Question:
hi
need some help please
we've currently got floor tiles in our bathroom, but the grout is all crumbly and lots of the tiles have cracked - I don't know if this is indicative of an underlying problem, or it whether it's as hubby seems to get sooo much water on the floor after showering?!
anyhooo.... I'm thinking we should go for lino - so my questions please are:
1. do we need to put anything under the lino, on top of the old tiles?
2. where's the best place to go for cheap but not nasty lino?
3. is it easy enough to do ourselves?! never done it before!
thank you
Answers:
Hello WindChim
I think your thread will be better placed in the 'In my home' board, so I'll move it across for you.
Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see ) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email .
Regards
Nile
Answers:
We've got the same problem with crumbly grout and I keep having to do it over and over again. Do you know why it gets crumbly and how I can make it not crumble again? (It only does so in some places)
Thanks
Answers:
hi RACT
where is your crumbly bit (as it were!!) ours is just near the shower ... so my money is on it getting too wet as hubby doesn't seem able to dry himself off before stepping out, or mopping up after!! If that is what it is, then I know lino will be fine as it won't sink in
Answers:
We've got the same problem with crumbly grout and I keep having to do it over and over again. Do you know why it gets crumbly and how I can make it not crumble again? (It only does so in some places)
Thanks
As Windchim says, probably because it's getting wet. Best thing to do is rake out all the old grout and re-grout with a waterproof grouting compound (comes readymixed in tubs).
Answers:
hi
1. do we need to put anything under the lino, on top of the old tiles?
2. where's the best place to go for cheap but not nasty lino?
3. is it easy enough to do ourselves?! never done it before!
thank you
1) Yes, you will. Lino (as in vinyl, not real linoleum) is quite thin and it'll gradually settle into the shape of anything underneath (sort of like a brass rubbing). It's recommended to use self-levelling compound over tiles. Otherwise, lift the tiles and board the floor out with hardboard.
2) As it's a bathroom and therefore likely to have very little actual floor area, you should be able to pick up a good-quality end of roll that would be big enough to do it. Most flooring shops stock the same major products: Polyflor, Altro, Rhinofloor, and several others, so where you buy it is not much of an issue. It would be advisable to get fairly thick cushioned vinyl because you'll be walking barefoot across it, but more importantly, check the surface of it and remember you'll probably be stepping onto this with wet feet. Do not go for a totally smooth surface - it'll be lethal when wet. There are several types of vinyl suitable for bathrooms, but anything with quite a textured finish (usually raised squares/dots) should be safe. Quiz the shop assistant before buying.
3) Yes, fairly, as long as you take your time. The most awkward bit will obviously be around the loo. As you don't have a carpet or old lino to use as a template, it would be sensible to use newspaper to make a template and then use that to cut the hardboard and the lino. Don't cut the lino exactly to size - cut it larger. Because it's a bathroom and therefore quite susceptible to temperature variations, I'd suggest leaving it for a few days to acclimatise (obviously, you'll have to be very careful about not spilling water onto it). Then trim to size and seal all the edges with silicone sealant to stop water getting underneath it. There's a useful page here:
Answers:
Get on your hands and knees and pull the tiles up, then scrape of the adhesive!!
Alternatively, Glynn Webb is very cheap for good quality lino.
There is a thin polysyrene underlay that you can but underneath. I would do this because overtime your line will start to show the indentations of what is underneath. Alternatively, you could put down 6mm plywood whicj would make a better base for sticking the lino to.
And, yes you can do it yourself but by the time you have been and bought the adhesive spray and got your sharp stanley knife out, fitting is very cheap anyway.
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I'd definitely get a pro to lay your vinyl/lino in a bathroom/loo - these are difficult areas to fit if you haven't got the skill! It will not cost alot and you'll have a much better result!
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Thanks for the info. The crumbly parts are under the little carpet we keep and it is quite thick so it doesn't really get wet underneath
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If you've used the right grout in the right situation it shouldn't crumble however wet it gets.Is it possible that your tiles are not fixed properly and are moving slightly?Perhaps they are laid on a timber floor and are prone to movement.Sounds a more plausible reason to me.
Answers:
A tip learnt from my dad. Lay floor tiles on a layer of roofing felt, it helps deal with waterproofing and if you do get cracked tiles you can simply smash the offending tile with a hammer and remove with the aide of a stanley knife to cut the felt. Works a dream.
A little more on topic - get the grout for the conditions as mentioned before. But if you do decide to go with a vinyl, get the decent stuff that is anti-slip.
Answers:
A tip learnt from my dad. Lay floor tiles on a layer of roofing felt, it helps deal with waterproofing and if you do get cracked tiles you can simply smash the offending tile with a hammer and remove with the aide of a stanley knife to cut the felt. Works a dream.
A little more on topic - get the grout for the conditions as mentioned before. But if you do decide to go with a vinyl, get the decent stuff that is anti-slip.
I'm with woodbutcher on this, sounds like they've been laid on a timber floor that hasn't been prepared properly. Have a read of this:
As for the bit I've highlighted above, I think that's rubbish and you'll just spend all your time re-laying the tiles when they come loose in a few months time.
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As for the bit I've highlighted above, I think that's rubbish and you'll just spend all your time re-laying the tiles when they come loose in a few months time.
Actually, it is not rubbish mate!
It works well, my dad works for H&R Johnsons that produce Cristal tiles and he has done many tiling jobs for people over the years because of the fact he can get empolyees rates on tiles.
It does in fact work and it makes it easier in the event of broken tiles, there has been no movement at all and the floors look as good as they did when laid. All floors at my parents are laid like this, kitchen and 2 bathroom floors and there has not been a problem.
Answers:
Actually, it is not rubbish mate!
It works well, my dad works for H&R Johnsons that produce Cristal tiles and he has done many tiling jobs for people over the years because of the fact he can get empolyees rates on tiles.
It does in fact work and it makes it easier in the event of broken tiles, there has been no movement at all and the floors look as good as they did when laid. All floors at my parents are laid like this, kitchen and 2 bathroom floors and there has not been a problem.
All I will say is, in all the time I have had some connection to the construction industry, I have never heard of that. The person who wrote the content of that link occasionally posts on here and has installed domestic and commercial tiling for many years. I really can not see how it will last, especially when used on a timber floor.
Answers:
I'm a tiling contractor/wholesaler and have been for over 10 years.
Laying a floor on roofing felt does not comply with British Standards specifications or Building regulations.
That aside, it's nonsence and I am in a position to make this statement.
As far as your google search goes, what the Americans refer to as roofing grade felt is very different to what we call roofing felt in the UK. The American site you cite as a recommendation is advising the use of a bitumin type base felt as a waterproof membrane after the floor has been reinforced, we have similar products that exist here in the UK. Tile Safe is one or an alternative is a plastic matting called Ditra Matting produced by Schluter systems. Neither of these systems have any resemblance to roofing felt, which, last time I checked was in fact designed to be used for roofing.