Floor-covering options for bathroom ? - suggestions ?

Question

Hi againYet another little niggle.In the main bathroom the builders took it upon themselves to make a'feature bathroom'. ((I've been in software long enough to know that 'feature' is anotherword for 'defect' ! - and this one's no exception..))S0 - Lots of black and white tiles, looks like a cross between aBratislavan sauna - circa 1957 and an old-fashioned butcher's shop -and about as inviting as both !Anyway - we've sorted out the most impractical bits - but we'repuzzling over the floor-covering.Currently has a complicated pattern of black & white ceramic tiles -diamond-laid on plywood with zig-zag black & white border - yeuch!To make it more exciting - some of the tiles are badly laid - sothey're 'clicking' as you stand on them....Options1) Vinyl flooring - but you'd need to lift the existing tiles and getback to a smooth surface otherwise any inperfections (like little bitsof tile adhesive) will show through2) Clip-together 'wood' flooring - might work laid on top of the tiles- but might not be so good in a bathroom with the damp3) Re-tile - no thanks....4) Lay flooring-grade t&g chipboard sheets on top of the existing andthen vinyl5) Leave the existing tiles as they are (possibly find some way of'fixing' the odd 'wobbly' one (small masonry drill and inject PVAunder the tile) - and lay underlay / carpet on top - but how to fixthe carpet grippers6) As (5) above but use foam-backed carpet as a strictly short-termsolution ( a year or so)  until we've got everything else finishedI should add that there's only the two of us, and we're both oldenough to be pretty good at 'aiming' toilet-wise, so that's not anissue with the carpet Have we missed any other options ?What does the team think ??TIAAdrian

Andy Hall · Accepted Answer

Do you have experience of Bratislavan saunas? ;-)

If so, sauna you than me...... I prefer the Finnish ones.....

Anyway, moving right along....

Personally, I like tiled bathroom floors, but leaving that aside.....

I would rip the tiles up. Since several are already loose, I suspect it would be a quick job.

Then regardless of what's next, get some WBP ply and screw it down to the floor to make a flat and sound surface.

I wouldn't use laminate flooring in a bathroom (actually I wouldn't use it anywhere, but especially not in a bathroom). Same goes for carpet - yuk in a bathroom regardless of aim.

Once that's done, you can lay your vinyl.

It seems to me that unless you are planning to redo the bathroom completely, titting around with coverings and bits on the existing floor will take almost as long and cost almost as much as doing the job properly. If it's delay until you redo the whole bathroom, then I would have thought repairing the existing floor with decent tile adhesive (not PVA) plus using some machine washable rugs would be a practical solution.

David Hansen · Answer

On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 08:22:04 +0100 someone who may be Adrian wrote this:-

Flotex.

Still the question of getting a level floor first, but it does combine the practicality of vinyl with the warmth of carpet.

hicks · Answer

Cork tiles?

Andy Hall · Answer

He lives a little way from there.Even so, not a good idea on top of the ceramic ones.  They need a flat surface.

Adrian · Answer

Hi AndyNo - but I saw a film once ....good.....Yes - I'm sure that ripping up the tiles will be quick - it's gettinga level surface after that that seems as though it might be a bit of apitaWe thought t&g chipboard - but same ideaMaybe..... - thanks for the suggestionsAdrian

Adrian · Answer

Hi DavidIs that the stuff that's abit like carpet tiles - but on a roll ??Hmm - OK....I seem to think that the floor levelling is the major part of thehassle..

Adrian · Answer

Hi AndyBoom boom !And they're a bit of a pain to maintain, as I recall from many yearsago....Thanks bothI think it's looking like the 'quick fix' solution at the moment -some cheapy foam-backed carpet for 6 - 12 mths - we need to get a fewthings 'finished' as the place is in danger of degenerating into ahouse full of unfinished jobs..... you know the type of thing ?? ThanksAdrian

David Hansen · Answer

On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 20:15:11 +0100 someone who may be Adrian wrote this:-It has shorter hairs and is thinner, but apart from that yourdescription is correct.

Richard Bates · Answer

This discussion has of course been going on for years because everyone wantsa water-proof upstairs bathroom. But there is no perfect solution. The lastcottage I lived in had it cracked - put the bathroom downstairs and concreteand tile the floor - we lived with it perfectly happily for 4 years. I don'tcare what others may have said, you cannot ceramic tile on wood, sooner orlater something will give and you will be pissed off. Vinyl really is thebest option sealed round the edges with clear silicone and maybe somemoulding/quadrant to make ir really smart ( I found some plastic quadrantt'other day which looked just like wood albeit for another job.Eccles

The Natural Philosopher · Answer

Oh yes you can, but you have to make the wood bloody rigid and the tile cement and grout a bit flexible.CONCRETE is flexible to, you know.

Floor-covering options for bathroom ? - suggestions ?

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