Good at googling? Over here please!

[Laiste]

I just can't find any laminate flooring (by the meter not individual squares) in a square white tile effect. That's all i want - just a plain white square tile pattern. At a pinch maybe with the little black one in the middle type pattern.

I.cannot.find.any.

What the hell am i typing in wrong?

TIA

None of the ones i really like are plain white.

Try searching self adhesive floor tiles (select shopping ) and then filter by colour or browse the various websites that show up.

YourSarcasmIsDripping - None of the ones i really like are plain white

Me too!

This is why i'm having this discussion on here. DH gets a bit fed up with my ... flow of ideas

LookImAHooman I totally agree that real tiles would be right. And would really look the part. I admit i haven't done a price comparison either re: real tiles vs (what is quickly becoming) posh vinyl with a border

How about this
www.karndean.com/en-gb/floors/designflooring-ranges/heritage-collection

I think you said you didn't mind a small black square in the middle.

rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F132187715722

Like this?

Ooooooooooooh Pashazade. I've ordered a sample of MONT - 01. The first one. The black and white. I daren't look at the price ...

I've been reading this: www.thespruce.com/bathroom-ceramic-tile-vs-vinyl-plank-1822815
and i really think we need to go for the easy option. The work we're doing is massive - adding a house onto a house really, it's costing lots and DH is doing 80% of it himself and certain things need to be compromised on.

YourSarcasmIsDripping - they're really nice aren't they. The second pic shows well what it might look like as we'll have quite a bit of empty floor up the bath end. I wonder it they would be ok on floorboards ...

Are these vinyl floor coverings ok to put down on floor boards or must it be smooth like a concrete?! Eek.

Googling again

Ah! Bless you x
So we'd have to put the ply down before all the bathroom fittings and then lay the vinyl at the end. But before the bath. That's more weight then ... you probably have to do something similar for real tiles too. It's doable.

Nothings ever simple when it comes to doing stuff nicely.

If it wasn't for waterproofing worries i'd just sand and paint the bloomin' floorboards white i think!

Well apparently you can waterproof floorboards...again google.

They need sealing and then varnish/wax/whatever waterproofing agent.

Sarcasm i confess i've just been reading this.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/1460895-White-painted-floorboards

And before that i was reading about how some bloke used yacht varnish on his floor boards and they were perfectly waterproof.

(DH, next to me, has officially given up keeping up and is reduced to grunting when i show him the pics )

I found this conversation (I am weirdly overinvested now and also debating what can be redecorated in the flat )

community.screwfix.com/threads/floorboards-in-bathroom.4363/

Yes i've just read that exact one out to DH! I thought the mention of screwfix forum would peak his interest ....

Just now reading through this too: (amazing how often MN comes up in searches)
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/1389682-Floorboards-in-bathroom-bad-idea

I don't think the floorboards in that room are particularly nice. The electrician had some of them up last month for moving the electricity meter below it and i wasn't blow away by them. They're narrow and a bit knackered and have that burnt black look. It's a 1940s house. But i figure if i'm painting them white then i can fill them fairly easily with a white waterproof filler.

What's your flat flooring like? Since it's just us now

Cheap,convenient,done it ourselves and looks like it.

Got carpet(fuck how i regret that),laminate, fancy(in my eyes) tiles found at a sale and castoffs from possibly the underground in the bathroom (that somehow work).

Nothing is plain white though.

I'm not winning any home decorating competitions.

@Laiste I will add that we have had Karndean in our kitchen for the last 8 years and it has withstood washing machine and dishwasher leaks and held firm, (bloody rats situation solved only to have the pipes fail 2 years later cause we hadn't realised they'd been gnawed). That's also what I've got in my bathroom on a plywood base (Victorian house). It might not be the cheapest option but it lasts and I will likely get it again when we get as far as an extension!

Sarcasm your possible underground cast offs sound fascinating and wonderful! I'm always envious of people who have the dedication and patience to use reclaimed materials well. i want everything yesterday

Well my head is spinning with what's best for floors in 'bedrooms converted to bathrooms' and this evening has been a steep learning curve. I've done at least two complete 360 degree changes of mind.

To summerise - I think we're going to pull up the floor boards and replace with ply (not marine as apparently it's £60 per sheet and it's not necessary).

Sealing bare or painted floorboards against the odd splash seems easy. But sealing well enough to protect against a disaster such as a bath overflow or a pipe problem seems really hard, long winded and work. You need so many different processes and products and it's recommended to treat the joists underneath as well so you're still pulling up the floor boards anyway! If you relay them too close together (to minimise gaps) you risk a squeaky floor as they rub together. sigh.

With the ply you end up with a smooth reliable surface which shouldn't shift or warp and you can lay your lovely sheet of vinyl over it a la Pashazade and you have peace of mind :)

What else ...

• real tiles are heavy and can feel cold and nice ones cost the earth and you have to have them cut professionally and the grouting and prep take a good while.

• Ply is easy DIY and can be laid in panels which reflect what's going on with regards to pipes beneath them in case you have to lift them. You screw them down and that's that.

Turning in now to dream about bathroom floors probably :)
Genuine thanks x
Any more thoughts welcome.

I've reached my limit ofpics today,but when I'm allowed again I'll post my mix and don't match floors.

Good luck in your endeavours and sweet vinyl dreams.