DIY advice... kitchen flooring

[MontyVeda]

Since I'm on a sabbatical, I reckon it's high time i sorted my kitchen out as my winter project.

What's the cheapest/best flooring?

I used to think cork tiles were the cheap and cheerful option, but they're not as cheap as I thought/recall. Some claim to be 'ready sealed', and some are self adhesive. Any pros or cons to these?

Lino or acrylic/vinyl floor tiles are another option, but cheap probably means thin.

I've ruled out laminate because the cheap stuff is pants, and I'd end up with a good 10-15mm step due to its thickness.

I've also ruled out ceramic/stone tiles because they'll crack unless I start replacing floorboards before I lay the hardboard.

I'm trying not to spend more than £10 per square metre (but 15-20 may be more realistic)... I can confidently lay tiles and laminate, but would prefer to get someone in to lay the lino as I'm likely to make a pigs ear of it.

any advice on materials, fitting and places to buy from would be much appreciated.

 

[rich p]

Cork tiles are a bit 70's.
Vinyl seems to be the best option as you've ruled out most other stuff.

 

[TheDoctor]

I've had cork tiles and regretted it. Vinyl is how I'd go. Good for about 10-15 years IME.

 

[Fnaar]

Vinyl seems to be the best option

That could look really cool:

 

[MontyVeda]

cork tiles are warm underfoot, natural, eco friendly, flexible, easy for me to cut and lay... and at only £8.88psm (best price found so far)... are so far, the obvious choice.... but what do i know? hence asking you lot

 

[MontyVeda]

That could look really cool:

hmmm... I do have about 1500 of those and could do with a cull.

Lay on floor, pour on resin, polish.... would certainly be a talking point.

 

[Archie_tect]

Lay 6mm ply or hardboard to get a flat base first, pinned at 300mm centres to the floor boards MV, otherwise you'll get a very uneven, lumpy floor and see every board through whatever you lay on top.

 

[slowmotion]

You can get solid oak flooring for less than £20 per square metre. I'm not sure how you lay it though. Whatever you choose, a slight step due to the thickness of the flooring is no real problem. We have limestone flooring which gives a 20mm step and we don't notice it at all.

 

[MontyVeda]

Lay 6mm ply or hardboard to get a flat base first, pinned at 300mm centres to the floor boards MV, otherwise you'll get a very uneven, lumpy floor and see every board through whatever you lay on top.

yes that is a consideration... I've only seen 3mm hardboard though, does it come thicker?

ps. I also know to dampen it before laying to avoid bubbling when humidity is high.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I've had cork tiles and regretted it. Vinyl is how I'd go. Good for about 10-15 years IME.

Another vote for Vinyl

 

[Archie_tect]

yes that is a consideration... I've only seen 3mm hardboard though, does it come thicker?

ps. I also know to dampen it before laying to avoid bubbling when humidity is high.

Sorry, yes should have said 6mm ply, or standard hardboard sheets [didn't know they were 3mm!]... good idea to store them in the room for a few days if they have been stored in a cold, dry warehouse to let the RH and temperature balance up.
+ if laying cork tiles you could always seal the surface of the ply or h/board by painting with watered down pva.

We got the tiler to fix an 8mm aluminium angle 6mm off the ply finish to act as a shadow gap so when we fitted the vinyl sheet it slid into the shadow gap space so you don't see the cut sdge of the vinyl and it's really neat.... but you can do this with any flooring- just adjust the height of the gap to suit the flooring thickness.

 

[mark st1]

hmmm... I do have about 1500 of those and could do with a cull.

Lay on floor, pour on resin, polish.... would certainly be a talking point.

Sounds like you could have a hit there

 

[MontyVeda]

I've had cork tiles and regretted it. Vinyl is how I'd go. Good for about 10-15 years IME.

Another vote for Vinyl

care to elaborate chaps?

I've had cork tiles before with no issues, apart from my shoddy application of the sealant.

 

[Archie_tect]

Sounds like you could have a hit there

One hit wonder... and it would take ages to get to the toilet only being able to stand on bands you liked.

 

[TheDoctor]

They peel up, need resealing regularly and look shite. IMHO.