Fitting new bathroom floor - advise needed

justindwatts

I've recently bought my first home and the whole house is in need of renovation. I've got to the stage of overhauling the bathroom and to my surprise after removing the existing bathroom suite, I'm met with unprotected chipboard flooring which is screwed to the joists.


I am already in the process of removing and planning to strengthen the joists with additional support as I'm going to be laying tiles, therefore needing the strength for the extra weight.


What do people suggest I should lay for new flooring? I've been reading online various comments and stories about chipboard, marine ply, normal plyboard, what do you guys recommend?


The existing chipboard has obvious signs of water leaks in the past but this time around I'll be properly sealing everything to ensure there aren't any long term problems.


What does everybody suggest?

tacpot12

Moisture resistant chipboard and glue the joints with waterproof glue.

phill99

Why are you upgrading the joists? The joists in a home will easily support the weight of a tiled bathroom floor. I've fitted nearly 70 bathrooms now, but not once have I had to upgrade floor joists.


Use caber P5 Mositure resistant chipboard floor screwed to joists and glue the joints. Then overboard with 6mm Concrete backing board stuck to the floor with flexible tile adhesive and then screwed at 150mm centres. Use a flexible adhesive to stick the tiles finished with a flexible grout.

justindwatts

I'm worried that the gaps in between the joists would be too big and cause there to be movements when the tiles are down, which is why I wanted to strengthen up the floor.


I don't fancy replacing tiles due to cracks after the whole floor is laid.

phill99

justindwatts wrote: »

I'm worried that the gaps in between the joists would be too big and cause there to be movements when the tiles are down, which is why I wanted to strengthen up the floor.


I don't fancy replacing tiles due to cracks after the whole floor is laid.

But with the greatest of respect, it is not a subject area that you have expertise on.


Standard spacing of joists is perfectly adequate to take a tiled floor providing that the floor is over boarded and you use flexible adhesives. After having fitted nearly 70 bathrooms this way, I have not had one comeback about cracked bathroom floor tiles.


I would recommend getting a decent tiler in who will give you decent advice.