Ask the Expert

ANSWER:

Yes, Lumber Liquidators has several styles of engineered flooring that can be installed over well-bonded ceramic tiles.

Some styles can be assembled by just clicking them together and floating over a pad with a 6mm-8mm sheet plastic as a moisture barrier. As a general rule, use a denser pad under the heaver floors.

Some engineered flooring can also be directly glued to ceramic tiles using 100% urethane wood floor adhesives such as Bostik’s TKO or BBA, or Mapei’s 990 – verify the correct trowel size from the adhesive company. Urethane moisture barriers are almost always necessary. For the best warranties, do not mismatch adhesive products and stay within the same family of products. Remove all waxes, surface treatments and other contaminates from the tile’s surface before starting the project. Ceramic tile grout spacing over ¼” would need to be filled or leveled with a cement type patch. When installing hardwood over ceramic tiles, follow the same general procedures as for cement installations.

Expert's Bio

Robert D. Middleton Jr. has enjoyed over 30 years in the residential and commercial flooring trades. He is proficient and familiar with hardwood installations, both exotic and domestic, border and medallion work, board replacements and repairs, ceramic tiles (mortar and epoxy grout mixes), laminates, carpets, VCT (vinyl composition tiles) and 6’ commercial vinyl floors. Robert is the Technical & Installation Manager at LUMBER LIQUIDATORS, assisting customers, corporate and outside store staff with installation recommendations, specifications and product warranty details via phones and internet. Look for Robert as the In-House Installer at LUMBER LIQUIDATOR’S Flooring 101 site.