Tiling over Formica kitchen countertop

211 · 01-17-2011, 03:13 PM

I'd like to resurface my kitchen countertop but it's currently finished with Formica. Tile seems like an inexpensive alternative to marble or granite counters and I've done enough tile projects in my day to be comfortable with a project like this.
My question is, can I tile right over the Formica or should I strip it first?

...by 'tile over' I mean screw the Hardibacker (underlayment) right to the Formica surface.

Dansbell · 01-17-2011, 03:44 PM

As long as your countertop is solid and sound (not rotting away), I think you would be fine screwing the Hardibacker to the particle board or plywood through the plastic laminate. Obviously I wouldn't try to lay your tile directly on the laminate surface as I don't believe it would adhere very well. What kind of edge is at the front of your countertop right now? Is it a square flat face or a rounded front edge? If it is rounded you might want to just cut that front edge off and replace it with a square solid surface.

Let us know what you do.

211 · 01-17-2011, 03:52 PM

The counter is solid. Other than the ugly dark 70's brown color of the cabinets the counter is sound.

It's a squared Formica edge; no wood trim and no raised rounded corner. Should be pretty straight forward. The counter is an "L" shape too so no angles to cut.

I'm thinking to also strip the Formica backsplash off the wall and hardibacker over-top of the drywall. Then extend the backsplash with tile up a little further than the previous formica went.
If anyone sees why I can't lay hardibacker overtop of the drywall please chime in.

Dansbell · 01-17-2011, 09:16 PM

I think stripping the back splash off is the right idea. I am not sure you need to lay hardibacker over the drywall. A tile installer could probably give you better advice there. I know that I have torn out quite a few tile backsplashes that were just glued to the drywall. Again you would certainly need a solid and stable wall to adhere it to. Are you thinking you would tile all the way up to the bottom of the upper or just install a new 4" backsplash?

brenda o · 05-27-2011, 09:48 AM

oh how i wish there was more to this story.... I also have a flormica countertop that wanted to tile over and then go up the wall for backsplash... has anyone had success with this and can someone who is not a "tilin" expert do it?