Tiling and plastering a Victorian house - is movement an issue?

Kai1977

We are getting our kitchen diner redone in our Victoria terrace house. I've had two builders come and quote. I asked for a tiled floor and the first one was happy to do it. The second said I should steer clear of tiling on old Victorian floorboards due to movement over time which will make them crack and suggested lino or vinyl sheets.

Is this right or can we get some basic prep done on the subfloor to allow for tiles?

Also the first builder was happy to replaster the walls in the dining part but the second builder said that was unnecessary as again there will be movement and cracks over time so best just to put new lining paper up (which is what is there right now).

Any advice as we don't know who to believe. We have seen lots of other houses wlike this with plaster and tiles before.

Thanks

Doozergirl

I take it the first didn't want any work?!

We've renovated umpteen period properties and have friends with umpteen more.

All houses move over time. If you lay one type of covering then that may also deteriorate over time. But we're talking decades.

Even if the floors are suspended and wood, you can screw down a decent thickness of ply and tile onto that using flexible grout too.

Plastering - you can see what needs doing once you've stripped all the paper, but old houses often need the whole lot redoing to the point of hacking it from the walls and starting again. That will give you a stable surface for decades. If it's not bad, then a skim will keep it smooth and fresh for a good while to come.

Frankly, the one guy was clueless. It's like telling you not to put oil in your car because it will conk out anyway, eventually.

rustyboy21

Victorian house ( 4 bed semi, cellar and attic) here.


Had Tiled floor in kitchen , laid on old knackered quarry tiles, which had a self leveller poured over. No issues with the floor. 2 Bathrooms ( floorboards) boarded out and tiled, no issues.


Hall Landing and stairs re plastered, all ok, apart from a couple of hairline cracks, easily filled with filler. Bathroom upstairs gable end wall, the tiles( Floor to ceiling) all ok, just a small bit of movement where the tiles have opened up by a matchstick width away from others in the corner, but no real issue.


Victorian houses are a law unto themselves, you may find a bit of movement, but it isn't a lot and not the builders fault. Just accept it and you won't go wrong. That is why we love Victorian places !