Am I being too ambitious?

[ga99js]

Hello,
First post here, but I could do with some advice before I potentially ruin my new kitchen!

Just bought a new house in need of renovation, the kitchen is 5.5mx5.5m and currently has a floor with some well laid but ugly 1980s ceramic tiles.

Firstly- my wife wants stone tiles on the floor. We were thinking of tumbled limestone or travertine. Would we be able to apply these straight onto the ceramic tiles?

Secondly- we have a budget of approx 1500quid, there are some internet deals on limestone/travertine for this price or less, are they too good to be true?

Thirdly- We would ideally like an Opus Romano pattern. I've searched these forums and read the advice on laying Opus Romano. I am happy with the concept ... however this is my first major DIY tiling job (I have successfully tiled smaller areas before). Am I biting off more than I can chew? (particularly since the room has a couple of projections into it therefore will require some extra tile cutting)

Best wishes and thanks in advance.
ga99js

[kilty55]

hello there,,i would advise you to lift the exsisting cermaic tiles and check what the substrate is like underneath first before installing an expensive stone.

i would also advise you to get a pro tiler in based on the fact stone needs to be properly sealed/treated and you say there are some difficult cuts etc this si the way to go imo..good luck i bet it look ace once finished

[kilty55]

also i never said if you use a pro tiler he may wel be able to get you a discount of some sort from a good quality tile store

[jay]

hi cant realy say if your bitting of more than you can chew but if your asking the question //////// wouldnt hurt to ask for someone off here for a quote as stone requires more skill than tiles and knowledge (experiance) as they say you buy cheep you get cheap look what are your current tiles laid on timber or concrete and yes you can lay over recomend only if concrete sub be carful of height issues dishwasher clearance ect

[beanz]

IMHO yes, you're biting off more than you can chew.

I wouldn't advise tiling onto existing tiles, as you don't know how well they have been laid. That's not to say it isn't possible though, people do it all the time, just wouldn't be my choice. Also you'll end up with a pretty large step if you don't take the tiles up (will there be room under worktops for washing machines etc with a higher floor?).

Natural stone isn't easy for a novice, especially cheap stone (it breaks very easily). I've only been tiling a little while, and have worked with Travertine, but would be a bit nervous about taking on paterns yet.

My advice, for what it's worth.. If you can't afford to pay someone to lay stone tiles properly, get stone effect ceramic/porcelain. Cheaper and less of a headache for your 1st big tiling project.

[ga99js]

Thanks for replies so far. Really helpful stuff.

Substrate is concrete. All other workmanship in this part of the house (1989 extension) is exceptional (previous owner was a builder). But take the point about not knowing how well the old tiles were fixed.

Worktop clearance not an issue, since old kitchen is coming out before the tiling, and then a new kitchen going in on top of new tiles.

ga99js

[GirlRacerRed]

hi ga99js

a 30m2 floor is quite a lot of tiling for a diyer, particularly with travertine or limestone.

if you let us know where abouts you are located, one of our members in your area will be able to pop round and give you a quote for the work you want doing.

Although I am a competent diy tiler myself, I am currently getting quotes from professionals regarding my bathrooms as I feel slightly out of my depth with the jobs I want doing and I tile too slowly

to the best tiling forum in the world by the way

GRR

[jay]

ok you may still have height probs were newkitchen doesnt sit on existing lines tap your floor tiles all over to see if they are sound and look closly for cracks if you intend tiling over

[ga99js]

Beanz,
Thanks for your comments regarding ceramic tiles instead, I would tend to agree! Unfortunately Mrs ga99js wants either a stone floor or a wood one putting down.

I would tend towards engineered oak flooring, but I fear these will be nowhere near as hard wearing as a stone or ceramic floor. Plus I have concerns about fixing our planned kitchen island onto them because of the likely movement of even engineered wood flooring.

ga99js

[ga99js]

What a great forum!

[ga99js]

Well after all that help, I get the feeling that the consensus is that I should leave this job to a pro.

I'll definitely get some quotes at least. It may be a week or two before I'm able to get anyone around but it's in the North Wilts area.

However, I'm still not completely ruling out a DIY job...

A few more questions coming out from what people have said.

Sealing: will this require anything more than a few applications of an HG product? I've done this before in our travertine bathroom and it seemed to work perfectly.

Jay: you said I might still get height problems even though a whole kitchen is being installed. Apart from door bottoms and the step up into the room, what sort of things might I encounter?

Finally, if tiling on top is a bad idea, what about removing the old tiles. I had planned not to simply because it seemed I already had a sound, level surface to work with and chipping away the old tiles might damage the substrate and leave me with a mess to sort out!

Thanks again everyone.
ga99js

[jay]

hi if your kit doesnt use the same area as existing you will end up with voides or gaps to tile over tiles existing tiles must be 97% sound no crackes and cleaned back to orig glaze stone over ceramic may cause probs as both expand and contract different removal of tiles would be better jack hammer with wide blade chisel is best sealing depends on stone and quality do me one favor put your job on here with general location and get 3 seperate quotes from forum members it wont cost you but it might save you in long run

[ga99js]

OK I'll post for some general quotes in the N Wilts area. At least I'll have some idea.
ga99js

[jay]

im sure tilers in your area will send you a pm let us know how you get on

[bootsmckiber]

Welcome to the forum,best site internationally as far as I'm concerned(no offense Mr Bridges)I'd also consider sealing your travertine/limestone before you staet setting to save on the chance you might stain your tile when setting,natural stone drinks like a good Englishman,also be sure to use white thinset or your sure to get headaches from your tile sucking up thinset from the bottom.Good luck.
bootsmckiber (Canada) white thinset

grey thinset

[obobsmith]

Welcome to the forum,best site internationally as far as I'm concerned(no offense Mr Bridges)I'd also consider sealing your travertine/limestone before you staet setting to save on the chance you might stain your tile when setting,natural stone drinks like a good Englishman,also be sure to use white thinset or your sure to get headaches from your tile sucking up thinset from the bottom.Good luck.
bootsmckiber (Canada) white thinset

grey thinset

Also make sure you back butter tiles so that you don't get the trowel marks coming through and shading your lovely trav/limestone."Natural stone drinks like a good Englishman", no problems then.
Thank the lord it choose's not to drink like a Scotsman or it would cost you lots more.

It is probably best you don't take the DIY route even cheap stone is an expensive mistake.

[bootsmckiber]

I don't believe I left out the back buttering,I don't like people standing over my shoulder when I work but if your not doing the job yourself then take about 10-15 minutes of your time to make sure your tiler is doing all that you've been told or you'll be singing the blues down the road,thanks obobsmith for covering my forgetfullness,that's just one of those things you do automatically when you've been tiling for a quarter of a century,I also forgot how you tell a well balanced Scotsman,is he the one with a drink in both hands or the one with a chip on both shoulders?Cheers,
Mike

[obobsmith]

I don't believe I left out the back buttering,I don't like people standing over my shoulder when I work but if your not doing the job yourself then take about 10-15 minutes of your time to make sure your tiler is doing all that you've been told or you'll be singing the blues down the road,thanks obobsmith for covering my forgetfullness,that's just one of those things you do automatically when you've been tiling for a quarter of a century,I also forgot how you tell a well balanced Scotsman,is he the one with a drink in both hands or the one with a chip on both shoulders?Cheers,
Mike

cheers,it's a bit of both

[ga99js]

Thanks for the ongoing advice people- I've got some quotes starting to come in. Still tempted to do it myself... but the wisdom on here is hard to ignore!