Can You Install Hardwood Over Tile?

Short answer: sometimes. You can float engineered hardwood over flat, solid tile. You can't nail solid hardwood into tile. And in a lot of Sacramento homes, pulling the tile first is the better call.

When It Can Work

Floating engineered hardwood can go over tile if three things are true:

• The tile is flat. No big lips between tiles, no hollow spots.
• The tile is solid. No cracks or loose pieces.
• You have room for the extra height.

Check your flooring manufacturer's instructions. Some allow tile as a base. Some require a specific underlayment. Skipping that can void the warranty.

When It's a Bad Idea

Height. Tile plus thinset plus hardwood can add over an inch. Doors stop swinging. Transitions to other rooms turn into trip hazards. Dishwashers and fridges may not fit back in.

Grout lines. Deep grout joints can telegraph through thinner floors over time.

Cracked or loose tile. Problems under the new floor don't go away. They get worse and you can't see them.

Solid hardwood. Solid boards need to be nailed or glued to a proper subfloor. Tile isn't that.

What Pulling the Tile Gets You

Removing the tile drops you back to the slab or subfloor. Your new floor sits at the right height, doors work and transitions line up. You also get to see what's underneath and fix it before it's covered.

The worry most people have is dust. Our dustless tile removal uses a HEPA shroud that catches dust at the cut, and we grind the thinset so the slab is flat for your new wood.

Cost vs Hassle

Going over the tile saves the removal cost. But if you have to trim doors, add transitions and deal with a floor that feels off, the savings shrink fast. Tile removal in Sacramento usually runs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot.

Our Take

If the tile is flat, solid and you have room, floating engineered hardwood over it can work. For most whole floor projects, we'd pull the tile. You get a better floor that lasts longer.

We handle both sides: dustless tile removal and hardwood flooring installation, with one crew and one price.

Get your tile removal and hardwood price or call (916) 542-3333. We price every job in your home, and the price we quote is the price you pay.