Kitchen over old tile or vinyl
Seamless surface with no grout lines to hold grease; the level change is handled at the doorway threshold.
Epoxy Floor Over Existing Tiles
SKU: FW-SLF-RTV
A seamless resin floor laid directly over sound ceramic or quarry tiles — no demolition, no dust, no re-screeding. Built to key into a glazed surface and to stop the old grout grid printing through.
Key Parameters
- Finish
- Satin / fine texture
- Thickness
- 3 mm
- Coverage
- 2.2 kg/m²/mm
- Mix Ratio
- A:B = 4:1
- Walk-on Time
- 10 h
Standard pack: 20 kg/set (A: 15 kg + B: 5 kg). Reply within 24 hours. Custom RAL colours and OEM packaging available.
- ISO 9001
- SGS
- CE
- French A+
- PICC
System line:Self-Leveling Epoxy > Epoxy Self-Leveling
Why buyers specify it
- No demolition: no breaking, no skip, no re-screeding, no drying wait
- Works over sound ceramic, quarry, and most old vinyl floors
- Buffer/skim coat levels the grout grid so it does not telegraph through
- Seamless finish: the old tile grid disappears, no grout lines to scrub
- Defines the level change at doors and thresholds instead of hiding it
- We supply the system and the build-up; your contractor installs it
A seamless resin floor laid directly over sound ceramic or quarry tiles — no demolition, no dust, no re-screeding. The build-up is designed to key into a glazed surface and to stop the old grout grid printing through.
Product overview
A self-levelling resin floor specified to go over sound tile rather than take it up: 3 mm built at 2.2 kg/m² per mm, satin with a fine texture, mixed A:B = 4:1 out of a 20 kg set (15 kg resin + 5 kg hardener). It holds >80 Shore D and 78 MPa compressive with a pull-off of 1.5 MPa measured on abraded glaze, wears at ≤0.03 g on the Taber plate, and carries a French A+ indoor-emission classification. 30 minutes of pot life at 20 °C, walk-on at about 10 hours, full cure at 7 days.
Why the bond figure is lower here, and why we publish it anyway
A broadcast build on ground, profiled concrete is specified at 3.8 MPa — see our flake coloured sand system. This overlay is published at 1.5 MPa, and the difference is the substrate, not the resin. A ceramic glaze is dense and non-porous: there is nothing for the film to key into until the glaze has been ground open, and a pull-off taken on abraded glaze will read lower than one taken on concrete. We ask for a trial area and a measured pull-off on it before a large floor is committed, because on this system the preparation is the specification.
What you cannot skip is preparation: the system now hangs off a dense, non-porous glaze it was never designed to bond to, so the glaze is mechanically abraded, the grout grid is filled and skimmed, and the level rise of 3–6 mm is planned at doors and thresholds.
What the grout grid does if the skim is dropped
An overlay is a stiff film bridging a shallow valley. Grout lines are channels a couple of millimetres deep, and a thin film follows them. What appears later is a faint square pattern in the finish — the old grid printing through, usually first seen in raking light, and usually after the client has moved back in. The buffer/skim step is what stops it, and it is the line item a price comparison is most likely to remove. If two quotes for the same room differ by more than they should, ask which one includes the skim.
Where it is the right pick
- Kitchen and bathroom over old tile or vinyl — the wet rooms get the fine texture rather than a gloss film.
- Flat and rented-unit refurbishment, where the skip, the dust and the drying time cost more than the resin.
- Hallway, utility and laundry.
- Commercial retrofit where demolition is not an option — shops and clinics that have to stay open.
Where it is the wrong pick
This is a coating over a floor, not a repair of one. A hollow or debonded tile comes up before anything is poured; a foam-backed vinyl or a loose-laid sheet is removal, not a substrate. If the tiles are sound but the slab under them reads damp, the moisture question is first — our basement floor coating is the build specified around a moisture reading. And where a tired floor needs a wearing section rather than an overlay, a broadcast build is the better starting point. Where the tiles are sound and the ask is only the look — colour, a speckled surface, no grout line to scrub — the decorative coloured sand floor over existing tiles is the thinner of the two builds, comes in a wider palette, and has its own page.
Tearing up an existing tiled floor is the expensive part of a renovation: the breaking, the skip, the dust, the new screed, the drying time, and in a flat the neighbours. If the tiles are firmly bonded and level, you can put a seamless resin floor straight over them and skip all of that. What you cannot skip is the preparation, because the whole system now hangs off a glaze it was never designed to bond to.
Two things decide the job. First, mechanical key: a ceramic glaze is dense and non-porous, so it has to be abraded (diamond grind or scarify) until it is uniformly matte, then primed into that profile. Acid etching is not acceptable — it leaves salts under the film. Second, the grout grid: grout lines are porous and they move differently from the tile, so a thin film poured straight over them will print the grid through within months. A filled and skimmed buffer coat levels the grid before the body goes on.
