Gridlock Mikey

Thought i'd sort out some tiles for the kitchen floor this weekend Here's my dilemma:

The previous occupants were a tad lazy to say the least but what they have essentially done is to glue vinyl tiles onto chipboard flooring, without protecting the wood underneath. The net result is that over the years, water etc has seeped between the tiles and has made the wood rotten.

Now the wood is in sheets laid across joists. I plan to rip up ALL of the old "rotten" wood and the crappy vinyl tiles and replace the wood. I want to then tile the floor with proper ceramic tiles. My question is this: how do i prevent the same happening again? Rather than the MDF type sheets of wood, should i use some other type? Or will proper ceramic tiles and grouting be enough to stop water seeping under them?

Any other tips?

Cheers

Mikey
Can't believe that I have posted on scoobynet about DIY shhhhh!

dhorwich

and not in the DIY forum either..!!!

here is our kitchen floor..







I think ours were laid on concrete though..!!

Dan

[Edited by dhorwich - 1/19/2003 6:00:29 PM]

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

One of the problems of tiling onto a wood surface is finding a glue that will stick the tiles down. The other is that the wood flooring expands and contracts, while the glue/tiles don't. Result: loose tiles, and more water going through.
I stongly suggest you look up tiles in YP, then ask them for advice on adhesives.
Alcazar

Gridlock Mikey

Cheers dudes and Dan........nice floor

Mikey

dhorwich

only problem....... you cant get away with dropping anything on them..!!!!

Dan

Scoobs_4ever

I'm no expert on diy but I can comment from my recent experiences of laying floor tiles.

You can offer some protection to the wood by using PVA glue. PVA glue is used in many applications from priming plaster-boards to water-proofing wooden sub-floors. This stuff may help.

Its also important to get the right spec of chip-board. I think its 22mm green chip-board you should be using.

As for the adhesive. You'll need to buy a flexible adhesive as wood does expand and move slightly. You'll also need to use a flexible grouting material, one with latex in otherwise the grout will crack.

cheers
Andy.

RON

The chipboard is available in either 22mmm or 18mm, most would probably be 18mm, it's also available either water resistant, or not, the water resistant stuff is known as 'P5', the non is 'P4'.

Note i say water resistant, not, waterproof!!!!!!

Gridlock Mikey

This place (Scoobynet) never ceases to amaze me

Cheers guys

Mikey

Olly

18mm flooring grade T&G chipboard is fine, its easy to lay, doesn't suffer movement like floorboarding, and is pretty durable if kept dry. Available from your local timber yard, don't buy from DIY outlets, its a fortune. Make sure you screw it well down to avoid creaks.

In reality, you could polybond coat (PVA) the floor and tile it straight away without problems, but for an even better job, obtain some 3mm WPB ply and lay it on top of the chipboard, fix using either roundhead nails or screws, make sure none are proud. Then mix a bucket of PVA & water and give the floor a couple of coats, this ensures a good key and gives even more moisture protection. Lay the tiles using a quality flexible floor adhesive, and grout. Job's a good 'un.

RON

Just remembered, you should glue all the joints in the T&G aswell, = less creaks!!!

dxg999

If you are using chipboard/particle board, make sure its the moisture resistant kind (this would be spec' for a kitchens and bathrooms).

If you're talking huge amounts of moisture here, you could lay WBP (weather and boil proof) ply under the tiles - but I've never heard of this being done to a floor - although it is what you should use behind the tiles on a shower, to prevent moisture going through the plasterboard (if you have that).

All this is from vague memories of about ten years ago, though...

dxg999

Sorry - just read Olly's post above (it's too late - been a hard weekend, and all that).

Basically - I second what he says! (but don't forget the mositure resistant version of board)

fast bloke

Use 18mm ply - chip board will rot even if your neighbour goes for a **** in the garden. Put the ply down and give it a couple of coats of PVA. Get a PVA based adhesive, as it will allow some wood expansion along with helping waterproofness (is that a word?). If you can get 'Just the job' adhesive and grout, these have a good working time, remain flexible for years and are waterproof

Olly

PMSL!- you are right FB, ply is a better material. However unless you live next to the river and are planning a flood, in these circumstances I would still go for the MR chipboard. I'm a joiner, and have encountered no problems with it- I fitted it in my own place, which says something! WBP Ply is a lot more expensive, and I have never yet seen pre-formed ply with a tongue & groove- absolutely essential for stability in flooring, especially under tiles. (Not saying it doesnt exist though!) In theory you could machine your own groove and make tongues- easy if you own a joiners shop, nigh on impossible if not. The chipboard is a doddle to lay. Invest in some knee pads though, you won't be sorry.

All IMHO of course.