Hello there,

I recently changed my washing machine and noticed that a tile had popped up in my kitchen, I also noticed I could lift the entire floor tile up by hand as it wasn't stuck down at all. there was a propper layer of adhesive underneath but it seams this tile didn't adhere and they grouted it and that's whats been holding it in all these years.

I stripped back the old adhesive now but when I did so noticed a metal mesh (very thin metal) ran through the adhesive, so I am guessing a mesh was layed and adhesive went on top as my kitchen does not have a concrete floor.

I now need to stick this one tile back down (as it is totally undamaged and doesn't even have adhesive on it underneath), but am not sure if I should go somewhere and get some of this mesh as I'm rather suspecting it serves two purposes, one is to strengthen and stop movement and the other is to ensure when the time comes you can EASILY get the adhesive up (because the mesh comes up in a big clump).

I don't need much where can I get the mesh and is it worth cutting a square of mesh for just one tile, otherwise its flexi adhesive straight onto floorboards (all other tiles are unaffected).

The mesh has been put down to cover the whole floor, putting a small piece under the single tile will not serve much purpose as it is not connected to the original metal mesh, bond the timber floor and use flexy adhesive, it may stay down but the vibrations from the washer may cause it to lift again. If you don't want to lift the whole lot and board out with ply then you don't have many options.

yeah i suspected this was the case, its a shame really, but i can't life the whole lot thats too big a job for me .. a non professional.

Just as an aside, should the person have used ply in this case as well as the mesh or is that instead of.. or should it been used as well as

I thought the mesh was something used over the water, I am sure Rob Z uses it, I have seen pictures of his work. ( think it was him anyway) The floor should have been plyed before laying the tiles although the mesh must be there for a reason, expansion or strength I presume?

ok so now i know.

Its clear to me that its not plywood underneath the mesh but floor boards unfortunately however, I have bonded it all and the tile is now sitting where it did before adhering, I whip up a batch of grout tomorrow and job done.