How Will Laying Tile Effect the Laminate?

Laminate Flooring

• Laminate flooring is comprised of a foam base either with or without adhesive attached and a laminated paper or vinyl top. This top, while somewhat water resistant, is not waterproof or even moisture proof. In fact, over time, most laminate flooring will even begin peeling and bubbling around the edges where moisture is regularly introduced.

Mortar

• Mortar is a mixture of cement, superfine sand and various latexes. This mixture is activated and becomes sticky when water is added. In fact, the entire process of laying tiles involves spreading wet, thick mortar onto the flat, clean surface and pressing tiles into the mortar.

Curing

• During the drying process, the mortar undergoes a chemical reaction where the texture turns from a thick spreadable frosting into a strong adhesive. This process, known as curing, is what holds the tiles in place. This chemical reaction, however, is not gentle on the substrate under the tile and will discolor any paper including laminate.

Removal

• Should you decide that tile just was not the right choice for your home, the removal process can actually be made easier courtesy of the laminate flooring. As the mortar holding the bricks in place cured, it also bonded with the laminate, forming a simple removable barrier between the mortar and the actual subfloor. So, while the laminate will not be saved, it will allow for easy tile removal.