Hello all,

Me and my wife would like to remodel our kitchen some day, but it's like 5
years off In the mean time, we want to do whatever can (on a budget of
course) to update our kitchen. It has green formica counter tops and
backsplash, and I was wondering if it would be possible to put tile over
this.

In visiting a friend's new home this weekend I noticed her counter and
backsplash were tile, but on the front it had a piece of wood trip covering
the edge of the counter. If I installed tile on the counter and did the
same, it would totally cover the formica.

Anyone done this or seen this done before? I know the counters will need
to be sanded and washed real good for anything to stick, but anything I
need to put down before? Maybe a primer or something? I've worked with
tile before, but never on counters.

Thanks for any suggestions or ideas...

Sam


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icq: 5386757 [] AIM/Y!: samalex1701 [] Skype: samalex01
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"Sam Alexander" -ldw-this wrote in
message . ..
Thanks for any suggestions or ideas...

I used the Hardi backer type board over the top of the old countertop in a
previous house... Put a lot of construction adhesive on it (Liquid Nails
type) and then used A LOT of screws to attach it... From there, standard
thinset... I believe that I used a latex additive in the grout though... I
used this for one countertop... When I got to the other one, I didn't like
the condition of the existing substrate once I started looking at it
closely... This type of thing is particle board and it is rather stupid to
have a sink in a particle board countertop, in my opinion... So, I ripped
the old cabinets out, keeping the face frame and doors and built a new
cabinet structure out of plywood and 2x4s... I used 3/4" plywood for the
countertop and then put the Hardi backer type board over the top of it, just
like with the other countertop... Worked great, very sturdy... No give
whatsoever if you climbed on top to reach a light that needed changing...
Yeah, it takes a bit more effort to do it right, but at least you don't have
to do it again...

Go to the local home center and get a replacement formica top for less
than you can buy the tile. I doubt anything would reliably stick to
the formica and even if it did you are at minimum going to have to redo
the drain in the sink for the increased height and possibly the supply
lines depending on the way the faucet was installed.

A new formica top can be replaced in a day. A tile job as you
described is *at least* two days of work, probably a lot more.

You'll get an OK (good for 5 years) job if you use ceramic tile and mastic
then grout normally. Rough up the formica with a belt sander and a rough
grit. With the wood band you describe that would work out nicely, if you
tried to set bullnose or shaped tiles for the edges, the mastic and formica
won't perform as well as the flat surface. Can use the same method on
drywall for the backsplash.



"Sam Alexander" -ldw-this wrote in
message . ..
Hello all,

Me and my wife would like to remodel our kitchen some day, but it's like 5
years off In the mean time, we want to do whatever can (on a budget of
course) to update our kitchen. It has green formica counter tops and
backsplash, and I was wondering if it would be possible to put tile over
this.

In visiting a friend's new home this weekend I noticed her counter and
backsplash were tile, but on the front it had a piece of wood trip
covering
the edge of the counter. If I installed tile on the counter and did the
same, it would totally cover the formica.

Anyone done this or seen this done before? I know the counters will need
to be sanded and washed real good for anything to stick, but anything I
need to put down before? Maybe a primer or something? I've worked with
tile before, but never on counters.

Thanks for any suggestions or ideas...

Sam


---
Sam Alexander - sam.alexander(at)sidebandbbs(dot)com
icq: 5386757 [] AIM/Y!: samalex1701 [] Skype: samalex01
"Data is not information, Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not
understanding, Understanding is not wisdom." -- Cliff Stoll

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To: RayV
Putting tile over formica counter tops
By: RayV to alt.home.repair on Tue Apr 25 2006 01:59 pm

From Newsgroup: alt.home.repair

Go to the local home center and get a replacement formica top for less
than you can buy the tile. I doubt anything would reliably stick to
the formica and even if it did you are at minimum going to have to redo
the drain in the sink for the increased height and possibly the supply
lines depending on the way the faucet was installed.

A new formica top can be replaced in a day. A tile job as you
described is *at least* two days of work, probably a lot more.


Hi - does the new formica go over the old, or how do I remove the old
formica from the counter? The house is 23 years old, so it's been there
for a while I wouldn't be opposed to replacing the formica counters
with something of another color or style, but I do want to tile the
backsplash. I'm just worried that if i try to remove the formica from the
backsplash that it'll tear the drywall behind it.

