What is this flooring and can I tile on it?

[Tel77]

I've now ripped out most of my old bathroom including the old floor covering and found that the room has fairly large floor panels.

The only problem is that I can't figure out what it is made of other than it's some kind of manufactured wood boarding with a green covering on so I'm after some advice firstly in what it's likely to be and secondly can I tile on it or will it need over-boarding?

Untitled

• Tel77
• 28 Oct 2011
• 1

Untitled

• Tel77
• 28 Oct 2011
• 1

 

[Richard C]

firstly in what it's likely to be

Almost certainly moisture resistant chip (crap) board.

secondly can I tile on it

Not if you want the tiles to last & that’s assuming you could get them to stick to it; chipboard is the worst possible tile base you could imagine.

or will it need over-boarding?

As an absolute minimum but I wont overboard chipboard for a tile base. I would advise you rip it up & replace with WBP ply 18-25mm depending on your floor joist size/pitch/span.

Tiling isn’t rocket science but there are still many things that can catch you out & suspended timber floors need special consideration; walls can also catch you out with tile weights, prep & materials. I would advise you read the Tiling Sticky & Forum Archive posts before doing any work or buying materials, it could prevent you making disastrous & potentially expensive mistakes. You can post more info on here for step-by-step advice once you decide the type & size tiles you will be laying

It’s important to use only quality trade tilling materials of the correct type for your tiles & tile base; cheapo own brand & DIY stuff is mostly crap.

 

[Tel77]

Thanks, had a feeling it would be chipboard so I realise I'm unable to tile on it.
I'll look at the replacement option first but if not can I get away with overboarding with 6mm or 9mm WBP as I'm trying to avoid there being too much of a height difference between the en-suite floor and the bedroom floor.

Would do you think about the BAL adhesives? I've used them in the past and seem to be quite good.

 

[Richard C]

I'll look at the replacement option first

That’s what I would do & advise. The recommended British Standard for a WBP tile base is 25mm but you can get away with less & in most cases 18 or 22mm is sufficient in a bathroom but it depends on your floor construction. I always prefer to replace in these circumstances as it guarantees the tile base & will keep threshold heights manageable, something you won’t do with over boarding chip & give a suitably rigid tile base.

but if not can I get away with overboarding with 6mm or 9mm WBP as I'm trying to avoid there being too much of a height difference between the en-suite floor and the bedroom floor.

That’s not thick enough; the BS & all adhesive manufacturers I know of recommend 15mm WBP min for over boarding but in most cases 12mm is sufficient; but that’s the minimum you should consider. But, as I said previously, I personally won’t overboard chipboard, its total crap as a flooring material let alone a tile base.

Would do you think about the BAL adhesives? I've used them in the past and seem to be quite good.

I use BAL products exclusively because I know & trust them & can predict how they behave but there are other quality trade tiling materials equally as good; Webber, Ardex, Mapei (but not the one in BnQ) + others. If you use & take advice from your local trade tile outlet you won’t go far wrong; avoid the large DIY sheds & the stuff they sell, it’s mostly cheap crap & all too often leads to tears. But as with any products, you have to use the right ones for your tiles & the application.

 

[tictic]

as above...