Lifetime Epoxy Floors Blog: Can you apply Epoxy on Tiles?

By Lifetime Epoxy Floors Expert Guest Author: Akis Apostolopoulos

The following article answers a frequently asked question: "Can Epoxy Coatings be applied over an existing tile floor?" The article is from the website: http://www.Learncoatings.com and the author is Akis Apostolopoulos. ​

One of the most common questions I get asked is if we can apply an epoxy floor over tiles. People want to avoid the hassle of ripping out the tiles, and ask if there is a quick solution to just put the epoxy over the tiles.

My answer is yes it is possible, but it is not so simple! There are significant factors that need to be considered

Bonding – Tile surfaces are usually covered with a glazing coat. Epoxy may not stick properly to this coat. Therefore you should always sand and grind the surface, until you get a rough scratched surface. Also I recommend applying a low viscosity epoxy primer that will penetrate the tile surface.

Filling the joints – If you try coating over the tiles directly, the joints will be visible. This means the joints need filling. One option is to grout the joints individually, but this can be quite a tedious task, and the results won’t be perfect. An easier and more effective method is to apply a filler coat on top of the surface. I strongly recommend that this filler coat is also epoxy based.

I have seen people apply an intermediate cementitious layer, only to see it break six months later. Avoid making a sandwiched surface of layers of different materials.
The best solution is

• Grind the tiles
• Low Viscosity epoxy primer
• Epoxy Filler Coat
• Self leveling epoxy floor coating on top

If you think this solution is expensive, the cost of repairing a failed surface is much higher.
And one final point: If the tiles are broken or are causing leaks downstairs, applying epoxy on top will not magically fix the problem. You need to address all underlying structural issues first before applying the new floor.

---

​Akis Apostolopoulos
General Manager at Ktisis
Akis has been involved in the manufacturing and application of industrial floor coatings for the past ten years. He runs learncoatings which is an online resource training professionals on the use of epoxy floors. He is also General Manager of Ktisis, a manufacturer of flooring and waterproofing coatings.
​Source of Article: 
​The primary purpose of Learncoatings is to educate contractors and applicators on the proper use of epoxies and other resin floors. Furthermore we offer online epoxy training through educational videos that can be easily viewed and downloaded. For an introduction to our online training click here
I am also involved in a company that manufactures Epoxy and Polyurethane Floor Coatings as well as waterproofing products. The company name is Ktisis and we are based in Athens, Greece. We have a network of distributors and contractors in several countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. If you are interested in learning more about the company you can visit the website here
Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin or reach out to me at akis@learncoatings.com