Thanks for the great suggestion though, I hadn't thought of that

SAm


---
Sam Alexander - sam.alexander(at)sidebandbbs(dot)com
icq: 5386757 [] AIM/Y!: samalex1701 [] Skype: samalex01
"Data is not information, Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not
understanding, Understanding is not wisdom." -- Cliff Stoll

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with drain and supply line issues and most likely formica backer is
rotted at least a little your better off just replacing the formica
tops. picking a stock color is cheap, and for not a lot more a new sink
and faucets

trying to stick tile to formica and get everything to lok right just
isnt worth the effort

Well, the OP didn't say anything about the substrate being damaged or rotton
but if that were the case and he still really wanted tile, either thick
plywood alone or with cement board on top would make an acceptable
replacement. Or, you can continue to try and convince him to stay with a
laminate top (not necessarily of the formica brand name) which he apparently
dislikes which requires disassembly of the old counter and backsplash,
trimming and seaming the new counter and then installing that big heavy
thing. That does not sound easier than slapping on some tile for a few
years.

One more note to the OP. 18" tile set on the diagonal is the right depth
for a counter and you may like that pattern better than perpendicular. With
a tile saw and some contrasting material, you can make all sorts of patterns
but the bigger the tiles, the less grout lines you will have.

Thinset (premium modified kind) directly on the laminate might hold if
skuffed and primed with concrete bonding compound but I think a mastic would
work better as it remains slightly flexible.

trying to stick tile to formica and get everything to lok right just
isnt worth the effort

I don't think the effort would be any greater to install on a laminate
substrate using a polymer mastic adhesive, the concern is about long term
reliability WRT grout line cracking and tiles releasing from the bonded
surface and also as you noted, collapse of flexing of the underlying
substrate (the old counter). (IMO)




wrote in message
oups.com...
with drain and supply line issues and most likely formica backer is
rotted at least a little your better off just replacing the formica
tops. picking a stock color is cheap, and for not a lot more a new sink
and faucets

trying to stick tile to formica and get everything to lok right just
isnt worth the effort

"Sam Alexander" -xyo-this wrote in
message . ..
Hi - does the new formica go over the old, or how do I remove the old
formica from the counter? The house is 23 years old, so it's been there
for a while I wouldn't be opposed to replacing the formica counters
with something of another color or style, but I do want to tile the
backsplash. I'm just worried that if i try to remove the formica from the
backsplash that it'll tear the drywall behind it.

He's saying to completely replace the countertop with a new one... Basically
trading one piece of particle board for another one... Personally, I think
he should rip off the particle board countertop and put a piece of 3/4"
plywood down as a replacement... I hate particle board, especially in areas
where there's a chance that one of these years there might be a leak in the
calking around the sink... Even if he replaces the existing laminate top,
he's going to need to cut new holes for sinks / ranges / etc...

A lot of people don't like the look of laminate countertops... Tile is
definitely a step up, but as long as he's at it, he might want to consider
some type of stone instead... There's not that many square feet on a
countertop and even the more expensive stones wouldn't add that much to the
price... He can still go with the idea of a wooden edge frame instead of
stone there if he wanted... He'll need a wet saw for cutting stone in most
cases... Scoring with a standard tile cutter and breaking does not result in
anything close to a straight line... I've seen 12" granite floor tile used
on the countertops with wooden edge frames and it looked very nice... Maybe
it's not as nice as a solid granite slab, but it's a 'ell of a lot nicer
than tile or laminate... Looks better than the solid surface stuff also, in
my opinion...

Another thing that he might find is that unless his old fixtures look very
good, he'll encounter mission creep, basically, "Well, as long as I'm
replacing *this*, it would look so much better if I replace *that*..." Been
there, done that... Mine started out as a simple tiling of the countertops
and once I got into it and saw how crapily the cabinets were constructed, I
soon found myself with exposed wall studs -- even replacing the insulation
in the walls... A lot of the time, it's best not to see these things -- out
of sight, out of mind...

"Sam Alexander" -ldw-this wrote:

Hello all,

Me and my wife would like to remodel our kitchen some day, but it's like 5
years off In the mean time, we want to do whatever can (on a budget of
course) to update our kitchen. It has green formica counter tops and
backsplash, and I was wondering if it would be possible to put tile over
this.

