Can You Epoxy Over Tile?
You can coat over ceramic tile, but we recommend taking the tile up first. A coating bonds best to bare concrete, and there is no way to test for moisture under tile. If the tile is staying, here is how to do it.
How to epoxy over tile
- Grind the tile. Diamond grind the floor flat, down to the grout lines.
- Roll a flexible primer coat. Use B-933 Fast Cure Polyurea or P-139 Flexible Broadcast Primer, at 80 to 100 sq ft per gallon.
- Build the floor on top. Any of our floor systems can go over the primer coat. See floor systems.
Which flexible primer to use
| B-933 polyurea | P-139 flexible epoxy | |
|---|---|---|
| Apply at | 40 to 90°F | 60 to 90°F |
| Recoat after | 3 to 6 hours | 8 to 12 hours |
| Price | From $109.99 for a 1.25 gal kit | From $129.99 for a 1 gal kit |
Why we recommend removing the tile
- Coating straight onto concrete is always the best bond.
- Moisture coming up through the slab makes a coating lift, and under tile there is no way to check for it in advance. Coating over tile always carries that risk.
If the tile comes up, prep the concrete the usual way. See how to install an epoxy floor.
Not sure whether to coat over it or pull it up? Call (877) 703-7699 and send a photo. If we miss you, we call back within an hour.
