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Can You Epoxy Over Tiles? What Has to Happen First

Advice · 29 Sep 2026

Yes. In most cases you can put an epoxy floor straight over existing tiles, without the noise, dust and cost of ripping them up. But the finished floor is only as good as the tiles underneath, so a few things have to be right first.

What we check first

Loose or hollow tiles. We tap across the floor to find tiles that sound hollow. A tile that has lost its bond will keep moving under the coating and crack it, so those get fixed or replaced first.

Cracked tiles. A single cracked tile can be repaired. Lots of cracks across the floor usually mean the slab underneath is moving, and that needs looking at before anything goes on top.

Moisture. Water coming up through the floor can push a coating off from underneath. Ground-floor rooms with no vapour barrier may need a moisture-tolerant primer.

Floor height. The coating adds a few millimetres. That is rarely a problem, but we check doors, thresholds and where the floor meets other rooms.

How the tiles are prepared

Epoxy can't grip a glazed tile, so preparation is most of the job:

  • Loose or damaged tiles are repaired or replaced.
  • The glaze is ground off so the surface is rough enough for the coating to bond.
  • The floor is cleaned and vacuumed to remove all dust.
  • Grout lines are filled so they don't show through the finished floor.
  • A primer goes down, then the coating system you've chosen, such as a flake finish or a solid colour.

Skipping the grinding is the most common reason coatings over tiles peel. If a quote only mentions cleaning or etching the tiles, ask how the coating will bond.

When coating over tiles isn't a good idea

  • When a large number of tiles are loose. It is usually better to remove them.
  • On floors that flex, where the movement will crack a rigid coating.
  • As a waterproofing membrane in showers and other wet areas. That is a different job with its own requirements.

Outdoor tiles

Outside, the floor deals with sun, rain and temperature swings, and epoxy flake isn't usually the best choice there. For patios, pool surrounds and other outdoor areas we mostly use spray-crete resurfacing. Send us photos of your outdoor tiles and we'll tell you what suits them.

What it costs

Coating over tiles is priced after we see the floor, because it depends on how many tiles need fixing and how much grinding the glaze needs. Our epoxy flooring price guide shows our starting prices per square metre. You can also browse our flake and spray-crete colours. The on-site assessment is free.

Want a price for your floor?

Call 0470 347 292 or send us a few photos and we'll come back with a quote.

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