www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Hi everyone.

I’ve moved into my new home, which is a new build and I’ve always wanted a farmhouse style stone floor but didn’t realise how much of a minefield this would become.

I’ve trawled forums, watched videos of pros and there’s so many different opinions and methods applied out there.

My flooring is 22mm P5 chipboard and as far as I can test, it’s pretty solid. A glass of water barely moves when I jump up and down.

Plywood. Backerboards. If these are an absolute requirement my idea is out the water as I don’t have clearance at my front door and stretching the budget.

The flagstone supplier has said though that they have installed these on chipboard many times using flexible adhesive and grout without any issues.

If this is true and possible then I think I could be very happy and maybe I could add a few extra mm for a decoupling mat?

I’d love to get some feedback.

Many many thanks.

Chris

No expert, but it must really depends on what the 22mm chipboard is under supported by, if concrete lintels then likely not to move, if timber you have the chance of warp and flex with suspended flooring guaranteed.
My Son has a stone floor granted in his upstairs bathroom, larger panels and yes long cracks across the middle!
If you take these into account, especially keeping sizes medium whence the flex adhesive and grout have more chance to work then live your dream.

For my two pennerth I would say think about this. A real stone floor is a heat sink, cold under foot and will smash anything that is dropped. I would suggest trawling vinyl tiles to create the effect you want. Always remember that what you do in a house can date very quickly and tiles or sheet floor come up easily to change with the trends. A few years down the road and you could be losing house value with a stone floor. A new build floor is probably block and beam, a layer of screed, a insulating board like Jablite and then chipboard. Do you really want to lay stone?

DWD

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2023 7:06 am For my two pennerth I would say think about this. A real stone floor is a heat sink, cold under foot and will smash anything that is dropped. I would suggest trawling vinyl tiles to create the effect you want. Always remember that what you do in a house can date very quickly and tiles or sheet floor come up easily to change with the trends. A few years down the road and you could be losing house value with a stone floor. A new build floor is probably block and beam, a layer of screed, a insulating board like Jablite and then chipboard. Do you really want to lay stone?

DWD

Dude yeah the place is a furnace. It’s unbearable in summer and the dog struggles.

It’s a new build but it’s also rural so my partner and I are doing a lot to take away that new-build feel to it.

We do a lot of cooking and outdoors stuff so something really hard wearing is up our street.

This is what we liked

If you search for farmhouseflagstones and their “old mill flagstones”

It’s a concrete base, a crawl space and then the timber, and yes the insulating material that’s quite thick and then then the chipboard

I could not picture the scenario from your earlier thread, you must follow your thoughts. I was only trying to draw your attention to potential downsides. Houses are built to retain warmth so as to minimise heating costs in winter, especially if the house has oil or heat pumps in a rural setting. Have you done a winter yet? I have ceramic tiles in my utility and I curse them, I just cannot be arsed to lift them and lay Karndean.

DWD

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2023 9:00 am I could not picture the scenario from your earlier thread, you must follow your thoughts. I was only trying to draw your attention to potential downsides. Houses are built to retain warmth so as to minimise heating costs in winter, especially if the house has oil or heat pumps in a rural setting. Have you done a winter yet? I have ceramic tiles in my utility and I curse them, I just cannot be arsed to lift them and lay Karndean.

DWD

Horses for courses my friend. Thank you for the input but unless I there’s any technical installation problems then I have my heart set on it. I’ve always wanted to be in a rural farmhouse but I’ll likely never afford it haha

Tiles will always feel cold underfoot, if you don't mind that then crack on. you'll need a slow set adhesive if you are not experienced. (Topps do their own brand slow set flexi adhesive)