Non damp proof flooring in older house

[SunshineOutdoors]

In our house, the hall and kitchen floor are quite ugly and mismatched, we would really like a wood effect floor across both of them.

The hall is minton type tiles, but not the colourful mosaic type; it's black and white chequered tiles that are quite worse for wear and don't look great at all. I'm aware they are an original feature of our 30s-ish property and feel a responsibility to preserve them but they really don't suit the house as it is now and dh really doesn't like the look of them.

Kitchen is orangey tiles laid in a diagonal fashion with really dirty grout in between. Kitchen level is higher than hall level by approx 1cm. Builder is going to get rid of these tiles and make the kitchen and hall level.

We looked at oak flooring put over the tiles but have been told it's not going to work as moisture will be coming up through the floor. Looked at amtico style flooring but the people selling this have advised us to dig up all the tiles, put damp proof membrane down then concrete before laying floor. Also looked at livloc clic style vinyl flooring as builder thinks we could put this straight on top of the tiles.

I'm just a bit concerned about all of these options as I understand if moisture needs to come up through the floor in an old house, then blocking it's passage could damage walls etc as the house needs to 'breathe'?

What flooring options are available to us? Is there any wooden floor looking options that would work? Or any breathable tiles? Is there a way we could preserve the original tiles yet still cosmetically change the floor I.e lay something over the top? Although tbh I'm not adverse to getting rid as I don't believe they add much to the house (it's small and they make the hall look smaller and dirty, and don't match with any other flooring I can think to put in the kitchen, which flows through into it).

I'm new to living in a period-ish property. Our house has been double glazed, rendered on the outside and fireplace bricked up, all of which I gather are a bad idea and we're trying to rectify bits (had fireplace opened up again, getting trickle vents fitted in windows) but this is all new to me and I don't want to make a mistake over something so important.

Any advice gratefully received. Tia

[SunshineOutdoors]

Just to clarify the double glazing, fireplace blocking was done before we bought the house a year ago, and not by us.

[SunshineOutdoors]

Bump

[MillyMollyMama]

Moisture does not need to come up through a floor. It may do because there is not damp proof membrane. You need to check the air bricks are working to air the space under the floor. These prevent damp.

The Amtico people are correct for all types of flooring. If the existing floor is damp, just covering it up will lead to further problems with the new flooring as the damp will be trapped. You must, therefore, deal with the damp. I would lay a hall floor in keeping with the age of the house. Tiles similar to the originals would work well but I would not have vinyl because it looks too modern and may detract in value. Most people like to see houses restored sympathetically and work done properly. There are rarely short cuts.

[beaufontboy]

What you need to know is what are the tiles currently laid on ? if you have a breathable floor, then yes replace the tiles with breathable flag stones for example. Does the rest of your house have any damp proof course fitted ? as if you have a non breathing floor currently and remove the tiles and replace with some thing else that is non breathing you will push the moisture that needs to escape side ways into the walls. We have the same problem in a 1908 house that we are re doing, as much as I love wood, I would say no unless the floor is suspended. I would be looking to find out what is already there and if not breathable get it out and re do in Lime crete and re-tile sympathetically. I am a strong believer in if old houses are re done using the original materials damp can be kept at bay. Good luck and enjoy the house

[SunshineOutdoors]

Breathable flagstones sound good, can you link to any please? Under the floorboards in the lounge is just earth I think (we have put carpet in) and I think the hall floor is breathable, yes.

[SunshineOutdoors]

Is linoleum (marmorette or similar) breathable flooring? Could I cover existing tiles with this?

[SunshineOutdoors]

I don't think I can. Breathable tiles must be the way to go. Where can I find out what's breathable or not? Does anyone know of any professionals in the York area who might be able to come and help me? I don't want to get this wrong as I agree damp issues can be greatly affected by choices like this.

[beaufontboy]

as I far as I am aware, as long as they are natural tiles and not man made or glazed you should be okay, may be worth while having a chat with your local conservation office or tile supplier