love to read all the advice here, i am always amazed at the knowlege there is out there. now my question is regarding ceramic tile on a counter. my counter is formica. old but in great condition. i want to tile over it. I know cement backer is preferred, but on my budget and skill level would like to just tile on the formica. Is this doable? I have been told you can do it. I would prefer to just ile right on top, maybe sand it. is there a thinset made that will cure on top of this substrate?? the counter is level and solid.
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Greetings tc,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again which will increase it's viewing.
Perhaps it will catch someone's attention that can help you with advice.
You might want to try your question over at this site http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/index.php
is you fail to find what you need here.
Cheers
coincidentally. i did post there, thanx
In my opinion, tile is not a good choice for a countertop, and I would never even consider putting tile on top of formica.
Just my 2 cents.
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20 some years ago I had a tile guy put ceramic over my MIL's counters. Still holding up great today.
He roughed up the Formica. Unfortunately I have no idea what he used to adhere the tile. I'm pretty sure floor mastic would work. Certainly adequate for my backsplash. PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
that was my idea. granite and quartz and coriane is not in my budget and a little too high end looking for the surounding kitchen ,but the tile woud fit my needs, I have seen it done , but can't quite get all the info i need but from what i read, i will probably have to use a backer board any way. If I could afford it would love a solid surface but then I would have to tear down the whole house to match!LOL
I put 12x12 marble look tile directly over my formica. I used the new "Liquid Nails Marble " as a backer and pushed the tiles almost completely together. Then used an unsanded grout in the same color as the marble to finish the top. On the front I routed a piece of oak and snugged it up to the tile edge. I think it looks great and I get a lot of compliments on it. It's complete impervious to stain ( unlike stone products) I can cut on it, put hot pans on it and the grout line is thin enough not to pose a problem.
Go for it!
Rusti
what does "marble look " mean? does that mean, man made?who sells them? never heard of liquid nails marble, sounds good.
I put ceramic tile over a laminate countertop sanded with a 60-grit belt. The tile adhered with mastic out of a tub, can't remember which brand. Still stuck 20 years later...but the grout is rather nasty. Not my house anymore, though...
Sand the laminate with coarse paper ... 40-60 grit. get all the shine off the formica, leave scratches. I would use a modified thinset loke Mapeiflex or Custom.
I know cement backer is preferred, but on my budget and skill level
Skill has nothing to do with to do with using hardiebacker. There is a little extra cost. 1/4" hardie is about a dollar a sf, plus the screws for another $10-15 and twice the amount of thinset. But you will almost certainly have more than enough thinset anyway. So for about $50 more you could use a layer of hardiebacker.
or rip off the countertops completely and replace with a layer of 3/4" ply. Do you have a formica backspash? How are you gouing to handle that?
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
i will probably,and most likely start fresh,w new ply and i/4 in. hardiboard and be done with it.I am not spending a lot because another reason besides budget is, this is an estate house, so I probably won"t be here too long, but want to update it a little.
I did painted cabinets, walls, floor is nice but granite would be out of place unless i put in new cabinets. I will let the new owners do that ,I am just going to give it a bit of a face lift, the mica is ugly, and 70's, tiled counter would be perfect for this application.