Replace ceramic floor tiles with laminate?

My ceramic kitchen floor tiles, laid 12 years ago onto flooring-grade chipboard over wooden joists, are cracking up. The grout also. So replacement is needed. The question is - do I substitute new ceramic tiles ( using what adhesive and what grout? ) or do I use laminate flooring in a 'tiled' pattern? And if so, how?

The kitchen is square, about 3.3 x 3.2m between unit kickboards, and one wall is an 'open plan' entrance about 1.7m x 21cm wide with a concrete block base ( on which I could fix wood or ceramic tiling ) from another room with a blown vinyl 'wood effect' surface. Part of the problem seems to be the vibration from a washing machine/spin-dryer, and there is some concern over occasional water splashes.

The B&Q people recommend their AquaLoc product, the Travis Perkins local manager would not have laminate flooring anywhere near water, other specialist flooring stores vary widely in their recomendations.

What recommendations would the forumeers on 'ere make?

Reply to
bilbo*baggins
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I wouldn't use it. I once installed some waterproof stuff in a bathroom and it was knackered within a year.

Personally, I prefer natural stone. It doesn't have to be expensive. I've got riven slate in the kitchen and a lively smoothish befossiled limestone in the new en-suite. Slate starts from about 10 pounds a square metre. I paid about double this for large 60x40 slabs with nice colouration.

Do you know why the original tiles cracked? What was the thickness of the chipboard? (I would prefer ply to chip, really). What tile adhesive was used? What grout was used?

For a wood based board floor I would use Ardex Flex 7001 Timber System and Ardex Flex FL/FS grout. It is essential to use a product intended for wooden floors, not a general purpose adhesive.

Christian.

Reply to
Christian McArdle

I've recently done 5 kitchens and one utility room with slate effect aqualoc so I'm well placed to say that it's great stuff. easy to lay and inexpensive when compared to ceramic tiles. looks good and it's guaranteed for 12 years.

I know, the company might be out of business in 12 years and it may look terrible in 5 years and ceramic tiles are more hard wearing BUT £160 and

2 hours to lay ? it's got my vote.

YMMWV

Reply to
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