Floor tiling fiasco

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December 26, 2005 at 9:04 pm #6184

dave

We had a kitchen installed this year which turned into

a fiasco (see ‘kitchen installation hell’). The kitchen has been sorted but we are in an ongoing situation with the

floor.
The first kitchen fitter botched the tiling of the floor big time. As the law requires, we gave the company the

opportunity to put things right and they re-laid the floor, although insisted on cutting costs by re-using the tiles with

adhesive attached (not a good idea). Soon afterwards, the floor began cracking and lifting again. We told them it was time we

got a new tiler and new tiles to do it properly, at their cost, to which they agreed (verbally).
We bought a new set of

tiles and last week a tiler of 45 years experience did the floor again. It’s miles better, however one tile has begun to work

loose. I’m gonna phone him this week to come and sort it but am dreading the whole lot having to be ripped up again. As it

stands I’ve spent over a grand on tiles and initial fitting, with a further 400 due to the latest tiler… if there is some

problem with our floor that means it requires some extraordinary subfloor or is in fact untileable, are the “experts” liable

for failing to take proper steps (I think the second tiler did everything by the book, although in this case a 6mm ply

subfloor may be inadequate??) or can we claim the money back (two fittings/two lots of tiles) under buildings insurance???

We’ve had almost a year now of kitchen hell and it’s driving me crazy! Help?$£@!
December 27, 2005 at 12:14 pm #6185

timfoley

My understanding of a sub-floor for tiling is that it offers greater rigidity and strength for the

tiles when laid. Minimising flexibility for solid tiles can only be achieved with a board of suitable thickness and I would

suggest a mininmum of 15mm ply for this.
In addition and to further minimise movement, the board should be screwed to the

existing flooring at 200mm centres, a lot of screws I know, but it dose serve the purpose.
None of this is regulatory so it

cannot serve as a yardstick for recompense but if the method used so far is inadequate then it needs fixing and all work

should come with a guarantee.

Tim.
December 31, 2005 at 4:38 pm #6186

dave

Tiler came and

took up the offending tile; it seems there was some movement in the subfloor, poss. due to a loose floorboard. He screwed the

subfloor down with more screws than a factory and relaid the tile; fingers crossed, but no problems so far
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