneath what makes the removal process longer. Another possible complication during the flooring removal is the potential damage to the concrete during the whole process. Therefore, some patching might be needed to repair chips and divots before the resin floor goes down if you’re not planning to use a floor leveler.
When it comes to resin floors, it might be the best option to try to get back to the concrete before applying. Getting epoxy flooring for automotive use, it’s extremely important to ensure you have the epoxy over concrete. It can be quite dangerous over tile if not done properly. However, due to the extra costs, risks, and time involved, homeowners may take a different path.
