Lino over cracked tiles with UFH

[ncik_w]

Hi,

I am currently going through the process of buying a house. In the kitchen there is underfloor heating which I have just had confirmed is electric. The kitchen floor is tiled, however nearly all of the tiles are cracked. I am trying to found out how they were cracked but I assume it was something to do with the UFH.

Is it possible to removed the tiles, easily or otherwise, without damaging the UFH?

If not, is it possible to put some self-leveller over them so that lino can be laid down? I assume this will affect the performance of the UFH but I have no idea how much. Not having had UFH before I am struggling to know were to turn.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Dash J]

Yes it is possible to lift tiles that are over ufh
you just have to be super careful
if so many are cracked you might find the wrong adhesive has been used
has to be flexible adhesive that's used
if that's the case lifting the floor shouldn't be a problem
get all the tiles up and get the adhesive off
once that's done you can go over the cables with a self levelling compound to accommodate the Lino
wee tip if you are putting all that effort into re newish the floor I would use a better floor covering than Lino,I would go for karndean or similar , he'll you could even re tile it 🙂

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Possible but highly unlikely you'll not damage/ruin the electric under floor heating cables.
Certainly not as easy as suggested above.

 

[Dash J]

Possible but highly unlikely you'll not damage/ruin the electric under floor heating cables.
Certainly not as easy as suggested above.

You for real John?

I have done it loads of times,never had a problem
I have to lift a hallway in a couple of weeks 600x600 porcelain with ufh
No problem
No one said it was easy
Take your time and it is no problem
The op asked if poss to lift tiles without damaging ufh
The answer is still yes

 

[CJ]

Yes........but bloody hard NOT to damage/break the wire. That's just lifting the tiles.....you then have the fun of getting old addy off the cable/sensor.

if smallish area.....it'll be quicker to rip the lot up, sort the problem substrate.....and then choose?

 

[cam_low]

exactly CJ, by the time you have spent on 'carefully' doing this, your labour charge could gift the customer a new kit, I'd rather offer that and have the lot up, in and out onto the next one.

 

[Dash J]

I'm assuming from the op he will be doing it himself
Ideal world rip out start again
Otherwise take your time

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I'm assuming from the op he will be doing it himself
Ideal world rip out start again
Otherwise take your time

Some say I'am real :smilewinkgrin:
With so many repairs you must be the expert!
As I've never been in a position to have to save electric under floor heating under tiles and as guarantees are not transferable, I Wouldn't have thought it cost effective for a couple of hundred pounds.

 

[Uheat - Keith]

"...nearly all of the tiles are cracked."
Got to be the compounds were not 'powdered flexible self-leveling and/or powdered flexible adhesive.
I would say all out and start again, or powdered flexible self-leveling over everything and never use the UFH again!!
Warm regards, Keith,

 

[Dash J]

Far from an expert but if you have half a brain it's not that difficult

Up here in Scotland if there is a tile failure some people are not in the position to rip the whole thing up therefore they want a repair done

Obviously in the land of opportunity down the road it's different

"Just take whole thing out and start again" !!! Doesn't happen where I'm from

 

[ncik_w]

Thanks everyone for the responses. It seems that it is possible to remove the tiles, but difficult to do so without damaging the UFH. I think I might have a go at getting them off, and if I damage anything then resort to leveling over the tiles and never using the underfloor heating again.

I have no idea how much it would cost to rip everything up and start again, with new underfloor heating. The area is 19'8 x 7'6. Anyone know a ballpark figure?

 

[ttt tiling]

Removing the tiles will absolutely kill the UFH . Your plan to level and fit lino seems perfectly acceptable . Even better , use karndean , just depends on your budget!

 

[widler]

It obviously depends on how well the tiles are stuck , if solid most probably destroy it, it loose ,no probs.
But if solid, SLC it and Lino it [emoji106]

 

[Dash J]

Removing the tiles will absolutely kill the UFH . Your plan to level and fit lino seems perfectly acceptable . Even better , use karndean , just depends on your budget!

No it wont