Tiling under Kitchen Units

[shero]

Hi All, i'm starting a kitchen floor and the customer has told me that she wants the entire kitchen floor tiled, she means that she even wants under the kitchen units tiled. When i told her that the tiles only need to go just past the kick board. She said that the guy in the tile shop had told her that the floor should be tiled all the way under the kitchen units. The reason he gave was that if a dishwasher/washing machine is leaking, the water will just sit under the tiles and she would probably not notice the leak immediately. I don't mind tiling all the way under the units, but any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

[mc497]

Hi M8,
In an ideal world there would be no units in place, and you could then tile right to the walls. However with the units in place it is going to be very difficult for you to do this. I personally would tell the customer that you can only go so far under the units, that's what I have always done anyway, I thought this would be common practice, good luck with it...

[Sir Ramic]

Tile the whole floor if possible, in years to come they may alter the kitchen in some way and the tiles will be there and not an empty space.
Most builders i work for want it fully tiled too.

[shero]

Thanks mc497, she is determined for the tiles to go all the way back to the walls and she wants me to pull the units out and tile all the way under. I have no problem having a go and pulling the units out, so long as she is willing to pay the extra for me to do this. Thanks for your help.

[Sir Ramic]

Sorry i misread and assumed the kitchen hadnt been fitted yet.
So in that case i would be charging a lot extra for the hassle.

[Burnsy]

Do you just mean underneath the dishwasher / washing machine? if yes then just pull them out and tile underneath them. If she wants it underneath all the units then that is ridiculus. How are you expected to tile all the way to the walls if the units are there? You can't be expected to take the units out. Tell here if the dishwasher leaks, to call the bloke who installed the dishwasher.

[grumpygrouter]

The whole kitchen would need to be re-installed after tiling. The tiles and adhesive (overboarding?) will add considerable height and nothing would fit back in!

[abskiing]

You would virtually have to quote to refit a whole kitchen, consider the work involved in taking out all the units, the worktops are sealed and bolted,wall tiles could be damaged, the plumbing would have to be dis-assembled, electrics considered......etc etc. etc.
Added to that you may well damage her kitchen units removing them.............


abskiing

[eyebeetiling]

I agree with everyone else, to try and tile that far under a fitted kithen would be a nightmare.

Heres an idea, print off all of these replies and show her, surely she would take notice of all of us profesional tilers!

Cheers
Ian

[Grace'sDad]

I'd never tile under the units. Always just up to the adjustable feet.
(sometimes if the units are well fitted i.e. screwed together, you can wind up the front feet and slide the tiles under to save cutting time).

Trim the kickboards and pop 'em back on.

I always remove the cooker / fridge / dishwaher / washing machine and tile these spaces fully, charging extra where I can get it!

[floydyboy]

I also only tile just beyond the plinth but have on 1 job in the past tiled the full floor with the units in
really awkward and doubling your time on the floor so that means double your money

[davy_G]

Originally Posted by Grace'sDad

I'd never tile under the units. Always just up to the adjustable feet.
(sometimes if the units are well fitted i.e. screwed together, you can wind up the front feet and slide the tiles under to save cutting time).

Trim the kickboards and pop 'em back on.

I always remove the cooker / fridge / dishwaher / washing machine and tile these spaces fully, charging extra where I can get it!

I do the same, although if the client insists on the whole floor being tiled this has to be done before the new kitchen goes in ant the kitchen fitters give you enough time. Always tile under white goods, although alot are integrated now.