Can you put microcement over tile? How one client saved about $5,000
Instead of tearing out an old tiled bathroom, we prepared the tile and applied microcement directly over it. Eric shows the result and where the savings came from.
Read what Eric says Transcript
This client saved roughly $5,000 by putting microcement directly over their tile. Saving money on demolition, waterproofing, and tile material, we were able to prepare the tile surface to apply microcement directly over. So it's a very thin layer that we put all over the walls and as well on the floor.
This client was even able to save the shower glass because we were able to put microcement over the bench. So you can see full wrap around inside the shower and outside the shower.
Most bathroom remodels start with demolition: the old tile comes off, the walls get new board and waterproofing, and new tile goes back on. On this project we skipped most of that. We prepared the existing tile and applied microcement directly over it, on the walls and on the floor.
Where the savings came from
This client saved roughly $5,000 by not tearing the tile out. The money that would have gone into demolition, new waterproofing and new tile material went unspent.
- Demolition: the tile stayed on the wall.
- Waterproofing: the existing shower stayed intact underneath.
- Tile material: nothing new to buy.
Why the shower glass could stay
Microcement goes on as a very thin layer, so it barely changes the size of the shower. That meant the existing glass still fit. We even coated the shower bench, so the finish wraps all the way around, inside the shower and out, with no grout lines.
What microcement costs
For the full picture, see microcement in Tampa: what it costs and how it's installed. Our estimator prices microcement by area, and existing tile is one of the surfaces it asks about.
Questions people also ask
Can microcement be applied over existing tile?
Yes, once the tile surface is prepared. It goes over walls and floors as a thin layer, so the old tile doesn't have to be demolished.
How much can microcement over tile save?
On the bathroom in this video, the client saved roughly $5,000 on demolition, waterproofing and tile material.
Will my shower glass still fit after microcement?
Usually, because microcement is a very thin layer. On this project the client kept their existing shower glass.