Kitchen Floor - Tiling over existing tiles and patching...

[phykell]

I've just had my kitchen plastered, all the walls and the ceiling and I'm now ready to do the floor. I'd appreciate some advice before I start though:

1. I intend to tile over the existing quarry tiles - much faster and easier but are there any pitfalls to avoid? Do I have to apply any PVA to the existing tiles first?

2. There's a couple of areas which are missing the original quarry tiles and I don't want to repair the section with new tiles before recovering with the replacement tiles. I've been warned off using just self-levelling compound as there's a limit to its usable depth. Can someone suggest what I'm best using to patch it up with? I was thinking just a sharp sand cement mix. Is this right and what ratio approx?

Thanks for looking

 

[JIM456]

Hi,
What are you laying on top of the old tiles?
I would thoroughly check the floor to make sure they are sound and that any loose tiles are removed; if the old ceramic tiles have a glazed or polished / very smooth surface then I would lift them regardless.
If the tiles are being left then they sould be cleaned and de-greased if necessary (they would definitely need de-greasing in a commercial kitchen).
I then prefer to use an acrylic screed, rather than latex screed, as I think it is more likely to bond well. Where the old tiles are missing I would prime if necessary and then infill with a heavy mix of screed with washed granite chips mixed through it...granite chips should be used for any mix from 10-20mm thick...with a typical quarry tile the thickness may be 10mm and below so the granite isn't necessary. After the heavy patching is complete apply a scrape on coat of the acrylic screed...if you hold the trowel down on the floor and use a scraping action then only a very thin coat will be applied to the surface of the tiles, while the grouteed joints will be infilled and brought up level.
Jim.