Removing tiles to expose softwood floor

amsbam1

I am considering removing tiles in my kitchen and bathroom to expose the softwood floor below. What do you think of this idea? The floor would have been built around 10 years ago, I guess of deal or something like that. I was thinking of staining and protecting it. My parents left exposed deal in their house and I think it looks good when stained.

Do you think there is a risk of moisture seeping down into the joists below?

Sleeper12

amsbam1 wrote:

I am considering removing tiles in my kitchen and bathroom to expose the softwood floor below. What do you think of this idea? The floor would have been built around 10 years ago, I guess of deal or something like that. I was thinking of staining and protecting it. My parents left exposed deal in their house and I think it looks good when stained.

Usually the tiller fits plywood between softwood floor and tiles. Usually plywood is screwed into softwood flooring every 4 to 6 inches.
I would guess it would be easier to lift tiles,plywood and totally replace softwood floor.

amsbam1

Are you recommending replacing the softwood with hardwood? That would be a lot of cost.

Big Lar

Would you consider pulling out the dishwasher or the fridge and burst out a few tiles to expose the timber floor under them to see how things look first before you commit ?

Sleeper12

Big Lar wrote:

Would you consider pulling out the dishwasher or the fridge and burst out a few tiles to expose the timber floor under them to see how things look first before you commit ?

Not a bad idea at all.

Here's how I see it going. You lift the tiles easy enough but the adhesive, a bit like dried cement,is a lot harder. Even if you eventually scrape all the adhesive off you won't be able to get the screws out of the plywood (assuming there is plywood). If you can even see the screws the screw heads will be blocked with dried adhesive. Even if you did get the screws out the softwood floor now has hundreds of screw holes.

I've only ever seen floor tiles being removed from a wooden floor once and it was a nightmare. That's my only experience of it. There may be easier ways and if there are hopefully we'll read about it here.

amsbam1

That does sound messy allright. Maybe it's better if I just take off the tiles (they're ugly) and replace them with nicer tiles in the bathroom and laminate in the kitchen.

Gen.Zhukov

Did this recently in a bathroom. I had great ideas of removing tiles/adhesive, bit of sanding and ending up with nice floor. Not a chance. Tiles/adhesive a total nightmare to remove. Ended up pulling all the floor up>marine plywood down>tiling.

I considered putting down more T & G floorboards but the above method won out.

agusta

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Not a bad idea at all.

Here's how I see it going. You lift the tiles easy enough but the adhesive, a bit like dried cement,is a lot harder. Even if you eventually scrape all the adhesive off you won't be able to get the screws out of the plywood (assuming there is plywood). If you can even see the screws the screw heads will be blocked with dried adhesive. Even if you did get the screws out the softwood floor now has hundreds of screw holes.

I've only ever seen floor tiles being removed from a wooden floor once and it was a nightmare. That's my only experience of it. There may be easier ways and if there are hopefully we'll read about it here.

Your correct,no easier way really.just kango up tiles and remove the plywood underneath by levering it up and start again.

amsbam1

1.618 wrote: »

Ended up pulling all the floor up>marine plywood down>tiling.

Why were you not able to lay the new tiles on the plywood after you took off the old tiles? Why did you have to pull up the plywood and T&G boards? Thanks

Gen.Zhukov

amsbam1 wrote: »

Why were you not able to lay the new tiles on the plywood after you took off the old tiles? Why did you have to pull up the plywood and T&G boards? Thanks

Previous owner had put the tiles directly onto the floorboards:rolleyes:. Adhesive was rock hard and was pulling lumps out of the boards so they had to come up.

looksee

We had a similar job. The previous owner had tiled the kitchen floor with what appeared to be wall tiles, they were very slippery and dangerous. We took up the tiles and found ply beneath, but the ply had been screwed in place with fairly substantial screws every six inches in each direction. There were hundreds of the dratted things, and all bunged up with adhesive.(and don't get me started on the wiring and the plumbing...)

amsbam1

I'm tempted to just lay laminate on top of the tiles. Removing the adhesive sounds like a nightmare.