we have ceramic tile floor and the finish is dull and rustic, o.k. i guess but we would prefer a shiny finish is this possible on a ceramic tile floor? we did the wax type nice shine but it flakes off when water is spilled on it.HELLLLP, thanks for any input or feedback
I recently put in some floor tile in a bathroom I remodeled. The finish.dull. Why? So you don't slip and fall on your butt. There are plenty of sources of water in a room in which tile is placed on the floor. You don't mention if this is a bath or kitchen or mudroom. I guess it doesn't matter, but tile was chosen as a way of keeping moisture from entering the sub-flooring material. Shellac is usually used as a filler and sealer in porous material; open-grain wood, leather, paper. It does not take abuse well and is not meant for wear or traffic. As soon as the surface of the shellac breaks open and moisture gets behind the shellac, it will be coming off in flakes. And, at that point, there's nothing you'll be able to do to stop it. Clean the tile as best you can, removing all the wax you've put on before. Then, just get some decent ceramic tile sealer and be happy that you're not walking with crutches.
you can do what you want, after all it is your house and your money,,, however,,, tile over tile is not recommended at all. the biggest problem with tile over tile is a matter of adhesion between the two layers. the floor leveler needed to raise the height of the old grout joints to level and the mortar used to bed the new tiles, will, for a short time adhere to the clean finished face of the old tiles. as time marches on, the adhesive bond between the mortar and the fished face will break loose. when that happens you will start to hear a hollow sound as you walk across the floor, you may also start to feel a bit of sponginess in the floor,,, then the problems begin in ernest with removing two layers of tile ( not hard to do, just more debris ), disposing of the materials, dealing with a door that was cut off to allow for the extra height, dealing with reinstalling baseboards, dealing with thresholds that no longer fit properly and need to be replaced, dealing with old caulking lines that will no longer be hidden and still you have to install a new floor covering.
Another fire extinguisher!!!!!!
ceramic is sealed by firing and can never absorb the shiny stuff. you are better to take out the old tile and put in new shiny tile.
