Replacing a tiled floor

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Discussion

miniman

Original Poster:

26,012 posts

268 months

Monday 27th April 2009
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Our new house has a tiled kitchen floor (Porcelain tiles, I believe):



However the downside is that as far as I can tell, Stevie Wonder did the tiling and Shane McGowan was holding the spirit level. In other words, they are pretty horribly uneven in some places. So when the builders come round tomorrow to "do the snagging" we will be discussing the removal and replacement by competent contractors of the entire floor.

How much of a diabolical job is this going to be? I assume rip up tiles, re-screed floor, re-tile, try to clean up a collossal amount of dust?

robinhood21

30,831 posts

238 months

Monday 27th April 2009
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I would think it depends on what the tiles are set with. Probably best to take tiles up and use a self-leveling-latex compound to level the floor before laying new tiles. You could use the self-leveling-latex on top of the tiles and then tile on top, but this would increase the hight of the floor a tad.

Oh, and if the tiles are to come up, make sure that the kitchen units are well protected from sharp-flying pieces of tile, especially if they are porcelain.

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

254 months

Tuesday 28th April 2009
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Looks like the units are standing on the tiles, which should mean removal of all ground level bases and fittings BEFORE removing tiles and re-tiling, then replacing units.

If it was me, there is no way I'd accept re-laying of visible tiles only.

Start off on the right foot, it's your home, new build (I take it), get it fixed before you move in.

miniman

Original Poster:

26,012 posts

268 months

Tuesday 28th April 2009
quotequote all
We're already in. It wasn't until we started walking barefoot on the tiles that we really noticed they weren't level. The kitchen units are on the base floor, not the tiles. My concern is that the builder will send in the same contractor to re-do it on the basis that they won't want to pay him for it as it is his cockup. I may just get a quote and then ask for a contribution and then have it done by someone I trust.

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

254 months

Tuesday 28th April 2009
quotequote all
Ah, sorry, didn't realise. Hope it wasn't too painful an experience finding out how uneven the tiles were.

I'm with you, if it's going to be the original contractor, I'd try to get some for of payment towards somebody else if possible, they may not agree, though, in which case, make it clear that they'll be re-doing it forever if they don't do it properly.