Shopping around for new floor tiles? While it’s easy to get your head turned by pretty planks and swanky slabs, it’s vital to remember what lies beneath, what lies under your tiles is just as important as your new tiles themselves. And while every room might be different, there’s a few tips to follow to make sure everything’s hunky dory down there. Even if you’re hiring a professional, we’d recommend reading on to make sure there’s no nasty surprises at the end.
1. Get your layout right
When it comes to tiling, failure to prepare is certainly preparation to fail. The number one rule is to carefully plan ahead… Think about where grout lines and cuts will fall as you’ll want your room to look balanced, door thresholds and floor obstructions will also need accounting for.
Once you’re happy, it’s worth dry-laying the tiles to check the layout works. If you’re using decorative tiles, you can also play around with the different patterns at this stage. And who said tiling wasn’t fun! come and see our portfolio for inspiration!
2. Finished Floor Height
At the same time, you’ll also have to consider the build-up of your floor. Backing boards, underfloor heating mats and adhesive can easily add an inch to your substrate, before you’ve even accounted for the depth of your tiles. If you’re refurbishing a room, you might need to shave the bottom of your doors to allow for this extra height or amend the levels of any worktops and cabinets accordingly.
3. Stripped back
We’re often asked if you can tile on top of existing floor covering. While the answer’s often – but not always – yes, we think it’s usually best to strip things back and start over again. You see, like a good prima-donna porcelain tiles can be a little picky. They’re not big fans of movement or bumps in the subfloor and in any case, you’ll want to ensure any underlying issues are resolved. Once you’ve removed your current floor, you’re generally left with a solid concrete base or timber floorboards to work from:
TIMBER FLOORBOARDS
Take it from us – tiling directly onto floorboards is a definite no-no. There’s just going to be too much movement and flex which will eventually cause your new tiles to lift or crack. You could always opt for engineered oak flooring? Chances are though, you’ll be working with wood, especially if you live in an older property. But don’t worry, you can still have your dream tiled floor; this is exactly what tile backing boards were made for. Tightly screw down your existing floorboards, over board with our No More Ply sheets and voila – you have a rigid, flat surface that’s perfect for tiling.
CONCRETE
If tiles like a strong and stable sub-floor, then surely concrete is the perfect base to tile to? Generally speaking, yes, but there are a few rules to follow. The existing concrete will need to be level, sound and free of any imperfections and cracks. Before tiling, brush and vacuum the surface then seal the porous surface with a suitable primer – this will help create a stronger bond with your tiles.
Looking for tile inspiration for your flooring? Check out our Pinterest boards!
4. Get Things Level
Whether you’re refurbishing a room or working in a brand new space, you’ll need to ensure your floor is completely level. Fact – floor tiles like a base that’s flat as a pancake, especially larger plank tiles. And whilst tile adhesive can help level out any minor undulations, we’d recommend pouring a layer of self-leveller to smooth out larger gaps and bumps. It’s also great if you’re planning on fitting underfloor heating mats; by burying the cables you’ll gain a flat surface for tiling and remove any chances of potentially damaging the wires.
5. Allow For Movement
At the risk of sounding like a record stuck on repeat, whether your new tiles are being laid onto an old wooden floor or a new concrete slab it’s vital to think about movement. Even seemingly solid substrates can shrink and expand over time and if these stresses aren’t dealt with, they can lead to fractured tiles.
Traditionally, a combination of movement joints and expansion gaps was the answer but these days, anti-fracture mats are more common. These ‘uncouple’ the tiles from the floor below, neutralising any stress between the two layers. Although British Standard states that the building designer should decide where movement joints be located, we think it’s best to err on the side of caution and opt for anti-fracture mats wherever possible.
6. Adhesives
Heard that one about a bad workman blaming his tools? While you’ll always want to use a good installer, it pays to make sure they’re using the correct adhesive for the job in hand. Porcelain floor tiles should always be laid with a flexible, cement-based adhesive from a reputable brand. A high performance tile adhesive should accommodation some movement and vibration, whilst offering exceptional adhesion and a choice of slow or rapid setting times. We like Ultra Tile Adhesive, theres also Mapei..
7. Waterproofing
If you’re tiling a wetroom or bathroom floor, it’s vital to waterproof the substrate and seal the room. Whilst porcelain tiles are non-porous, water can seep down through the grout joints into the substrate below. For the ultimate belt and braces approach, fit DeltaBoards to your substate and tank the joints to ensure a watertight seal.
8. Your Tiler
Last but not least, your tiler. Choosing a good tiler, Honestly, we think a good tile fitter is worth their weight in gold. Whilst smaller tiling jobs – cloakroom splashbacks and the like – can be tackled by the DIY-er, in our opinion tiling a floor is best left to a pro. No two rooms are the same, so an experienced tiler will be able to assess your individual floor and propose the best action to take. Rather than rush onto the tiling itself, he or she will take time to understand your expectations, prepare the subfloor and will be conscious of mixing tiles to ensure the best chromatic effect.
What are your thoughts on our tiling tips?
Let us know in the comments! If you have questions please also ask those in the comments and we’ll get them answered for you.
Do you have a project you are looking to get help with? GET IN TOUCH with the Rock and Wood team today. We’re waiting to hear from you.
