Is it OK to plaster over tiled walls?

[smiledotcom]

I'm renovating a late-victorian first floor flat.

I want to turn the existing (2.2 x 3.2 m with ceiling height 2.7 m ) bathroom into a bedroom. The bathroom is fully tiled. The tiles are very old and stuck fast. Even where cracks have developed in the walls the tiles have held fast on either side of the cracks, so they really are very firmly stuck down!

I'm loath to remove such stuck-down tiles, not least because I'm concerned about what the removal of the tiles would do to the surface below it. I'm also concerned that removal of the tiles would entail damage to the External wall - which is covered in fragile ceramic tiles. I suspect these tiles would not be easy to remove...

Is it possible to circumvent these potential problems by just skimming or plastering over the existing tiles?

Thanks in advance for sharing any experience / advice with this.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Is a bodge up! So would not recommend, do the job right knock tiles off and suffer the consequences!

 

[PicassoBaby]

I agree, take the tiles off and start from scratch, this will protect you in the long run.

 

[dann09]

I agree with the above unless you have some exceptional circumstances. Or are intending to move soon.

We dont know if the dividing wall in question is masonry or a stud partition?

No matter how delicate the background, with slow care most tile can be removed - vibration is the enemy.

AAMOI: i saw a plastering instructor demonstrate, with two coats of undiluted PVA, how to skim a large sheet of plate glass - way to go!

 

[smiledotcom]

Hi thanks for replies. Intending to renovate and then put on the market whilst living there.

The tiles are so firmly stuck on that I think a mechanical tile stripper would be needed and I'm guessing that that would cause a lot of vibration, and would result in more than just tile removal. Not sure.

The dividing walls are solid brick walls.

The PVA solution sounds inviting...

When you say a "bodge job" what are the risks attached to that?

Thanks

 

[stevethespreader]

if you must plaster its use a bonding agent such as bondit not pva

 

[dann09]

Good call steve,

i only posted about PVA and glass for info, and the demo was a long time ago.

FWIW: i'd go for pulling all the tile, a quick making good the background, and then skimming.