Laying ceramic tiles

ouraggie

Hi. I would like to replace the ceramic tiles on my kitchen floor as several are cracked. From pulling out the fridge and washing machine to clean them it is clear that most of the existing tiles were laid on the original wooden floorboards. I presume this is why they have cracked. I would be grateful if any readers can tell me what I need to do to the floor before laying new tiles. Alternatively if I lay vinyl flooring will it show through after a while where the tile edges are, if you see what I mean.
Thanks

Grenage

I imagine that for tiles, you're going to need to form a rigid base using plywood. A thin ply would probably be sufficient for a vinyl floor cover, but real tiles are going to need more - maybe 12mm or above. There will be guides out there for the required thickness.

flashg67

It's a more expensive option, but google cement boards such as 'no more ply'. They're stronger than ply and only 6mm thick so don't raise the floor height by much. You glue & screw them down then tile over as normal

I was skeptical, especially with the cost, but have just used them over a 150 yr old wooden floor and it's worked really well and is really solid.

I think you'd need an underlay or really thick vinyl for it not to start showing if laid straight over tile.

I prefer tiles - more hassle/cost up front but last for years.

usman330

If it's laid on floorboards its going to all need ripping up and a solid substrate putting down before the tiles go onto it.

I have used no more ply a couple of times and it's good stuff, very rigid, and it's only 9mm thick

cheekygr1n

I laid large Quarts tiles in my bathroom upstairs a couple of years ago and have had no issues. I used the concrete boards as people have suggested and a good quality flexible adhesive suitable for the tiles laid. The board I used was from Wickes, Knauf Aquapanel, 6mm thick, bedded down to the wood floor also using the tile adhesive, and screwed through in a matrix pattern. I would also recommend epoxy based grout for a Kitchen as this will never stain.
Its not an easy job, and not cheap; if you are not confident then best to get a professional and some form of guarantee for the work.

brightontraveller

ouraggie wrote: »

Hi. I would like to replace the ceramic tiles on my kitchen floor as several are cracked. From pulling out the fridge and washing machine to clean them it is clear that most of the existing tiles were laid on the original wooden floorboards. I presume this is why they have cracked. I would be grateful if any readers can tell me what I need to do to the floor before laying new tiles. Alternatively if I lay vinyl flooring will it show through after a while where the tile edges are, if you see what I mean.
Thanks

Its partly the substrate, tile but more often usage bashing dropping things on them they tend to break, less with a truly commercial tile but aesthetically not what most want in a domestic kitchen ? If you going to keep doing what made tiles previously break chances are regardless of substrate they will break so in that instance lino, vinyl check with manufactures as to showing through or commercial heavy duty tile and follow manufactures instruction would suit better…