Tiling on upstairs kitchen floor

Iamhere

Looking for some advice, we are looking to tile an upstairs kitchen.

The current floor is ply (removed old tiles), down around 25 years.

The tiles will be wood effect and the room is 45 SQM.

Tiler had suggested a flexible mat as an anti crack measure but to check with the tile shop. Tile shop checked with their rep who recommended 1.2m x 1.2m magna board.

The tiler is concerned with the number of lines this will leave but will go ahead with it.

Just wondering if anyone has had a similar situation?

20/20

Why is the board 1.2 X 1.2M ? They should come 8 X 4 feet and then there are less joints. Your tiler should have pointed this out.

embracingLife

The thinner 6mm mag boards are 1.2m x 1.2 (which is 4 foot x 4 foot) but the thicker 12mm boards are 8'x4'. So that's the answer.

Also some of the flexible mat the tiler suggested is completely different than the magna boards the tile shop told you about. These mats are like a sheet of thin foam and they come either in a roll or flat sheets, but they are different to the mag boards which are very rigid and no way would they be described as "flexible"!

The mag boards are very rigid much like plywood.

(mag/magna/Magnesium boards)

There's other flexible mats that are wider but it's odd that the tiler didn't point you to where to source them?

Best to have a proper chat with the tiler about how to proceed. Tbh he sounds a bit slack not to explain fully to you and especially now the tile shop is giving you opposite advice and the tiler is now caught in the middle. Tiler needs some customer service training! :)

embracingLife

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119628458#Comment_119628458

Do you know that there's different thickness of mag boards?

embracingLife

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119632565#Comment_119632565

And width & lengths of mag boards?

embracingLife

Op I doubt that the magna board the shop told you about is practical for the job. The magna boards I've seen are very rigid and are only used as a waterproofing as that's the reason for them but there are not sufficient as an "anti crack" solution as your tiler suggested. It's a very good idea to use this matting that the tiler advised as it's upstairs and the existing plywood is sufficient as a base for the floor.

It's a slacker more so of the shop and their rep to suggest another type of board - have they explained whether it's an "anti cracking" feature or not?

BTW it'd be a good idea to upload a link to the "magna board" you have been told about so we can see exactly what type it is.

Another point not mentioned by either the tiler or the shop & rep is whether the tiler is going to use any tanking on the surface of the bathroom walls and floors before tiling. This is recommended nowadays by all decent tilers after the floor and walls are prepared but before tiling starts as it waterproofs under the tiles to prevent water leaking through into the walls and floors if any future cracks occur in the tiles and grout.

Iamhere

The board the shop recommended is 12mm thick.

https://retailers.arcbuildingproducts.ie/product/arc-magna-boards-1200-x-1200-x-12mm/

The shop have doubled down since that they can only get 1200 x 1200 which is strange as I have seen 2400 x 1200 in both thickness at a local builders merchants.

Tiler is excellent but a little laid back, I am going to give him a call tomorrow and put the ball back in his court. The tiles will be going down on an upstairs kitchen not a bathroom.

Thank you for the information.

20/20

Iamhere I am a tiling contractor ( 37 years in the trade). If your tiler has suggested the flexible mat then why not do this, and it will not raise the floor height to much.

But if you are sheeting the floor What I would suggest having not seen your job, is sheet the floor in 6mm board as you did say its over plywood. Clean every bit of old adhesive from the ply first so as there are no bumps after the floor is sheeted. Do not bother with any of the boards from tile shops because in most cases it will cost a lot more and reason for the small size is for the DIY fellow to fit into his car. Ring a few builders merchants to check pricing . The boards may be called Magna or Multi-pro or tile backer board and even cement board . There can be up to 40% difference in price between merchants for the boards. The 6mm board will be perfectly good over the plywood for tiling, and the reason I suggest 6mm instead of 12mm is so the floor will not be raised to high at the doors. You dont want a feeling underfoot of steping up to the kitchen. The boards need to be screwed down not nailed , and to prevent the screws from going through the board, screws must be used in conjunction with metal disc washers.