Help - man has come to fit the floor and it can't be done

[fruitstick]

We ordered beautiful Karndean flooring for our hall, kitchen and living room. However he's taken up the old floor to find stone tiles underneath. Apparently he can't put a damp proof membrane over the top of these so they will have to be dug up and replaced with concrete.

We can't afford to do this, not have the time or inclination (it would involve finding a builder and a lot of mess he says).

Our other options are
laminate
ceramic tiles

Help! I want to cry.

Could you use the stone tiles that were underneath?

What about restoring the stone tiles underneath? It sounds like you’ve uncovered a gem!

No advice sorry but I've been thinking about Kardean flooring, is it not possible to find this out during the quote stage? Hope you can find a solution

The problem is there was an extension - so the stone tiles are only on half of the floor.

What the original builders (not ours) should have done is take them all up and then just pour one concrete floor but obviously they decided to cut some corners and whack some cheap laminate over the top.

They knew the tiles were there at the quote stage so I'm quite cross!

Screed over the tiles? Or plywood over. You will have a step or ramp though.

If they knew they were there then this is their fault - they should have advised it wouldn't be suitable. I would prob go for a really good quality laminate but ceramic tiles also nice. I wouldn't have the tiles dug out.

I've had karndean before and you have to have it on a completely flat surface. So most have a levelling screed laid first.

I would have thought anyone fitting this as their living would have known this and taken it into account when quoting you .

Is this a karndean fitter?

If it’s an old house ( which it pens is as you say stone tiles) I’d be very wary of putting in a DPM. Impermeability and old buildings do not mix well

Yes he's a Karndean fitter. They quoted for the screed but he's saying the screed can't go over these tiles. I'm going to get a second opinion I think.

I think we may go for tiles in the hallway/downstairs loo and laminate in the kitchen/lounge

haint it's 1920s

You mentioned the stone tiles were beneath another floorcovering that has been removed? What was the other flooring? I'm not making excuses for the fitter, but could he have checked? And indeed, were you aware of what was under the old flooring?

Avoid the DPM! We had one put down in our 30's semi for a fireplace - the house sprouted damp overnight! So while it is annoying (and a bit crap) this guy sounds like he ha talking sense. We have tiles in our new place and love them.

Well the tile man has been and has said they will have the same problem.

Basically the old stone tiles are non-porous, which means any levelling screed etc won't be able to sit on top.

Looks like our only options are laminate or carpet. Or dig them up.

I really don't want carpet and laminate will look shit compared to the Karndean in the kitchen/lounge.

We've had this problem, we took the tiles up, think quarry tiles, indestructible even with a hugeeeee breaker!
When they finally come up the floor was so uneven! we just boarded over ready for the screed base, it was very messy but as we was totally renovating and not living in the house it wasn't a major issue as such!
Still a pita though!

Hmm - I think that's what we'll have to do - although I can't get a builder to answer the phone for love nor money!