In visiting a friend's new home this weekend I noticed her counter and
backsplash were tile, but on the front it had a piece of wood trip covering
the edge of the counter. If I installed tile on the counter and did the
same, it would totally cover the formica.

Anyone done this or seen this done before? I know the counters will need
to be sanded and washed real good for anything to stick, but anything I
need to put down before? Maybe a primer or something? I've worked with
tile before, but never on counters.

Thanks for any suggestions or ideas...

Sam


While not as extensive as a kitchen counter top, I've put tile
(actually stone) on a bathroom vanity & back splash that was covered
in formica. Seems to work very well. Used thin set and a sanded grout.
Had to raise the sink, so hold-downs needed to be found for that 1/4
of an inch increase - that was the only issue that was encountered.

Of course a bathroom vanity doesn't get the abuse like a kitchen
counter top.

-Mike

Usually the countertop is screwed down from inside the cabinets. You
should see little triangular brackets in the corners with screws going
up into the counter. Take down the measurements and go price a
replacement laminate countertop. They can even cut the sink hole for
you cheap.

As for the backsplash, since you want a temporary spruce up, forget the
tile backsplash. They sell this stuff that is made out of hardboard
that looks like tile. It has some kind of enamel finish with genuine,
imitation, simulated grout lines. Comes in 4x8 sheets and you'll find
it with the paneling. It cleans up easy and is very water resistant,
It will also cover any damaged drywall if the counter backsplash is
glued to the wall.

In our first house we did a kitchen clean-up that consisted of:
Painting the cabinets - White Muralo - easy to clean, great finish
Replacing the dark grey countertop with a nuetral green laminate
replacement
Replacing the chipped & stained porcelain sink with a SS sink
New faucet
Put the *tile* paneling up as a backsplash and behind and around the
stove
Less than $500 for everything

Wasn't going to make it to the cover of Better H&G but looked a hell of
a lot better than the battleship grey phenolic we ripped out. Three
years later when we sold the house everything still looked great.

If you do replace the countertop take the time to prime the bottom and
around the sinkhole where the exposed particle board is. Also use a
ton of silicone under the sink lip and between any countertop joints
and let it squeeze out everywhere then clean up with vinegar before it
sets up. Hardest part of the whole job was getting the double-bowl
cast iron sink out by myself. A 2x4 across the top and heavy rope
through the drain holes held it up while I removed all the clips while
laying underneath it.

Sam, I had done this many years ago. My counter was L shaped and there was a
window above it to contend with.
In our case as yours there was no damage, just for looks.
My advice is simple. Go to a real tile company. Forget about the big box
stores or the guys who sell carpeting and etc.
Take a reasonable good sketch of your layout with dimensions. Tell the
folks at the tile shop what you want to do.
They will fix you up with the right mastic and all the odd pieces that you
never thought about. Did you know there is a tile made to fit an inside
corner and mate with the backsplash. I didn't know about it before I
started. But when you get that piece in position it is an "gee whiz" moment.
I used bull nose and tile to finish the edge. When I finally sold that house
nobody had a poor opinion of the tile job. It looked good and professional.

Charlie


"Sam Alexander" -ldw-this wrote in
message . ..
Hello all,

Me and my wife would like to remodel our kitchen some day, but it's like 5
years off In the mean time, we want to do whatever can (on a budget of
course) to update our kitchen. It has green formica counter tops and
backsplash, and I was wondering if it would be possible to put tile over
this.

In visiting a friend's new home this weekend I noticed her counter and
backsplash were tile, but on the front it had a piece of wood trip
covering
the edge of the counter. If I installed tile on the counter and did the
same, it would totally cover the formica.

Anyone done this or seen this done before? I know the counters will need
to be sanded and washed real good for anything to stick, but anything I
need to put down before? Maybe a primer or something? I've worked with
tile before, but never on counters.

Thanks for any suggestions or ideas...

Sam


---
Sam Alexander - sam.alexander(at)sidebandbbs(dot)com
icq: 5386757 [] AIM/Y!: samalex1701 [] Skype: samalex01
"Data is not information, Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not
understanding, Understanding is not wisdom." -- Cliff Stoll

--- Synchronet 3.13b-Linux NewsLink 1.84
--[SideBand BBS - telnet://sidebandbbs.com]--