One of the most effective ways to bring together a room or renovation is to improve the flooring good quality flooring will add a sense of cohesion to interior design.
But what if the renovations include combining different living spaces that have different floors coverings with different floor level? Can you still lay floorboards over tiled areas of a house? The short answer is yes You can actually lay new timber flooring straight over your tiles. It’s easier than you might think and you’ll benefit from the natural beauty of timber.
Here’s what you need to know.
Why Cover Your Tiles with Timber Flooring?
There are different reasons why you might want to cover your tiles with timber flooring. Tiles are often firmly attached to the sub floor (commonly a concrete slab) and it can be very difficult to remove the tiles without causing damage to the sub floor which must then be repaired before you can lay down any type of new flooring. Not only is this a hassle, it can also be very expensive and cause your flooring budget to blow out.
Tiles are incredibly durable so they really do last the test of time but if you are renovating your home, the tiled floors can often drag down the look of the renovation or even look out of place altogether. This is because what looked good thirty, twenty, or even ten years ago can look horribly dated. If this is the case for you, it is a far more cost effective and attractive option to lay down timber flooring over the top.
The Process of Laying French Oak Timber Flooring Over Tiles
The important thing that you need to remember when laying your new timber flooring over your tiles is that the tiled surface needs to be clean, dry, and level.
The method for laying timber flooring over your existing tiles is to use ply sheeting. The sheeting is laid over the tiles to create a good surface for the timber flooring to be laid on.
The floorboards are then glued and nailed to the ply. Using the plywood method is the most cost effective, you should expect to pay about $75 per square meter for installation.
You should choose an underlay to go between the tiles and the timber flooring. The point of the underlay is to absorb sound and give noise insulation. Use the highest quality underlay that you can afford.
Don’t forget that laying timber flooring over tiles will actually raise the height of the floor. This needs to be considered with regards to your internal doors as it is likely that you’ll need to adjust their clearance height. Also take into account the differences in height of different floors. For example, the new timber flooring may be significantly higher than carpeted areas. You may need to create a slope or a clearly defined step in order to reduce tripping hazards.