For decades, hardwood flooring has been a staple in homes. From its stunning appearance to the ability to be sanded and refinished, hardwood flooring adds value and the “wow” factor to many homes. Because of this, both hardwood flooring products and the installation take more out of the budget than flooring like LVP or Laminate, which often try to replicate the looks of hardwood. This leads to questions like, can you install hardwood floors over tile?
Removing tile is a tough, time-consuming job, especially when the tile is laid correctly. However, installing a hardwood floor is well worth the work.
What happens if you install hardwood over tile?
Luckily, if you install a wood floor over tile, the world won’t end. However, the life of the hardwood product will end earlier than expected. One of the most effective methods is the glue-assist method, which combines glue and nail down. With tile underneath, nailing down the floor isn’t an option. Additionally, the adhesive is unable to grab properly with the grout lines.
Next, this begs the question of installing a floating hardwood floor. Much like installing LVP on an uneven surface, the grout lines cause flex and breakage to the flooring’s tongue-and-groove system.
To recap, installing hardwood on top of tile leads to:
- Damage to the tongue-and-groove system
- Gaps, cracks, and warping
- Inability to nail down the product
- Risk of adhesive not holding
- Shortened product lifespan
Skimming over Tile before Installing Hardwood
We’ve covered the risks of installing with limited surface prep, but what if you take that extra step and skim over the grout lines before installing hardwood? In theory, it’s a great idea. However, the tile’s original installation comes into play. If the tile’s mortar and underlayment break down, the tile will shift. Now, you’re stuck with two broken floors.
In Conclusion… Don’t Do It.
Can you install hardwood floors over tile? Sure. Should you? Nope. Take the extra steps and remove the existing floor before installing a new one. If you’re unsure where to start or don’t feel like doing the work yourself, call Floorscapes. We’re a full-service flooring company from flooring removal and surface prep to products and installation. Plus, we offer flooring removal and haulaway services if you want to install it yourself!