Be clear-eyed about what you are getting. Bond to an abraded glaze is lower than bond to prepared concrete, and when an overlay fails it usually fails at the glaze or the old adhesive, not in the resin — so we ask for a pull-off test on a trial area before a large job. And the floor does rise: 3–6 mm, which means doors get undercut and thresholds get a transition profile. That is not a defect, it is arithmetic, but it has to be planned.
System build-up (typical, per m²)
| Survey | Tap-test + age checkHollow tiles out; if the building predates ~1980, the tile adhesive may contain asbestos — do not abrade before a survey |
|---|---|
| Key | Diamond grind / scarifyUniform matte surface across the whole glaze; degrease afterwards |
| Primer | 0.3–0.4 kg/m²High-solids epoxy rolled into the abraded glaze and into the grout lines |
| Level | Grout fill + skimThixotropic epoxy filled into the grid, then a buffer/skim coat to kill telegraphing |
| Body | 2–3 mm self-levelling≈ 2.2 kg/m² per mm; total build-up 3–6 mm over the old tile |
| Topcoat | 0.12–0.2 kg/m²Satin or fine-texture wear coat; texture recommended in wet rooms |
Rated features
- seamless
- no-demolition
- low-VOC
- dust-proof
- grout-coverage
Colour options
- Light Grey
- Mid Grey
- Warm White
- Custom RAL
Custom RAL matching available — we ship a physical sample card before production.
Full specifications
| Brand | Friway |
|---|---|
| SKU | FW-SLF-RTV |
| Category | Self-Leveling Epoxy > Epoxy Self-Leveling |
| Finish | Satin / fine texture |
| Coverage | 2.2 kg/m²/mm |
| Thickness | 3 mm |
| Mix Ratio | A:B = 4:1 |
| Pot Life | 30 min |
| Walk-on Time | 10 h |
| Full Cure | 168 h |
| Hardness | >80 Shore D |
| Adhesion | 1.5 MPa |
| Compressive Strength | 78 MPa |
| Abrasion Resistance | ≤0.03 g (Taber CS-17, 1000 cycles) |
| Package | 20 kg/set (A: 15 kg + B: 5 kg) |
| Warranty | 3 years |
Installation & cure data
| Suitable over | Sound ceramic, quarry, porcelain (abraded), most vinylThe existing floor must be structurally bonded — this is a coating, not a repair |
|---|---|
| Not suitable over | Hollow/debonded tiles, foam-backed vinyl, loose-laid sheetRemove those first; resin bonded to adhesive or foam will fail |
| Level increase | 3–6 mmPlan door undercutting, threshold profiles and appliance plinths before quoting |
| Bond to abraded glaze | ≥ 1.5 MPa typicalLower than to prepared concrete; we ask for a pull-off test on a trial area |
| Substrate moisture | ≤ 4 % CMTiles over a ground slab can hide damp; a coated tile floor is less vapour-open than bare tile |
| Underfloor heating | Off 48 h before, cool slabSwitch back on gradually after 7 days — thermal cycling is what prints the grid through |
| Walk-on | 8–12 h at 20 °C |
| Full service | 7 daysRugs, appliance feet and wet-room use after full cure |
Performance
| Compressive strength | 78–80 MPaSelf-levelling build at 7 d / 20 °C |
|---|---|
| Bond to abraded tile | ≥ 1.5 MPaFailure is usually at the glaze or old adhesive, not in the resin |
| Hardness | > 80 Shore DFurniture, appliances and domestic traffic |
| Abrasion | ≤ 0.03 gTaber CS-17, 1000 cycles |
| Seamlessness | Grout grid buried under the build-upOnly if the buffer/skim step is done — not with a thin film |
| Wet rooms | Fine texture recommendedA glossy overlay over old glossy tile is a slip problem, not a finish |
Figures are typical values measured in our laboratory. Substrate, climate and workmanship affect the result — we confirm the final specification in writing before your order.
Documents for this system
We release documents as editable originals on request (batch-specific data is not in a generic PDF). One click sends your request with this product attached.
