Floor tiles uneven thick – can you still fit a kitchen on it?
Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.50 PM
Hi there,
I've just had a visit from a builder/kitchen fitter who has told me that my floor tiles are uneven and the flooring had been laid too thickly, meaning he will need to take up the tiles to accommodate the kitchen.
He pointed several issues:
Firstly, the flooring is uneven meaning the plinths and cupboards will have to be trimmed so everything fits.
Secondly, he said using backerboards, tiles and adhesive on top of my original flooring has now made the floor too thick (it's about 18mm in thickness overall) and that the backerboards weren't necessary.
He has now advised we need to take up the flooring and re-do it which will cause us to lose money.
Clearly, I feel ripped off by my tiler but I am now wary that this new builder could be pointing out issues that could easily be fixed in other ways such as adding scotia trim etc.
Can someone please give me some advice on my next steps as I don't want to make any rational decisions.
I understand you can't see the job but if you saw these issues, what would you advise your clients?
Thanks in advance.
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Hi there,
I cam imagine where your coming from if you feel like you’ve been ripped off, however depending on the stated on the tiles depends on whether or not you can fit a kitchen on top, if the floor seems to drop or doesn’t look level this could just be the case that the Original floor he was following isn’t level, very easily done.
However the prep that needs to be done depends on what solid floor you have, for example if you have a solid concrete floor then a simple self levelling compound would do the trick which isn’t to expensive but if a large area can set you back. This would then be ready for the tiles straight on top which would raise the floor roughly 10mm.
If your floor is raise and is wooden then ply lining on top followed by something called ditra matting would be needed first then you can self level above this which would then be ready to tile.
The overall outcome what you need to ask yourself is
1. How bad are the tiles. Are there lips or just out of level?
2. All plinth and panels should be fitted and scribed to the floor no matter what.
3. Old vintage floors are all over the place so surely if they can have a new kitchen on the old floor why won’t mine work?
4. Is the floor raise so much that it’s effecting the level when going into another room ?
5. Speak to your tiler. If your not happy then ring him/her up and get them back round and ask the question
6. No harm is getting another trade round to have a look
Hope this helps
Answered10 June 2020
12
Anonymous user
Hi there
I’ve been a kitchen installer now for 23 years and it’s a trade where I’ve fitted thousands of kitchens and I know how to get over problems etc. It doesn’t matter at all that your floors uneven it just takes longer to level units etc and also need to scribe the plinths. The only issue that could cause problems is if you have free standing appliances and the floors that far out but I very much doubt that......any highly skilled kitchen installer like myself can get over any problems and once a so called kitchen installer put blame on others etc a wouldn’t have them doing the work for you. Hope this bit of information helps you.
Answered10 June 2020
3
Anonymous user
Simply out, kitchen units come on legs with variable length, meaning as long as the floor isn't ridiculously unlevel, they can be installed without any adaptation. The advice you received about the plinth is correct though, they would need to be cut to shape and then can be tidied up with a silicone bead or edging strip. This would certainly be cheaper than reflooring the whole kitchen.
Answered16 June 2020
1
Anonymous user
Hi
The answer you have had is good .
The only things I would add are :
On a wooded floor you can also use a cement board / no more ply board and self level Then tile.
Also all decor end panels and plinths can be scribbed to the floor , if your kitchen fitter is not capable of doing this I would get someone else to look at your kitchen install.
Hope this helps .
