Bathroom floor help please

charlievalentine_2

Hello,
I am looking for a low budget solution for a bathroom floor that is bare floorboards at present. I am confused about what my options are and if there is anything we have to lay over the floorboards first.
Many thanks for looking.

Dave_C_2

I recently did our bathroom with self-adhesive Vinyl floor tiles from Wickes. Currently £5.10 per square metre.

The first step was to lay hardboard to cover the floorboards - You need to do this whatever you choose (other than waterproof carpet).

Then lay the tiles, see http://www.diydata.com/general_building/vinyl_floor/vinyl_floor_4.php and countless other sites

The trick is to plan it so the edges of the hardboard to come in the middle of the square vinyl tiles. The other complication is to plan it so that you are not trying to lay a part tile less than 10 cm wide round the edge.
If you take great care getting the base lines on the hardboard exactly at right angles then the tile laying is easy-peasy.

I temporarily removed the washbasin and toilet so that I could tile under them - not a job for the faint-hearted. Otherwise you will have to work round them.

Remember the old adage, measure twice and cut once.

Mayflower10cat

Ditto Dave_C!
We've laid vinyl floor tiles in two different bathrooms now and I'm really pleased with them. First time was in a new build house and we cheated and didn't use hardboard (the floorboards were a composite a bit like MDF). Each time we did a 'body & border' effect and it looks quite posh. Easier to lay than sheet vinyl and a million times easier than ceramic. You do need to plan your layout very carefully first before any cutting or sticking, so no tiny strips at the skirting boards. I used brown paper to make templates for the tricky areas round pipes etc. And I bought a really tough pair of scissors to cut the rounded edges. And a stanley knife and metal ruler for the straight cuts.

charlievalentine_2

Thank you very much for both replies. I like the idea of the vinyl tiles. I have seen some really nice ones. I think I will need to put the hardboard down first as the floorboards have little gaps. I am not sure if I will be brave enough to attempt it all myself but at least I know what to buy if I want a tradesman to lay it all for me. Thanks again.

BoxerfanUK

Hardboard does not go with water very well at all and will turn to mush if it gets too wet. Use a Marine plywood board instead, probably 4 to 6mm thick, seal the edges with sillicone and then tile or Lino over that. The ply will cost a little more than hardboard, but worth it, see here.

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9276273&fh_view_size=10&fh_location=%2f%2fcatal!!!1%2fen_GB&fh_search=plywood&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&isSearch=true

If you measure the size of floor area you can even get B&Q to cut it for you before you take it home.

Eenymeeny

We used these: B&Q Select Superlink Vinyl Planks and were very pleased with them. They look like wood but not so cold or noisy.
I posted a query on this forum before buying them which you may find useful:
Also got them at half price as that design was discontinued.:)
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2967890

diable

remove the floorboards lay waterproof ply