For some products, yes, on smooth tile. Smart Tiles says its wall tiles can go over an old glass or ceramic backsplash if it’s smooth and texture-free. Grout lines are the catch: Quadrostyle won’t cover grout wider than 3 mm or below the tile surface, and Style Selections’ floor tile needs old grout filled flush first.
What each maker says
| Product | Over old tile | Grout lines |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Tiles (wall tiles) | Over a smooth, texture-free glass or ceramic backsplash; not on textured ceramic tile | Their width and depth can affect the result; test one or two tiles first |
| Smart Tiles Panels | Over existing tiles, put up with construction adhesive | Remove any silicone joint between the countertop and the old backsplash first |
| Quadrostyle tile stickers | One sticker per tile, the same size as the tile, on its flat face | Left showing; covered only if level with the tile and 3 mm or less |
| Quadrostyle panels | Ultra-flat tiles with hairline grout | Fine gaps only |
| Art3d vinyl peel and stick tiles | Smooth ceramic tile is a recommended surface | Not stated |
| Style Selections Peel & Stick Vinyl Flooring | Ceramic, porcelain or marble tile, patched with a moisture-resistant leveling compound | Filled smooth and flush with the tile |
From each maker’s FAQ, guide or installation instructions. Style Selections is Lowe’s store brand, made by Novalis; its instructions are hosted by Lowe’s.
Prep the old tile
- Degrease it. Smart Tiles asks for a degreaser such as TSP and says dish soap can leave a greasy film. Quadrostyle says to remove all dust, grease and soap residue.
- Strip factory wax on floor tile. Quadrostyle says some floor tiles keep a waxy shipping coat that repels its adhesive, and suggests an acidic abrasive cleanser.
- Keep stickers off rounded edges. Quadrostyle says a 1 to 2 mm gap between the tile and the sticker is normal, and not to put stickers over rounded tile edges or over grout unless it’s level with the tile and no wider than 3 mm.
- Fill the grout under floor tile. Style Selections says grout lines must be filled flush to stop them showing through and to avoid adhesion problems. It also says that installing over any existing floor covering releases Novalis from responsibility for how the new floor performs.
Tile stickers or a full sheet?
Quadrostyle sells two kinds. Its tile stickers cover each old tile and leave the grout showing, and Quadrostyle says they can’t be grouted. Its panels are large sheets with printed grout lines, and it recommends them instead of single stickers on smooth walls and floors such as linoleum and laminate.
On a floor, Quadrostyle says its stickers can last over two years with care, and that coating them with clear epoxy makes them permanent.
Hanging something on tile instead?
Hang on tile without drilling