I have a small entryway (approx 33 sq ft) where the floor was tiled with ceramic, probably from when the home was built (1977), and I would like to change the floor tile for a new porcelain one. I have begun removing some of the tile to see what was underneath it and it looks like it was set in a thick bed (1.25" deep) of cement mortar above the plywood subfloor. I want to remove this old ceramic tile and retile the floor with porcelain, but does that mean I should remove the all the cement underlayment and reach the plywood subfloor and then establish a new plywood or cement backerboard underlayment? Or is it worth it to simply remove the old ceramic tile and try to repair the existing cement underlayment in preparation for the new porcelain?
This is my first tiling job and I need help! thanks!