Quick answer
Often, yes. Click-lock laminate and SPC are floating floors, so they can be laid over existing tiles when the tiles are firmly fixed, level and dry. Whether it works in your home depends on the product, the floor levels and the door clearances.
It is not suitable for bathrooms, balconies or any floor with damp.
Why it works
A floating floor is not glued or nailed to the surface below. The planks lock to each other and rest on an underlay, so the old tiles simply become the base. You avoid breaking out the tiles, with the dust, noise and debris that brings.
The checks that decide it
- Are the tiles firmly fixed? Loose or hollow-sounding tiles move under load. They are re-fixed or removed before a new floor goes on top.
- Is the floor level? Click joints are stressed by dips and humps. Uneven areas are levelled first.
- Is the floor dry? Any sign of damp is dealt with before laying. A new floor hides damp. It does not cure it.
- Is there room for the extra height? The new floor adds the thickness of the plank and the underlay.
What changes in the room
- Doors. The floor is now higher, so doors may need trimming at the bottom to swing freely.
- Skirting. New skirting, or a trim against the old skirting, covers the expansion gap at the walls.
- Thresholds. Where the new floor meets a tiled room, a profile bridges the small step.
- Fixed furniture. Wardrobes and other fixed units usually stay in place, and the floor is cut neatly around them.
Which floors can go over tiles
- SPC. Its rigid core copes with minor unevenness better than the others, which makes it a common choice over tiles.
- Laminate. Suitable in dry rooms, on a base that is flat.
- Engineered wood. Some products are floated and some are glued down. Whether yours can go over tiles depends on the product and is assessed on site.
Not sure which of the first two suits you? See SPC vs laminate.
When the tiles should come up instead
- Many tiles are loose, cracked or hollow
- The floor has damp or a history of seepage
- The extra height would create an awkward step at the main door or a staircase
- The room is a bathroom, balcony or other wet area
How the work goes
- The floor is inspected, and loose tiles and uneven areas are put right.
- The surface is cleaned and the underlay is laid, unless the planks have one attached.
- Planks are clicked together across the room, with a gap left at the walls.
- Skirting, door trims and threshold profiles finish the edges.
Common questions
How much higher will the floor be?
By the thickness of the plank plus its underlay. SPC planks are usually 4 to 7 mm thick and laminate boards 8 to 12 mm.
Do the tiles stay underneath?
Yes. A floating floor rests on top of them, so it can be lifted later and the tiles are still there. That is one reason it suits rented homes.
Does the furniture have to come out?
Loose furniture needs to be moved out of the room being laid. Fixed wardrobes and units stay, and the floor is cut around them.
Laying over tiles can also keep the cost down, because there is no removal to pay for. See what wooden flooring costs in Hyderabad. Tell us the rooms, the rough area and the look you want, and request a free quote. Our own team assesses the space and installs the floor.
