I am re tiling my kitchen floor, and as I have taken the old tiles up (which were on top of adhesive, vinyl flooring, and 4mm mdf) the chipboard underneath, which I believe is 22mm T&G, is damp I’m some places. For example, under where the dish washer and washing machine is. The rest of the chipboard seams dry and the walking space in my kitchen is 1.5m x 2.5m so it’s small. I’m not sure if the subfloor is suitable for retiling as I do not want to take up and replace the chipboard as it would require me taking the kitchen units out. Is there anyway around this, or would it be ok to tile?
I’ve seen a method online which includes sbr primer, flex adhesive, decoupling matting, more flex adhesive and then tiles. Would just like a second opinion.
If tiling isn’t the best option, what type or floor finish is recommended?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Hi,
Chipboard is never a good idea as flooring it has no strength at all. If you cannot replace it all get the wet area replaced with O.S.B. Oriented strand board the same thickness first.
I would recommend laying a cement backer board first and tape the joints, this waterproofs the chipboards from rotting again. Your floor tiles can be laid using a flexible adhesive and grout to finish.
Answered20 August 2020
12
Anonymous user
If your floor is a chipboard floating floor ,its not advisable to tile it as the chipboard is sitting on insultion and is not screwed ,so putting down a uncoupling mat will not help this ,the board will have to be removed ,if its been screwed to joist then go over with 6mm cementboard glued and screwed.
Chip board is much less stable than plywood. If it gets wet it swells quite quickly and loses structural integrity becoming much more flexible. the integrity does not really return when it dries out. It also goes mouldy much more easily than ply.
I guess it is one of those things which if you do it you might get away with it if you are lucky but would you want to build a reputation based on luck.
Hi, it depends on the chipboard, p5 (moisture resistant) board is used on the majority of new builds these days,let the floor dry out, will be quite easy to determine whether the floor is damaged, has it started blowing or when dry does it come apart easily with a chisel. If the floor is sound, treat with a suitable primer, can be recommended by tiling supplier, cover floor with 6mm backer board, stuck down with latex based flexible adhesive, then screwed to the floor as well. This can then be tiled over, again using latex based flexible adhesive.
