When you’re tired of looking at that parquet flooring, it’s time to make a big change. Tile is an easy way to get a whole new look, but can you put that over parquet, or will you need to remove the old flooring first? Since there is more than one type of tile and more than one way to install it, the answer depends largely on what you plan to do. Ceramic tiles need a solid, cement-based backer board or cement surface underneath. Unfortunately, you cannot lay this over parquet. However, when you plan to lay vinyl tiles, it’s much easier. Since Parquet is wood, and vinyl tiles work well over a wooden layer, you can use peel and stick tiles over that old parquet without a problem. I’ve laid more than a few tile floors, and I’m happy to share all the tips and tricks I learned along the way to help you get the beautiful non-parquet floor of your dreams.
Can you tile over parquet flooring? You can lay vinyl laminate tile over parquet flooring. However, for those who plan to place ceramic tiles, you will need to remove the parquet first. Fortunately, there are many beautiful varieties of vinyl tiles so that you can save yourself a lot of extra work. Plus, vinyl tile is more economical and much faster to install since you can walk on it the same day you lay it down.
Why You Can’t Lay Ceramic Tile Over Parquet
While some tile goes well over parquet flooring, classic ceramic tiles do not. It may surprise you to learn that you should never install ceramic tile over a normal wood or particleboard subfloor either. The mortar you use to set ceramic is not suited to gripping wooden surfaces.
Additionally, some of the moisture from the mortar can become trapped in wooden subflooring. As a result, you can end up with mold or mildew, which can make you sick. Since parquet is a wooden floor, naturally, you have the same problems as other wood subfloors.
Parquet expands and contracts with the weather. That means it’s not a smart choice under a less malleable substance like solid ceramic tiles and mortar. At best, you’re likely to see cracked mortar, and you won’t know if there’s more damage without removing all the tile.
Furthermore, because of the multitude of seams, when moisture from your damp mortar gets into parquet, it can cause warping, swelling, and buckling. Not only will this destroy the parquet, but it can damage other parts of the floor and give you an uneven walking surface. No one wants to trip and hurt themselves on a ceramic floor, particularly when an uneven subfloor can leave jagged edges and rough mortar sticking up.
A vapor barrier might help some, but it’s not going to solve the problem. Below your barrier, the parquet flooring is still going to expand and contract with the seasons. Hence, it doesn’t matter if you can prevent the moisture from your mortar from getting in; the floor will still crack and become damaged quickly. By the end of the first hot or cold season, you might need to make repairs.
To lay ceramic tiles, you would need to uninstall the entire parquet floor. After that, you could lay ceramic on a cement subfloor. However, if you have wooden subflooring, then laying a cement backer board is a necessity. Meanwhile, putting down a more flexible tile such as vinyl will solve that problem before it happens.
Laying tile over the existing floor should save you time and money, not waste it. You would end up removing both the new floor and the parquet to reach your subflooring level anyhow. Skip the headache and make a compatible choice.
A simple, elegant looking solution such as Ambiance-Live Adhesive Floor Tiles from Amazon will give you a new look without the fuss. You’ll appreciate the beautiful design and how easy it is to peel and stick these to any clean non-porous surface. Nonflammable, waterproof, and scratch-resistant, vinyl tiles are a superb cover for that old parquet. See the Amazon ratings by clicking here.
Laying Vinyl Laminate Tile Over Parquet Flooring
Laying vinyl laminate tile over parquet floors is a fairly straightforward process. You will need very few tools, and you can usually finish the job in a single day. The list below has all the steps to handle this job quickly and efficiently.
Choose a set of Achim Home Furnishings Nexus Vinyl Tiles to go over your parquet. Not only are these tiles durable, but they are also high-gloss for a shining clean look that’s not as cluttered as parquet. With the no-wax finish and five-year limited warranty, you can walk on these easy to clean tiles for years worry-free. Best of all, Nexus tiles are easy to cut, peel, and stick installation with no need to wait for mortar drying. Find out more on Amazon by clicking here.
Lay Vinyl Tile Over Parquet
- Measure the room and estimate how many tiles you will need to fill the space. Make sure you purchase a good half dozen more than you need if you damage any in the process. This will also allow you leeway in case your measurement was slightly off.
- Remove any furniture from the floor. You will need a place to store this furniture while you work.
- Gather your tiles, underlayment, spacers, and tools together before you begin. You will need a prybar to remove your existing molding and a boxcutter to resize a few pieces. Other than that, you might want a good measuring stick.
- Remove the molding from the edges of the room and set this aside to replace at the end. If your molding has been painted over, you may need to run your boxcutter align the top edge, so the paint separates cleanly without peeling the walls. Use gentle pressure and work your way from one end to the other, loosening evenly as you go. Too much pressure will damage your wall or break the molding.
- Trim any door casings to allow for the underlayment and new tiles to fit in place.
- Clean the floor completely. Make sure you sweep, mop, and dry everything before you start laying down any flooring.
- Lay down your underlayment. Doing this will provide a more comfortable walking surface.
- Set your spacers along the walls. These will give you a 5/16 expansion gap so the tiles can expand and contract with the weather without cracking.
- Lay your first tile either in the corner of the room or exactly in the middle. Both techniques are valid. From there, carefully lay your tiles out until you reach an edge or corner where a whole tile won’t fit.
- Cut a tile at the end of each row or anywhere else in need to be a unique shape to fit, but do not pre-cut these. Wait until you reach that area.
- When you’re done sticking the tiles down, remove your spacers, and replace the molding. Tap it gently back into place by moving along the length a little at a time rather than trying to bang one end in. This will minimize the bend along the length of each piece and help prevent cracks and broken pieces.
Wood Flooring Cannot Lay Over Parquet
Since parquet is wood, and it does so well with vinyl tile over it, you might assume that you can lay wood flooring over it as well. Sadly, you would be wrong. Both engineered and solid wood flooring requires a clean, smooth basic subfloor underneath.
If you were considering replacing that parquet with wood, you would need to pull it all out. Just as you would for ceramic tile, the parquet makes a terrible subfloor for other woods. Moreover, there are other steps to consider, as well. For example, parquet tends to leave behind an adhesive where it was attached.
The adhesive will come off in some places but not others. Resultantly, you get a very uneven surface that you cannot simply add wooden planks on top of. Instead, you would need to use a leveling compound, and once that is dry, you’ll still have to sand it as well.
Besides the extra time and money you spend on laying a wooden floor, you will also need more tools and equipment. Sanding requires masks and extensive cleanup. Luckily, you can keep the parquet and get the look of wood flooring without all the hassle.
Enipate Self-Adhesive Vinyl Flooring Tiles in Grey Wood have a beautiful natural look without all the stress of laying wooden floorboards. Like any other vinyl tile, they are easy to clean and cut to size easily with less waste. These UV printed tiles are perfect for rooms with natural light because they don’t fade. Plus, they don’t have the strong chemical smell of some off-brand vinyl tiles. Have Amazon ship them to your door by clicking here.
Wood flooring is expensive, and it requires a lot of upkeep. You must reseal it periodically, and it easily traps dirt and moisture. While the appeal of real wood floors is obvious, it’s better to lay a faux wood laminate tile over that outdated parquet.
Final Thoughts
