Mortar over painted tile fireplace - advice please

[Shanti]

HI -

We have a brick fireplace that was covered with granite tile, that tile was later painted. We want to create a concrete style fireplace and will be using a clay paint that looks like concrete. We are unsure how to proceed with the tile. It is impossible to remove the tile w/o ruining the brick underneath. We would like to mortar over the painted tile to smooth out the grout lines and then apply the call paint to get a smooth concrete finish. My question: can we mortar right over the painted tile? Do I need to strip the paint? Do we need to first put up a metal lathe? Do we need to just put cement board over the whole thing? TIA for your help!

[Lazarus]

If it simply can't be removed, at the minimum, I would use a cup grinder or perhaps a sander with some aggressive grit paper to rough up/remove as much of the paint as possible. If most of it comes off...go for it. If not, paint on some Mapai "Prime Eco Grip" as a base to tile on......

[diddly]

Eco prim is a great product but Not having data sheet I dont know if it can be used over painted surface.

Bookie

[Joetile123]

Eco Prim Grip.



SURFACE PREPARATION
• All substrates must be structurally sound, stable, dry,
clean, and free of any substance or condition that may
reduce or prevent proper adhesion.
• Thoroughly clean all surfaces of any substance
that could interfere with the bond of the installation
material, including paint, asphalt, wax, oil, sealers,
curing compounds, and poorly bonded or incompatible
adhesive.
• Repair cracks in the substrate before proceeding.
• Expansion and movement joints must be honored
though the finished flooring system.
• Do not acid-etch surfaces before applying ECO Prim Grip.

[John Bridge]

Hi Shanti,

It's for sure you're going to ruin the granite tile, why not just remove it and then mortar (float mud) over the bricks? The bricks will be rough enough to grip the mortar.

[CaliGrown]

Another vote for Mr. John Bridge’s Suggestion, your best bet!!