Epoxy Over Laminate Tile Floor

Below we go over what we have learned from over 25 years of being in the epoxy business and from being the largest epoxy flooring installers in the tri state area.

Epoxy over laminate tile floor.

The answer to this can change with the type age and condition of the tile. Chipboard cushioned vinyl flooring particle boards of any type oriented strand board osb interior grade plywood tongue and groove planking and hardwood floors are unsuitable substrates for direct installation of ceramic tile. How to epoxy on laminate floors prepare the laminate surface. They are almost impervious to most chemical spills without any negative effects on the coating.

Tile flooring is available in a variety of types such as ceramic or stone. Typically epoxy comes in two parts a resin and a hardener and needs to be mixed. While there are some benefits to tile flooring such as choices in styles and colors tiles are not even in the same ballpark as epoxy flooring. To ensure a polished and even surface the laminate countertop needs to be prepped well.

For an epoxy coating or other resinous topping to adhere well to tile of any kind proper evaluation of site conditions as well as careful mechanical preparation is needed. Tiles have a few disadvantages when it comes to choosing it for your garage flooring. If you want to change the color of the tile use a white primer that will allow you to paint on a layer of floor paint. Some floor tiles have a glossy finish from the glazing process which can make them tricky to bond to.

Installing over wood. You can look to micro etch with acid based etchers but in my experience this kind of preparation can be hit and miss. The clear primer allows for the epoxy coating to adhere to the floor without destroying the color of the tile. If the tiles are glazed the gloss will need to be removed by grinding to allow the epoxy to grab hold.

Besides withstanding chemical spills cleaners epoxy floor coating is also heat and water resistant. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile. Note to take care when sanding if the floor has a lot of visible adhesive you may want to install a subfloor over the tiles rather than sand them as sanding may create dust with glue particles. Another pro is that these floors also resistant to bacteria and germs which makes them very easy to sanitize.

In this situation applying epoxy over vinyl tiles rather than removing them first may be the preferred option.