- Over-tile suitability checklistTap-test results, building age, existing floor type and level constraints we need before quotingRequest
- Technical Data SheetPrimer, fill, skim and body consumption; cure schedule at 10 / 20 / 30 °CRequest
- MSDS / SDSPer component, for sea and air freight approvalRequest
- Trial-area pull-off recordThe bond test we ask for on glazed or porcelain substrates before a large jobRequest
Certifications for this system
- ISO 9001
- SGS
- CE
- French A+
More resources
Packaging
Two-component sets palletised for export, shipped fromDongguan, Guangdong, China by Dongguan Friway Hydraulic Control Technology Co., Ltd..
| Set composition | 20 kg/set (A: 15 kg + B: 5 kg) |
|---|---|
| Net weight / set | 20 kg |
| Pallet configuration | 24 sets (480 kg net) per 1200 × 1000 mm pallet, stretch-wrapped with corner boards |
| 20 ft container | ≈ 480 sets |
| 40 ft HQ | ≈ 960 sets |
| Shelf life | 12 months from fill date |
| Storage | Dry, ventilated store, 5–30 °C; protect from frost and direct sunlight. Keep sealed — Part B absorbs moisture from air. |
Lead time
Counted from confirmed deposit and approved colour. FOBShenzhen or Guangzhou; CIF and DDP quoted on request.
| Order quantity | Lead time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sample (≤ 2 sets) | 2–4 days | courier freight collect via DHL / UPS / FedEx, shipping at your cost; 5–7 days door to door |
| 1–49 sets | 5–7 days | Stock colours first; standard export packing included |
| 50–199 sets | 10–12 days | Includes batch mixing and in-house QC record per batch |
| 200–999 sets | 15–20 days | Production slot reserved after 30% deposit |
| FCL / 1000+ sets | 22–28 days | Confirmed against the shipping schedule; FOB Shenzhen or Guangzhou |
Customisation
- Colour matchingMOQ 5 sets (≈ 100 kg)
RAL / Pantone reference or a physical sample; we send a wet film for approval before batch production.
- Own-brand labellingMOQ 20 sets (≈ 400 kg)
Your logo and language on the pails and carton; artwork in AI/PDF. Blank labelling available below this MOQ.
- Packaging & cartonMOQ 50 sets (≈ 1,000 kg)
Pail size, carton printing, palletising and shipping marks per your export requirement.
- Full OEM / ODMMOQ 200 sets (≈ 4,000 kg)
Formulation adjustment (gloss, cure speed, aggregate, conductivity range) with TDS and CoA issued under your brand.
Certifications & paperwork
Company-level documents we can issue for this system. We supply certificate copies and batch test reports on request rather than publishing them as images.
- ISO 9001Quality management system for the flooring coatings lineCertificate copy + audit scope on request
- SGS testedAdhesion, hardness, abrasion and VOC on finished filmTest report per batch on request
- CE / DoCDeclaration of conformity for European projectsDoC issued with shipment documents
- French A+ VOCIndoor air-emission class for living-space floorsClassification sheet on request
- PICC product liabilityProduct liability cover for exported goodsPolicy summary on request
- MSDS / SDSPer component — needed for sea and air freight approvalIssued with every shipment
Application sequence
Tap-test every tile and check the building ageDay −7
A hollow tile under a resin overlay stays hollow and will show. And if the tile bed or adhesive predates about 1980, asbestos is a live question — get a survey before anything is abraded.
Degrease and abrade the glazeDay 1, 3–5 h per 30 m²
Diamond grind or scarify to a uniform matte surface across tiles and grout. No acid etching, no sanding dust left in the joints.
Remove loose tiles and make goodDay 1
Lift debonded tiles and fill the voids flush; leave a level bed for the skim.
Prime into the profileDay 1, then 12–16 h
0.3–0.4 kg/m² high-solids epoxy, worked into the grout lines as well as the tile faces.
Fill the grid and skimDay 2, then overnight
Thixotropic epoxy pressed into the grout lines, then a buffer/skim coat over the whole area. This is the step that stops the tile pattern reappearing in six months.
Level, topcoat, and detail the thresholdsDay 3, then 7 d
2–3 mm self-levelling body, then the wear coat. Fit transition profiles at doors and undercut leaves where the new level binds them.
Field tips
- Never abrade a pre-1980s tile bed or bitumen adhesive before an asbestos survey. Encapsulation is a legitimate strategy; grinding it into dust is not.
- Skip the buffer/skim coat and the grout grid will print through the finish — usually as a faint square pattern that appears after the client has paid.
- Porcelain is denser than ceramic and takes a key far worse. Grind it, do not polish it, and pull-off test a trial area before committing a large floor.
- Plan the level change before you quote: doors, thresholds, French drains, appliance plinths and the step up to an adjoining floor all move by 3–6 mm.
- A hollow-sounding tile is not a substrate. Lift it, fill the void flush, then coat — resin over an air pocket cracks on the first loaded wheel or dropped pan.
- If the room is a wet room, the perimeter and the shower tray junction are the job. A coating is not tanking; the waterproofing underneath has to be sound already.
Need the full method statement for your site? Request it with the form below — we review your slab data before your crew starts.
Where this system works
Bathroom and wet room
Buries the tile grid and, with a fine texture, gives a surface that grips when wet.
Flat or rented unit refurbishment
No breaking, no skip, no noise complaint — the reason this system gets specified in occupied buildings.
