Can You Put Tile Over Countertop Laminate

Step 1 treating the laminate you don t need to remove the laminate before creating your new tile countertops.

Can you put tile over countertop laminate.

Where any pieces come together it would be ideal to biscuit join them. Make cuts as necessary with a utility knife. If the old countertops are smooth and even simply tile over them. To square off the corners of the round cornered laminate countertop mark a line 3 1 4 in from edge.

Predrilling would be involved. If your counter has curved edges as most do you ll have to grind off the raised bead at the lip with a belt sander and you won t be able to tile the backsplash without cutting off the curved top edge. Tile can be installed directly on top of the old counters provided they are flat and are stable enough to prevent the new tile from cracking. Setting tile on laminate a laminate countertop is an acceptable base for ceramic tile but think carefully before you attempt it.

The laminate comes in thin rigid sheets that you secure to a countertop frame using contact cement. Clamp the level down to use as a cutting guide image 1. Laminate countertops are durable easy to clean and more moisture proof than just about any other material you can use. To prep the countertop to receive the tile round corners need to be squared off and the countertop surface has to be sanded to provide a better surface for the tile adhesive.

Begin along an edge and carefully align the peel and stick tile to the edge of the countertop. To achieve maximum adherence use coarse sandpaper and roughen up the entire surface of the counter. Continue to peel off the protective paper set tiles tightly abutted to each other and affix them firmly in place. The plywood should be cut in longest lengths possible to fit the counter.

While not a perfect solution to all of your countertop woes tiling over laminate just might be the fast inexpensive solution you need to carry your kitchen through for a few more years or to aid in a house sale. The best news is that you don t have to remove your old laminate countertops to install new granite tile over. If the laminate and substrate are in good condition you can tile directly on top of the laminate. Tile and natural stone as well as other laminate surfaces can serve as an adequate base for your laminate tiles.

The plywood could be installed over the tile with liquid nails adhesive and a tek screw that could go through the tile and into the substrate. If your counters can accommodate a little extra thickness it s best to start with a layer of 1 4 inch cement board glued to the countertop and lay the tile over that.