I know this is not preferred, but I have a very solid tile floor. No hollow tiles. No height problems. I would like to have the floor glued down to the ceramic tile if possible. The installer looked at it and thinks its okay. He would screen the tiles and remove some glaze. The floor is flat. He said if I want he could do a skim coat.

What do you all think. Is this a definate no no. If not, anything to watch out for? Will grout lines be a problem if there is not skim coat? Does the glaze on the tile have to be entirely removed? I am trying to avoid having to move out of the house and the dust bowl and the expense if the tile has to be removed.

Thanks!

I have installed a gluedown over ceramic tile. I did emboss the grout lines by skimcoating. I also had to chip some high lipping of the tile edgfes before I skimcoated the tiles.

That was 3 years ago and I would have heard about a failure by now.

Ceramic is porous and will allow concrete vapor emissions to pass through the tile. It is suggested concrete vapor emissions testing be performed prior to installing the wood flooring.
Tile, to the best of my knowledge, is not an acceptable substrate for glue down hardwood flooring, but maybe Perry has the right answer. Check dishwasher for clearance because you are raising the floor the thickness of the flooring.
Ceramic over ceramic is an approved installation..

Why don't you just float it?

Ray, whip out your Bruce installation specs.

Right there, Ceramic, Terrazzo, Slate, and Marble.

I didn't want to float it because I don't really like the floating floors, the sound, etc.

So I am not sure what vapor emmisions testing is.

Ray, do you want to explain to Sandy what concrete vapor emissions testing is and how it is done?

Yes sir. Seems like they'll allow gluedown(with the proper adhesive) over anything now. I've always been a skeptic with ceramic tile, but times change. Only drawback has always been transitioning to another floor covering because the trim pieces never work. I suppose if there is carpet next to the new floor one could ramp the carpet(underneath) area a bit so an overlap threshold works.

For me it will work because I am putting tile over tile and it will adjoin wood over tile.

So what about the emissions test?

Good question. How is it done over ceramic tile?

Concrete Vapor Emissions: Concrete has water in it and gains water content from the ground and air. This water turns to vapor near the top of the slab surface and "evaporates" off the slab surface. Testing requires either a concrete meter, Dome testing or probe testing. Why? because too much vapor emission will result in wood flooring to swell, buckle, discolor, debond..
Wood flooring manufacturers will not warrant their products if too much moisture is emitting from the concrete. Adhesive companies warrant their Urethane Based adhesives not to de-bond, but do not warrant the wood against swelling, discolorations ect.
It is the adhesive companies who warrant the bonding to ceramic with proper preparation but is usually not recommended by wood flooring manufacturers, to the best of my understanding.
If you have a concrete sub-floor it is wise to removed the tile, clean the slab surface, prepare the surface to the proper level, have the moisture tests performed to insure success ( or use a sealer if Vapor Emissions exceed 3#), then lay the wood with confidance.
I think it is fair to say that anything less is risky.

I know for a fact Bruce, Robbins, Hartco, Mannington, Capella, and BR-111 have prepped ceramic tile in the acceptable column of their installation specs of engineered wood.

question: if the slab is emitting too much vapor, would that have effected the tile in all these years its been down?