Does anyone have any experience of changing a kitchen floor?

[Zippyzoppy]

Hi
A couple of years ago, we had a kitchen extension and put down some matt black tiles. This has turned out to be an enormous mistake, as they show every bit of dirt, but even worse, every water mark, so that the floor is 'dirty' within a few hours of it being steamed.
I was thinking about how we might change the floor, but without ripping out the kitchen. Do you think it would be possible to remove tiles from underneath the island unit? Alternatively, has anyone tried to lay wood/tiles butting up to existing kitchen units, and does it look awful?

Thanks for any replies?

It really depends on the existing floor, but it will be possible for a good flooring fitter to get around. Usually, they would take off the kick-boards and fit the new flooring just underneath the units. The kick-boards can then be shaved to the right height if required & re-fitted.

I would be careful about fitting wood in a kitchen, as any exposure to water leaks or major spillages could damage the flooring and you will need to start again. I would suggest either a wood effect luxury vinyl tile/plank like Karndean or Amtico, their products are a great alternative & have the look and feel of the real thing, but you could also find a wood effect sheet vinyl if your prefer. I know of a couple of laminate ranges that the manufacturers recommend for kitchens, but i have never found one that i would trust 100%. At the end of the day, all laminates have a compressed woodchip backing and if they do get wet underneath, your floor is ruined. If it is a quick fix you are looking for then i would say your best bet is a quality sheet vinyl. Try Polyflor or Leoline products.

Most vinyl products can be fitted up to the edges of islands with very good effect, but in some cases the fitter may need to use a silicone sealant that matches the colour of the flooring or other similar products that the manufacturer may recommend.

Depending on the type of existing flooring, your fitter should be able to uplift the product just to the edges of the units, if that is what you want, but in most cases he will then need to apply a layer of self-leveling latex, to create a smooth finish for the new flooring to be fitted on.

There are a lot of variables, but i hope this helps. if you need any more information please let me know.