Replace uneven kitchen floor tiles - help

Amobhopal

Hi I brought my house about 3 years ago, the main reason was the extension at the back of the house which combine the small kitchen the back living room into an open plan kitchen diner. However we noticed when we got the keys (it was our first house and we fell in love with the kitchen when we viewed it and didnt pay attention to the floor) that the floor tiles were uneven. I wanted to rip them out at the time but was persuaded not to do so by my wife however I'm thinking about extending the kitchen a little further back and as part of the process I want to rip up the floor tiles and get new ones put down. the issue I have is that we have underfloor heating under the uneven floor which I don't want to rip up if I can help it. the tiling is up to the kick boards. I'm thinking if we need to re screed the floor how do I do that without ruining my kitchen cabinets. the Old Owner installed a brand new kitchen but i don't want to to remove obviously. any suggestions on how I can remove the tiles and level the floor without ruining the kitchen cabinets taking into account the original self level doesn't go all the way under the cabinets. Just enough to cover with the kick board.

cddc

If it is the electric cable type of heating which is fitted between the floor and the tiles then it will most likely be toast as it is almost impossible to rip the tiles up without nicking the cable somewhere.

If it is either a wet system or a cable in the subfloor you should be fine to take the tiles up without damage to the system.

Amobhopal

It's and electric cable. If it needs RE scredding then how do I get around the doing the screeding without damaging the kitchen cabinets as you would want the screed to go under the cabinet a little. Any suggestions?

Amobhopal

Just to add I have to put the ufh upto 35c to feel it which suggests to be it has set too deep when screeded.

Warwick_Hunt

The heating mat is likely to be between the screed and the tiles.

Why are you talking about rescreeding? Surely all you want is to level and re tile but you may through out all existing levels if you have any freestanding appliances.

You need to factor in the cost of a new heating mat if your going to do the job.

Amobhopal

Thanks for the reply.

Some of the tiles became loose where they are most uneven (but i can feel them coming loose all over the floor in the original part of the house. When i lifted the tile the heating mat wasn't visible so I assume it's in the floor, don't know what the official name is but the cement.

Apologies, I thought screeding was the same as leveling, just googled it and it isn't.

Because i have to crank the ufh upto 35c to actually feel it in the floor would it cost more money to rip up the floor and have it all redone than just have it leveled but that add another layer on top and will make it harder to feel the ufh.

Warwick_Hunt

Amobhopal wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

Some of the tiles became loose where they are most uneven (but i can feel them coming loose all over the floor in the original part of the house. When i lifted the tile the heating mat wasn't visible so I assume it's in the floor, don't know what the official name is but the cement.

Apologies, I thought screeding was the same as leveling, just googled it and it isn't.

Because i have to crank the ufh upto 35c to actually feel it in the floor would it cost more money to rip up the floor and have it all redone than just have it leveled but that add another layer on top and will make it harder to feel the ufh.

So do you plan on sorting the issue or bodging it?

Most likely the mat will be in the adhesive, which surely you intend to remove before retiling.