nWhether you are new to renovation, or a seasoned DIY’er, this question has certainly crossed your mind. You question yourself the need to remove existing tiles if you are going to put them straight back on and if the time, money, and effort invested on it is worth it (notwithstanding the noise and neighbor complaints!)

First things first is to always ask an expert. There is no use asking your work colleague Daryl who spends his days watching the stock market whose brother happened to renovate his own home a few years back. Aunt Betty probably won’t have the answers you’re looking for either unless she spent her younger years with a trowel and angle grinder in her hand.

Here we give you the right advice and things to consider when this question of remodeling crosses your mind.

In a nutshell, yes you can tile over existing tiles but only if you’ve taken the ramifications into consideration. If you’ve been in the UAE long enough during the days when buildings were going up every week, then you know about the shoddy workmanship in those days. Tiling over existing tiles means accepting the substrate underneath (and another person’s work), which includes the tile, the glue, the screed (if it exists) and the slab or other flooring material. If your old tiles are drummy, lifting, loose, uneven, heaving, or in bad shape, then it’s probably best that you remove them. Tiling on top of such tiles is a band-aid solution to future problems. A few things you need to consider when tiling over old tile is the fact that you will lose a few millimeters in height and several more in the wall-to-wall distance. In addition, the extra layer can make it more difficult to install taps and other fixtures.

Preparation is always key. The preparation of the tiles is super important because you want a nice bond between the adhesive and the old tiles. A glossy tile will need to be sanded and scuffed back in order to ensure a good bond exists between old and new tiles. Whilst tiling over existing tiles is easier, cleaner, and saves disposal costs as well as time, there are additional time and cost constraints due to preparation times, and the risk of assuming bad workmanship or building issues you are unaware of.

nSo for the sake of a few days of demolition and maybe some waterproofing, it would be safer to say that taking existing tiles off would be the foolproof and safer method to adopt, giving you peace of mind. It’s the “right way” to do things and should be considered as the first option rather than the second. It could save you ripping out the new tiles at a later stage and a lot of money should any issues arise.

nIf you’d like to discuss your renovation needs with our experts for any work in Dubai or Abu Dhabi in the UAE, please get in touch with us and we’d be happy to talk about anything related to renovations and makeovers with you. You can find us at www.venusinteriors.ae to check out some of our latest remodeling projects.

At Venus Bespoke Interiors we value elegance and sophistication coupled with the desire to be bespoke and unique. Intimately designed and crafted by our expert team, our work speaks for itself.

Every project we undertake we do with the utmost care for our clients and their home. If you’re thinking of remodeling your bathroom, call us for more information on our services, and follow our Instagram and Facebook pages.

With so much emotions involved in such a confined area of the home, it’s no wonder that there some great materials currently on the market that compliments the level of sophistication that people expect from their bathrooms. In the last decade, there has been a massive move towards high end renovation and remodeling of existing bathrooms and kitchens in the western world, and recently in the UAE. This need has seen a terrific material come onto the market that meets the needs of both the contractor and home owner.

nThe product is Neolith, and its out of this world. There are several other competitors in the market, from Neolith meets people’s needs on almost every level. Neolith is a new breed of tile that is referred to as an “ultra-compact surface”. Its performance against other materials has seen it rise in popularity in a short period of time. It is beautiful, durable, almost non scratch resistant, non-porous and versatile to be used on walls, floors and benchtops.

Neolith is made of natural materials such as oxides, granite, glass and silica. Once these materials are processed, it comes out the other end as an extremely resilient material that is resistant to checmicals, heat and hold, water and the dreaded coffee spills – something natural stone simply cannot match. It requires no sealing and isn’t prone to scorching or cracking from thermal shock.

With its lookalike stone patterns that can be book matched, it’s very difficult to tell the difference between Neolith and real stone, even for the trained eye.

Neolith comes in large sheet formats and exists in several thicknesses including 3mm, 6mm, 12mm and 20mm, making it possible to clad over existing tiles and stones without having to remove existing tiles, instantly reducing the mess, time and your hard earned money by reducing labour intensive removal dumping costs.

One of the most attractive things about Neolith is that compared to the equivalent natural stone it competes, its a fraction of the cost of natural Calacutta stone, making it accessible to most people’s budgets.

Whilst its almost perfect, just like stone or tiles, every material has its limitations. The polished tiles are prone to some abrasion, but in a bathroom we’d recommend a silk or similar finish to give some slip resistance in your bathroom, which should alleviate any abrasion concerns. The other downsides to the product is that its delicate to install and should only be done by true professionals. Chips and breakages on corners could mean replacing the entire sheet panel! Your average tiler should not be trying their hand at it, so you should expect them to break the sheet should they try. A costly exercise for a prized material!

Overall, Neolith is a game changer. The products holds its own against natural and man-made products in almost every aspect. If you would like more information, contact us for more information. If you love your bathroom the way we love bathrooms, then call us to discuss your bathroom renovation using the Neolith product.

Please follow us on our social media pages for the latest news on our projects and products.

With it being such an important space for people, the importance of lighting should be given thought when designing your bathroom. Lighting in strategic locations will affect the overall ambiance of the room, so its important that lighting is done right!

Daylight is very important when it comes to the overall well being of anybody as it affects our health, emotions and our sleep cycles. No amount of artificial light can compare to a warm gentle hue of sunlight streaking through the window in the morning. Not only does it enrich the soul and body, but also prevents mould buildup by reducing moisture trapped in certain areas in the bathroom. A well placed window will provide ventilation and a breeze to wick moisture laden air away from the bathroom, as well as make your bathroom look bigger, especially in a white bathroom like a Neolith stone from the Calacutta range.

When it comes to artificial lighting, it becomes important that several different types of lighting be implemented as task lighting to cater for individual needs within the bathroom area. Lights over important areas, such as vanities or bathtubs, is recommended to provide mood lighting as well as a practical way to provide additional brightness for those morning medial tasks in the mirror.

LED lighting works best in recessed areas and with back lighting. Using dimmers is a great way to adjust the brightness levels. It is always better to have more light and adjust the levels down, than to not have enough.

Back lighting mirrors as well as sandblasting of mirrors with strip lights are great ways to diffuse lighting and give the vanity area light where its needed. Several different forms of lighting helps to alleviate the dreaded shadow from the face and makes make up easier to apply.

Remember that the colour of the lighting is just as important as the light itself, so think wisely about the ‘whiteness’ of your light.

Another consideration you will need to take on board is the energy usage. Today’s’ LED’s uses much less than other types of lights and last much longer, saving you money in the long run and putting less pressure on the earth natural resources. A win-win for all!

For more bathroom renovation tips, follow us on our Venus Bespoke Interiors Instagram and Facebook Pages.