How to Cover Old 12x12 Tile in a Basement

Peel-and-Stick Laminate

• If you aren’t worried about preserving the tile installation, consider going over it with a peel-and-stick laminate material to give it a hardwood look without the cost of hardwood. Clean the floor first, and ensure all the grout joints are flush with the face of the tile. If they are low, fill them with a concrete filler; otherwise, the dips will show through in the face of the laminate after they have time to adjust to the floor. Once you have a flat installation surface, install the peel-and-stick material row by row, and cover the entire tile surface.

Sheet Vinyl

• Sheet vinyl works in a similar format to peel-and-stick laminate in the sense that it adheres to the surface of the tile. First, ensure the grout joints are full and flush. Measure the floor and purchase a vinyl sheet at least 6 inches longer than what you need. They are sold in 4-, 6- and 12-foot-wide rolls. Place the roll on the floor, unroll it, cut it to fit with at least 1/4 inch of space between the wall and the ends of the piece. Roll it back up, spread glue on the floor with an appropriately notched trowel (according to the vinyl manufacturer’s instructions), and slowly unroll the sheet. Press it into the glue with a vinyl floor roller.

New Tile Installation

• Cover an existing tile installation with new tile -- either ceramic or natural stone -- provided the installation is sound. However, before you do so, you must first rough up the surface of the existing material so the thinset mortar sticks, or use a heavy-duty adhesive-backed antifracture membrane. Both ruin the surface of the initial installation, either by scratching it or coating it with an adhesive that is virtually impossible to remove. For the first method, use a floor sander to grind down the surface of the initial installation, and rough it up prior to installing the new layer of tile directly on top. Antifracture membranes are sold in rolls. Peel the backing and slowly roll it out onto the floor, adhering it as you go. Overlap the edges as dictated by the manufacturer, and go row by row until you cover the entire installation. Once finished, install your new tile on top of the layer.

Floating Hardwood/Laminate

• Floating hardwood and laminate floors can be installed directly on top of an existing tile installation. As the name suggests, they are floating, which means they are not nailed down, but rather install over the top of existing surfaces. Apply any padding as required by the manufacturer of your chosen material, then follow the snap-together instructions to install the floating floor on top of the tile. Remember to leave at least 1/4 inch of a gap around the perimeter to allow for expansion of the floor during the warmer months; otherwise, the floor will buckle in the heat and pressure.