Tiling on Wooden Floors

DIY tiling can be a rewarding experience if rendered correctly. Apart from saving on labor charges, you also have total control over design and pace. Most wooden floors can be retiled provided that sufficient legwork is conducted, and the legwork includes determining the kind of tiles you will be employing for floors or other surfaces. Whatever tools you may need can be either purchased or rented. It is gratifying to re tile floors and find that the result is an elegant finish worthy of a magazine coverage.

When using porcelain, ceramic and other man made tiles, several options can be considered. The existing floorboards (standard tongue/ groove timber or flooring grade chipboard) must first be secured to the joists and make necessary repairs or replacements if any areas are damaged. You can start by over plying with 12mm WBP plywood rotated with every 150mm. Take out the current floorboards back to the joists and exchange with 25mm Weather and Boil Proof (WBP) plywood fixing noggins where the boards connect diagonal joists.

Marble, stone and other tiles made from natural materials require a little more work and patience. To begin, lock the accessible floorboards to the joists and make necessary repairs or replacements if they are broken or splintered. Proceed to over ply using 18mm WBP plywood screwed every 150mm. Using manufacture-recommended strong adhesive, glue 12mm Aquapanel to the floorboards and Aquapanel screws. This will relay the same results as 18mm ply with a slighter height elevation. Replace with 25mm WBP plywood fixing noggins once all current floorboards are removed.

It is recommended to position the tiles on the floor and incise each individual tile before combining the adhesive mixture, as it dries rapidly and can usually last for a maximum of half an hour.

Always remember to leave a substantial gap, approximately 6mm around the boundaries to provide movement accommodation. Failing to do this will result in eventual breakage. Wooden floors also necessitate a specific adhesive which can be purchased at any store specializing in tiles.

Once all tiles are incised according to specific areas of the floor, they should be piled neatly at one side of the room, ensuring that they are kept in the correct sequence. Proceed to mix the adhesive. Some types of adhesives come in powder form mixed with a liquid, resulting in a more pliable consistency and easier application. Once the mixture is combined, it still needs to be used within half an hour or it will become hard and a new batch made.

To lay the tiles, use a notched towel and begin from the space adjacent to the door; this is easily maneuvered as the tiles have been pre-cut to size and arranged according to the layout. Work your way till reaching the door and then aerate tiles according to the manufacture’s guidelines. One important thing to remember is to never step to the corners or edges of the tiles until the joints have been sufficiently grouted and that the grout has completely dried.

Helpful products ...

BAL Supercover Rapidset tile adhesive

BAL Supercover Rapidset is a cement-based, polymer modified tiIe adhesive suitable for fixing all types of wall and floor tiles including ceramic, porcelain, fully vitrified, mosaic, quarries, marble, terrazzo and natural stone tiles in interior and exterior situations.
more info on BAL Supercover Rapidset tile adhesive...

DIY Tiling