For
years the only solution to installing hardwood
floors over ceramic tile was rip it out and install
the wood floor.
What
Types Of Installations Over Tile? Floating Floors
The simplest in terms of getting the job done
without messy demo work
would be a floating
engineered floor. Floating floors were designed for
these types of applications. Styles, colors, and
appearances are numerous today specifically with the
leader in floating floor technology Kahrs.
Engineered Glue Down Floor
Only in recent years have some hardwood adhesive
manufacturers given the green light to gluing over
ceramic tile, but there are some important
considerations before starting the job.
For a successful glue down application over older
tile the single largest issue associated with
failures are older loosened tiles. Floors cannot be
glued in this condition.
Preparation before installing any glue down floor
will require some additional floor
work in the form of skim coating the surface
that also fills in any excessive grout joints. This
would be especially prominent with Saltillo or
Mexican/Spanish tile.
Solid
3/4" Hardwood Floors
Sorry
folks, but this one may be of the question in terms
of functionality. Why? In order to install a solid
floor one would need a proper subfloor. Solid floors
are normally nailed to wood subfloors. In this case
another subfloor would have to be installed over the
tile with a minimum thickness of 5/8"
Exceptions may include dealing with some of the more
popular solid 5/16" hardwoods.
However, we urge this procedure to be handled by
very experienced professionals or those that have
had success with the application.
Any
new subfloor increases the finished vertical height 1 1/2 inches with a solid 3/4" hardwood.
Appliance clearances with kitchen installations,
baseboard profiles, and door clearances may be
compromised. Furthermore, attaching a new subfloor
(plywood) to the tile can be problematic. Fasteners
may crumble or loosen tile beneath causing potential
noise problems underneath. IE; crunchy sounds.
Check
out other subfloor
options designed for concrete.
 Preparation.
Steps Before The Installation
For
any successful installation floor preparation is
paramount, specifically with the glue down method.
All tiles have to be checked for flatness. In our
first photo example the installer checks for
flatness and higher tile edges with a straight edge.
Grinding any high areas (left) so the new hardwood
floor will sit flat once installed.
Without fixing any of these conditions the new floor
will flex with the undulations caused by a tile
floor that is not flat. Creaking, and snapping
sounds are likely. It's best to get it right
first before any major complications happen after
the fact.
Common Problems. Trim Moldings Don't Work Well
Unless
you have plans to install the new floor in the
entire home, transitions and moldings can create
problems but there are solutions. For example, let's
say the new floor connects to existing carpet. Prior
to the new floor addition, tile and carpet problems did
not exist when comparing the final finished vertical height of both
floor coverings. However when a new floor is added
on top of the ceramic tile we now run into two
different finished floor heights than can pose a troublesome
trip hazard. Prefinished hardwood flooring companies
do not manufacture a molding for this situation.
How to Overcome the New Floor Height?
Better
installers will not leave you with a problem. A
carpet shim can be installed on the adjacent side of
the new floor that gradually ramps the transition.
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