chipboard confusing ?

[terry the tiler]

I've always over boarded chip board but starting to wonder Y ?? iam tiling a hallway floor at the min which i overlaid with ply, the customers questioned why i was over boarding and priming the undersides of the ply and the step he would have going from the hallway to the kitchen, so i gave him the info regarding moisture etc and stated you can't tile onto chipboard etc.. he pointed out and showed me his kitchen that was tiled 12 years ago directly over chipboard. and hasn't failed .. ? also reading some old posts on hear and most say its fine to tile directly over chipboard if it has been treated ? ( green colour ) . also was thinking would it be ok to prime chipboard with SBR then use a 2 part flexi to avoid the step and cost ?

[david campbell]

you can't really tile onto chipboard because if it ever gets wet it will virtually crumble into nothing unlike treated wbp ply,if this guys kitchen ever floods(washing machine etc) then i doubt he will ever have a tiled floor left!

[Dave]

It's not so much the issues with damp but chipboard is not structurally stable enough IMO to tile directly to.

[terry the tiler]

you can't really tile onto chipboard because if it ever gets wet it will virtually crumble into nothing unlike treated wbp ply,if this guys kitchen ever floods(washing machine etc) then i doubt he will ever have a tiled floor left!

i see your point m8 , but if the customers kitchen got flooded and the tiles came up it would be a insurance job to fix it not the tilers fault ?? IE the kitchen fitter wouldn't have to put a new kitchen in if the units got wet ?

[terry the tiler]

It's not so much the issues with damp but chipboard is not structurally stable enough IMO to tile directly to.

i agree ! but BAL do a 2 part flexi for chipboard floors and the lads at a certain Tile Giant store recommends the BAL addy and stated to one of my customers that there is no need to overboard chipboard ? iam not moaning but if iam telling the customer one thing then the so called experts say different it kind of makes me look like a cowboy

[Phil Hobson]

I would never tile onto chipboard ever imo it never was and never will be a suitable substrate for tile. Over the years I have seen some appalling failures'

[mikethetile]

I would never tile onto chipboard ever imo it never was and never will be a suitable substrate for tile. Over the years I have seen some appalling failures'

if phil and dave say no then thats gospel as far as im concerned

[whitebeam]

I did in a conservatory which had been laid onto joists which were sitting on concrete and no movement whatsoever.

Used sovereign porcel flex with sbr and have been back many times over 3 years and no movement.............bathrooms, no chance

[Scott]

Also the movement of the chipboard creates a stress fracture all the way along the board, these boards are only fixed with ring shank nails and teh do evenutally loosen. Show me chip boarded house that doesnt have creaky boards (except mine next week)

[doug boardley]

even moisture from the addy can make chipboard curl up at the joints have you ever tried scraping a chipboard floor after the plasterers have been in?

[whitebeam]

Don't know what your talking about Doug

[Scott]

Its a bit like tiling on to a weetabix.

(Thats not something id recommend, but Shredded wheat dont deflect at all)

[doug boardley]

Don't know what your talking about Doug

oh, I think you do Mark

[lent]

Having just moved into new accomodation where floor tiling is failing,i can strongly reccommend avoiding chipboard. Turns out that the previous tenants had a plumbing failure in the kitchen.600x600 porcelains and grout is/are cracking and loose. I suspect that there is still a lot of water laying under the floating floor,and that it will be some time before it evaporates completely.
The fitted kitchen may have to be removed. The tiling follows through the ground floor,so overlaying the existing material is not on.
Though the insurance company will pick up the tab.......So much hassle!!!!!!!!

If only the Builder,the Plumber and the tiler had done their respective jobs correctly!

Totally unnconnected,the kitchen sing bowl collapsed...fell out of the unit!!!!!!!
The house is two years old,and lucky for us,but not the builder...he lives next door

So...avoid chipboard,especially in wet areas.

[GirlRacerRed]

hi lent, what you testing?

[kilty55]

terry just because it hasnt failed for 12 years doesnt mean every installation will be the same,ive seen some chipbord tiled onto and its been fine but ive also seen a lot more of jobs where the tiles have literally fallen off.

i advise customers that we shouldnt tile onto it as the risk is much greater,i have tiled a chipboard floor once using a high spec adhesive and grout and it worked but its not something i would do again

[EFC Mike]

You took the words out my mouth Mike.

[lent]

hi lent, what you testing?

testing ?

[doug boardley]

Having just moved into new accomodation where floor tiling is failing,i can strongly reccommend avoiding chipboard. Turns out that the previous tenants had a plumbing failure in the kitchen.600x600 porcelains and grout is/are cracking and loose. I suspect that there is still a lot of water laying under the floating floor,and that it will be some time before it evaporates completely.
The fitted kitchen may have to be removed. The tiling follows through the ground floor,so overlaying the existing material is not on.
Though the insurance company will pick up the tab.......So much hassle!!!!!!!!

If only the Builder,the Plumber and the tiler had done their respective jobs correctly!

Totally unnconnected,the kitchen sing bowl collapsed...fell out of the unit!!!!!!!
The house is two years old,and lucky for us,but not the builder...he lives next door

So...avoid chipboard,especially in wet areas.

Floating floors are just as bad to tile onto lent. Seems quite an apt term to describe yours too

[SandyFloor]

I am frequently putting extra fixings in chipboard to stop squeaking etc. I believe chipboard shrinks very slightly over time loosening the joints just enough to allow movement to develop. So it may be fine for four or five years or so but eventually it will probably happen and subsequently cause tiling to fail.

[pjc]

i agree ! but BAL do a 2 part flexi for chipboard floors and the lads at a certain Tile Giant store recommends the BAL addy and stated to one of my customers that there is no need to overboard chipboard ? iam not moaning but if iam telling the customer one thing then the so called experts say different it kind of makes me look like a cowboy

yes but if you get a problem you will get no help from Bal it will be your problem so dont risk it as it will end up in your lap you alone

[garretridge]

please dont tile on chipboard it s doomed to failure listen to the experts thats why we are all on here for sound advice!