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Hello,

I hope I'm in the correct forum!

I'm replacing the shower cubicle in my En-suite and replacing the existing carpet with Vinyl tiles. Do I need a sub floor of ply or hardboard on top of the current tongue and groove flooring? If so, does it need to be treated?

thanks!

Hi Burgesb,

You will need to use either ply or hardboard. Which, depends on the condition of your floorboards. If there're badly cupping or crowning (see pictures below) you will need to look at WBP ply IMO. For me hardboard just doesn't cut it. Alternatively, you could run over them with an electric plain to get to level. You would need a grinder or similar for the edges.
If you use decide to use hardboard, the sheets should be brushed with water on the rough side and left to dry. Then installed rough side up (although there are different thoughts on rough or shinny side) with angular shank nails every 100 mm.

The ply should be good to install straight. I'd personally recommend screwing ply in place with similar centres as above. Follow the vinyl tile installation guidelines as to needing to prime the surface you are sticking to.

Hope that's been of some help

Thanks, very informative. I think I may have misinformed you though as current floor is typical hardboard/chipboard flooring rather than long tongue and grove planks so should suffer from neither hopefully. Is there any need to seal gaps between joins in new ply/hardboard subfloor?

As far as I'm aware, you can stick the vinyl direct to the existing chipboard. If the gaps you mention are big, I'd fill them and go over the lot with hardboard myself.

A tip : If you decide to adhere straight to the existing chipboard, make sure it's clean as a bean. Give is a wipe with a damp cloth and let dry before sticking them. You might know that but it was worth mentioning

burgesb wrote:Hello,

I hope I'm in the correct forum!

I'm replacing the shower cubicle in my En-suite and replacing the existing carpet with Vinyl tiles. Do I need a sub floor of ply or hardboard on top of the current tongue and groove flooring? If so, does it need to be treated?

thanks!

My Amtico supplier/fitter said minimum 9mm ply screwed down every 6 inches and every 4 inches at any joints.

If it helps a little.

Thanks for all your advice so far. My next question is should I lay the floor before installing the shower enclosure or show ensclosure then floor (saving on some tile )?

Shower enclosure then floor then plinth to shower tray.

Thanks!