Kitchen Floor Tiling

Robert checks the subfloor before quoting. Concrete floors need to be dry, sound and flat; high spots and dips are corrected with levelling compound so tiles don't crack, rock or lip.

Timber floors are the bigger risk. If boards flex underfoot, tiles and grout can crack. Loose boards are fixed down, and a timber floor is usually overboarded with a suitable tile backer board or plywood before tiling, following the board manufacturer's instructions.

Sometimes new tiles can go over existing tiles, if the old floor is sound, firmly bonded and the extra height works at doorways and under appliances. Often it's better to lift the old floor so any problems underneath can be dealt with. Vinyl, laminate and other floating floors are lifted before tiling. An uncoupling membrane can help where a subfloor is prone to slight movement.

Whether to tile under the units or just up to them is worth deciding early with your kitchen fitter. Tiling the whole floor before the kitchen goes in means appliances sit on tiles and the units can be changed later without a gap in the floor, but it uses more tiles. Tiling around fitted units uses fewer tiles but makes future changes harder.

Either way, the floor needs to be level where heavy appliances such as range cookers and large fridges will stand, and appliance spaces should be tiled so they can be pulled out for cleaning.

Porcelain is dense, hard-wearing and resistant to water, which is why it's a common choice for kitchen floors. Ceramic floor tiles suit lighter use, as long as they're rated for floors. Natural stone such as slate or limestone looks distinctive but needs sealing and more care around oil, wine and acidic spills. Check the slip rating too, especially near the sink and back door.

Kitchen floor grout sees spills and constant cleaning. A mid-tone grout hides marks better than white, and stain-resistant or epoxy grouts are an option where the floor takes heavy use. Even joints and a good seal on stone make the floor much easier to keep clean.

Where a new kitchen floor meets a hallway or another room, the change in height is planned before tiling so the door still opens and the threshold finishes neatly with a suitable trim.

We can fit electric underfloor heating beneath kitchen floor tiles. The electrical connection and testing are done by a qualified electrician, and the levelling layer and adhesive must suit heated floors: follow the manufacturer's instructions before and after tiling.