Floor Substrate Tiling Onto Solid Oak Floor

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Hello all,

So just been to view a job this evening......kitchen floor with 20mm solid oak flooring down which is glued......the client is insisting they don't want the oak flooring to come up & they would rather a decoupling membrane but I have recommended we get the floor up and tile to the screed.....the floor really is solid and there is just no movement or no hollow areas.......I also took some kickboards off and got chisel underneath but could not budge this oak floor, really solid, has been down for 3 years and no warping across the floor.......

The client thinks it's just Ott to take the floor up and insists on overlaying but I,m sticking to my guns here......just wondered what you guys thought and has anyone even over boarded onto solid oak as I've never heard of it!.....

Cheers

Mark

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Tiles onto solid oak I meant !

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Tiled

 

[Chalker]

If you uncouple it will be fine. Is the floor heated?

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Hi Chalker......

No it's not heated mate.......I was think of chopping a price up just to check how well it is actually bonded......have you tiled onto this substrate using a decoupling matting yourself??

 

[White Room]

What tiles are you going to be fixing......as a side note why tile over solid oak, I'd rather keep the oak floor but maybe just me.

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Hi white beam ,

I thought that when I walked in......it's a stunning floor as it is!...( must have money to burn! )....anyhow tiles are a 300 x 600 slate effect porcelain.......what are your thoughts on the tiling procedure here???

 

[White Room]

It's like saying would you tile on tile....if they ever had a leak that would muller your tiles as well, I'm on your wave length removal would be my preferred choice.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

If it is solid and no movement then it's the same principle as tiling onto a tounge and groove floorboard!

 

[Old Mod]

As TJ, I've tiled over well established and solid oak floors with no UFH before.

 

[mma]

What's sticking the oak to the floor? Hardwood can be quite unstable. What about the height issue? I personally wouldn't feel comfortable tiling over that. Maybe if it was nailed or screwed.

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

What's sticking the oak to the floor? Hardwood can be quite unstable. What about the height issue? I personally wouldn't feel comfortable tiling over that. Maybe if it was nailed or screwed.

That's my concern mma!......it's just glued!

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

I'd just feel more comfortable getting down to the subfloor rather than tiling on top......bottom line is client doesn't want to pay labour costs for taking it up and Topps tiles manager has told them not to and to use durabase decoupled then tile........he's an ex tiler himself so they are adamant to tile on top .......might leave this one for someone else

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Mmmmmmmm.........mixed views on this one then........think I'll have a chinwag with bal technical and let you guys know there thoughts on this........will be back to confirm

If it is solid and no movement then it's the same principle as tiling onto a tounge and groove floorboard!

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Th

If it is solid and no movement then it's the same principle as tiling onto a tounge and groove floorboard!

i,ve never tiled on to tongue & groove floorboards just glued TJ......that's my concern it's just glued mate ......worries me abit

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

I've had problems with wooden floors in the past, even using using decoupling membranes and now just don't tile onto any type of timber without being Ott with the prep which customers just won't pay for......

 

[gamma38]

If your worried about the timber moving with it just being glued why don't you say to the customer as a compromise that you will mechanically fix the boards to the substrate for piece of mind. One box of screws and plugs isn't going to add a massive cost in material or labour and then at least you know it's stuck.

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Okay gamma ,

That sounds like a really good shout mate nice one!......ill look into this with technical

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Why didn't I think of that.....duh!

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

I think I'll more than likely do that, then bal rapid mat then tiles......jobs a gud'n...... Thanks gamma

 

[AD Ceramics]

My solid oak floor had been down for about six years, that was glued!! when we decided to go for amtico, we left the oak down and latexed over it and installed amtico, three and half years down the line you can see every board where it has expanded and contracted with temperature changes over the seasons.
If I was doing your job I'd insist they have boards removed, if not get them to sign a waver for problems that may arise under your guarantee if you provide one.
There's no substitute for doing the job properly but if they are prepared to waive that at least you don't lose the work, and yes everybody else will comment that I am suggesting you do a substandard job.
Anyway that's my view.....and no swearing!!!!!

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Thi

If your worried about the timber moving with it just being glued why don't you say to the customer as a compromise that you will mechanically fix the boards to the substrate for piece of mind. One box of screws and plugs isn't going to add a massive cost in material or labour and then at least you know it's stuck.[/QUOTE

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Lol!.......eh up AD Ceramics, where have you been hiding?.......have you been keeping s low profile since you got told off last time you were on the forums!

Anyway mate just reading through Your post and that is exactly what worries me mate!.....what do you think about mechanically screwing it into the concrete like gamma says??.....but this won't stop any warping if it occurs will it?

Thanks for the feedback.....surprised by the mixed comments on this one......interesting chinwag

 

[Flintstone]

If it is secure as you say, screw it down, uncouple it and tile it

 

[Spare Tool]

Labour wise it'd be quicker to lift it than drill and plug it...remove the wood, remove the uncertainty. These floors are not designed to be screwed down or tiled on. Materials would also be reduced as no crack mat needed