Looking for kitchen floor options for old tiles

[RenoRaine]

I've recently had a new kitchen installed and now the tile floors look old and sad. They're in good condition, except for the cosmetic appearance. I figure I have 3 options that don't involve touching the new cabinetry - tile over old tiles, lino over old tiles or paint the existing tiles.

Everyone I speak to has a different opinion, but if I choose to tile over the current tiles, will that cause issues if anyone should ever need to remove the kickboards?

I've seen some lino I like, but the space is so small, it seems wasteful to buy a 4m wide piece. Is it possible to paint the tiles using a stencil so I can have some texture? I've also been told that painting tile floors looks shabby quite quickly due to foot traffic.

Any suggestions or insights would be appreciated 

[EricL]

Hello @RenoRaine 

Thank you for sharing your question about kitchen flooring options. Between the three options you've presented, I'm putting my vote to using lino. It's quick no mess installation is already an advantage, there is no need to demolish anything, and it can be easily replaced should any serious damage occur. Painting would be my next choice; Preparation is the key in order to get a superior finish. I propose using the Dulux 1L Deep Satin Renovation Range Floors. I suggest skipping the stencil to keep the floor nice and neutral. 

Tiling would be the messiest option; it will create a lot construction dust, and your new kitchen would have to be heavily protected to prevent it from getting damaged. One other option that was not mentioned was the use of Hybrid flooring. These are interlocking flooring panels that you can put over your tiles to give it a brand-new look. It almost has the same convenience of installing linoleum.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendation.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[RenoRaine]

Thanks Eric. Why would tiling create as much mess and potential damage as you say if I'm intending to tile over the top of the current tiles? 

[EricL]

Hello @RenoRaine 

My apologies, I must have misread that, I was under the impression that the tiles would be removed. Tiling over the old tiles would still be messy because of the spreading of tile adhesive. I still recommend covering your new kitchen to prevent tile adhesive from splashing on its surface. The only disadvantage I can see is that it would lower your kitchens height by 10mm conservatively, but otherwise tiling over the old tiles is a viable option as well.

Eric

[Dave-1 · Accepted solution]

Good Evening @RenoRaine 

I have shabby old grey textured tiles right now... I am looking forward to something smoother underfoot so my first  choice would be lino. Mainly for the warmth factor in winter!

The tile paint has improved dramaticaly since I first saw it a decade ago and is something that would be on my list to try, especially if you are happy with the size of your tiles. I have heard good things and bad things abvout usage. Generally the bad things are from years ago so I figure the new paint is a LOT better. Right up to how strong it is for flooring. I have used laminate paint and find that it works extremly well. (Its not floor paint but the technology behind it has improved)

Tileing over the existing tiles. I have that now for my kitchen and dining room.  Surpprisingly held up well to the point you wouldnt realise it other then a higher edge. ONly down side I can think of is removing two lots of tiles down the track. The Kickboard concern I am wondering why you may be removing them? Ive never really heard of kickboards being removed unless the benches are going.

Some new ideas-

Lino Tiles.... My mum has them in her kitchen with an underlay of masonite so around 6mm height and they look good and have stood up well in the 3ish years she hs had them. They look like big floor tiles.

Floating floor boards... 6mm maybe 8mm extra with padding. Definently something that would be nice. It would also be warmer to your feet in winter.

Last idea tho I havnt seen a lot of them for a few years is cork tiles. Way less breakage on things that may be dropped and warmer on the feet. Masonite underlay plus the cork so maybe around 7mm thick.

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @RenoRaine here are my pros and cons fort those options:

1. Tile over old tiles. Very doable but will create a daily high step up from the adding rooms. Being a kitchen and continually being accessed this will be a concern. It's not ideal, being a trip hazard, but can be addressed with a metal or timber trim. This gets a no from me.

2. Lino over old tiles. Not a bad option, but the tiles need to be dead flat so no high points. Most installers wont lay Lino directly over tiles as the adhesive isn't guaranteed. So you would need to lay something like thin MDF or tile underlay sheets which are glues to the tiles. Con is that will create a height difference in the adding rooms. Again not ideal, being a trip hazard, but can be addressed with a metal trim.

3. Paint the existing tiles. No pro's with this one. Kitchen are a high traffic area, so besides not providing a great looking finish it will deteriorate very quickly looking worse than yours old tiles. This is a no from me.

My Option 4. The one I would be doing without a 2nd thought. Lift the tiles. You state its a tiny space but its one thats frequently used daily and the kick panels are the least of your problems here. There are easily replaced if you can't removes them without damage with ones in stock at Bunnings by Kaboodle. This will give you a lower than adjoining room fleet level to then apply anything you want, from tiles, Lino and floating floorboards as @EricL suggested. New easily installed kick board would then be installed afterwards neatly fitting in under the kicks.

A few months back I had a job to install Kaboodle kitchen. The customer wanted to paint over the tiles and asked my opinion, which I replied "lift the old tiles as there are timber floorboards underneath that could be sanded and at there same level as the adjoining rooms. She loved the idea, but unfortunately I spend two days lifting and skipping the tiles and underlay, which exposed an old vinyl floor I had to also lift.  My point is, check the original phot and the final one as this might give inspiration to your project 😬

Regards, Nailbag

Before

Floor removal

After