Things To Consider Before Resurfacing Your Tile

Things To Consider Before Resurfacing Your Tile

Is your old tile floor cracked, stained or otherwise detracting from the look of your room, kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor area? Do you try to hide your tile with rugs and furniture? Perhaps you think the only solution to old and ugly tile is to rip up and remove the old tile and replace it with either new tile or new flooring. There is another way: tile resurfacing. Tile resurfacing is a relatively new technique that is helping home and business owners update the look of their spaces without incurring the expense of ripping up old tile. Tile resurfacing is part of Semco Florida’s Remodel without Removal System. Tile is a particularly tricky surface to attempt to get materials to bond to. The Semco solution, however, features a scratch-coat resurfacing system that bonds at the molecular level with the original surface and is used on tile and other surfaces. But before you decide on a tile resurfacing project, you should consider a few things first. In this article we are going to discuss some of the things that you should consider before you start any tile resurfacing project.

Cracked Tiles

Besides out of date aesthetics, the most common reason people want to replace or resurface their tile is due to an abundance of unsightly cracks, chips, and other surface damage. Unlike tile refinishing, which is just a surface level touch up of otherwise structurally pristine tile, tile resurfacing solutions are designed to first fix the structure of the tile before the resurfacing layer is added. This prevents the broken tile from pushing through the new surface and creating a new crack.

Delaminating Tiles

Another thing to consider before you resurface your tile floor or tile wall is the state of the tile adhesive integrity. Tile is held in place by a layer of mortar that adheres the tile to the floor or wall. As this layer of mortar ages, it can deteriorate and crack to the point that it causes a hollowed out space where the tile is no longer connected to the surface. In some cases it can become so bad that the only thing holding the tile in place ist the grout that connects it to the tiles around it. This is called tile delamination and it is something that absolutely must be addressed before you undertake a tile resurfacing project.

To determine if your tile is delaminated, you can gently knock on tiles and listen for a hollow sound empty sound. Some people use a chain that they drag over the tiles to find the hollowed out areas. If you suspect that you tile is delaminated, it is best to consult with a professional.

If your tile is in fact delaminated, it will require removal. The good news is that you do not have to replace the tile before you resurface it. The Semco solution allows you to fill in any missing tiles before you resurface the remaining tiles.

Floor Transitions

If your floor has a number of transitions areas either between different types of tile or different types of flooring, you can use the resurfacing system to smooth out those transitions. Going from tile to wood flooring, for example, can result in a large and uneven transition. The tile resurfacing material can be sloped as to create a smoother transition zone and can seamlessly continue on to another flooring area if you choose to resurface multiple types of flooring.

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