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Travertine is a natural stone, while porcelain is ceramic. You can enjoy the best of both worlds with porcelain travertine tiles. Some people prefer porcelain to travertine because it doesn’t require regular maintenance and it’s easier to clean. Porcelain travertine looks like the real thing but only costs $3 to $6 per square foot.

You can lay tile directly on a plywood countertop, but if it’s a high-traffic surface in a kitchen, it’s better to add a moisture-resistant base. Plywood is susceptible to moisture, so if dampness seeps through from the surface around the sink or where you prep food, it can cause the plywood to warp, leading to grout damage, cracked tiles, or mold growth under the surface. 

Removing old tiles can be more complicated, but it can also be more manageable, depending on your circumstances. Typically, old tile is hard to remove because the adhesive had loads of time to bond with your wall, becoming a formidable foe between you and your new tile installation project. On the other hand, old tile in high-traffic areas can become loose, making it much easier to remove.

You can technically install tile over tile, but we don’t suggest it. Installing tile over any surface that isn’t a completely flat and prepared subfloor will result in a shoddy overall job, uneven flooring, tiles that don’t adhere, extra weight, gaps, cracks, and room for moisture and dirt to enter. For the best results, only install new tile on a flat, sanded surface like subflooring or concrete that is prepared for tile.

If you have asbestos tile and would rather tile over it than remove it, or if your existing tile is completely flat and bonded tightly to the floor, you may be able to tile over existing tile. But experts recommend thinking twice before you do.