Hallway, utility and laundry
Handles spills and a damp mop; stops old cracked or lifting tiles getting worse.
Commercial retrofit (shops, clinics)
Fast out-of-hours renewal where closing for demolition is not an option.
Declared applications
- residential
- kitchen
- bathroom
- retail
- clinic
Compatible substrates
- tile
- concrete
- cement
- vinyl
After handover
- First 7 days: no rugs, no appliance feet dragged, no standing water.
- Sweep or vacuum, damp mop with neutral cleaner. Abrasive pads will dull the satin finish in patches.
- Check the transition profiles and perimeter once a year — an overlay fails at its edges, not in the middle.
- If a tile beneath ever goes hollow, the patch has to come back to sound substrate; a surface repair over a void will re-crack.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put epoxy over ceramic tiles without removing them?
Yes — provided the tiles are firmly bonded, level and degreased, and the glaze is mechanically abraded so the primer has something to bite. What you cannot do is roll resin straight onto a glossy tile and expect it to hold; that is where the peeling videos come from.
Will the grout lines show through the new floor?
They will if you skip the levelling step. Grout is porous and moves differently from tile, so a thin film prints the grid within months. Filling the grid and applying a buffer/skim coat before the body is what makes the surface read as one plane.
How much does the floor level rise?
Plan on 3–6 mm for a full over-tile build-up. That means doors get undercut, thresholds get a transition profile, and any step or ramp at the boundary has to be re-checked. It sounds minor and it is the single most common thing people forget to price.
Is the bond as strong as pouring on concrete?
No, and we will not pretend it is. On an abraded glaze we typically see pull-off around 1.5 MPa against 3 MPa+ on a prepared slab, and when an overlay fails it is usually at the glaze or the old tile adhesive rather than in the resin. For a large or commercial floor we ask for a pull-off test on a trial area first.
What about old floor tiles — is asbestos an issue?
It can be. Tile backing and bitumen adhesives from before roughly 1980 may contain asbestos, and grinding them releases fibres. If the building is that age, get a survey first. Encapsulating an undisturbed floor is a legitimate approach; sanding or scarifying an untested one is not.
Can you go over vinyl or lino?
Over sound, fully bonded vinyl, usually yes after abrading and priming. Foam-backed vinyl and loose-laid sheet must come out completely — resin bonded to foam or to an adhesive film has no structural future.
I have underfloor heating — is that a problem?
It is manageable but it changes the detail. Switch the heating off 48 hours before and let the slab cool, keep it off for 7 days after, and expect the tile grid to be the weak point — which is why the buffer/skim coat matters more on a heated floor than anywhere else.
Do you install it, or supply only?
We supply the system, the build-up and installation guidance, and we have installed for contractors on request. For an over-tile job, tell us the existing floor type, the room's use and a photo of a tap-tested area — we will confirm whether it is a coating job or a lifting job before you buy.
Your project has conditions we cannot see from here? Send the slab report and drawings — our engineers answer with a written specification.
Related Products
Made in Our Own Factory
Dongguan Friway Hydraulic Control Technology Co., Ltd.
Every batch of Epoxy Floor Over Existing Tiles is produced in our own facility by a team that integrates R&D, production, sales and technical service. Advanced equipment, batch-level lab testing and a complete quality system mean consistent quality — from the first sample to the last pallet.
Mixing Lines
Reactor Kettles
Dispersing Equipment
Mixing & Control
Raw-Material Store
Labelling
Vacuum Mixing
QC Drying Oven
Filling & Capping
Questions about production, certificates or MOQ?
Ask Our Team- ISO 9001Quality management system for the flooring coatings lineCertificate copy + audit scope on request
- SGS testedAdhesion, hardness, abrasion and VOC on finished filmTest report per batch on request
- CE / DoCDeclaration of conformity for European projectsDoC issued with shipment documents
- French A+ VOCIndoor air-emission class for living-space floorsClassification sheet on request
- PICC product liabilityProduct liability cover for exported goodsPolicy summary on request
- MSDS / SDSPer component — needed for sea and air freight approvalIssued with every shipment
Certificates & Lab Reports
This product line is verified by third-party laboratories. The marks shown above are the ones we publish as images; the documents behind them — certificate copies, batch-specific test reports, the CE Declaration of Conformity — are issued on request. A scanned badge proves nothing about your slab; the report behind it does.
Get a Free Quote
Need a Specification for Your Slab?
Send the floor area, substrate condition and what the room has to take. We reply with the system build-up, coverage estimate and an FOB quotation — usually within 24 hours.
- Tell us about the floorArea in m², substrate condition, and the finish or colour you want.
- Get a technician's replyWithin 24 hours: system build-up, coverage estimate, pricing and TDS/MSDS.
- Confirm colour & sampleFree colour chips and a cured sample panel before you place an order.