LVT on top of cracked limestone with wet UFH?

[yesitsjess89]

We're in the process of buying a property with wet underfloor heating. It has limestone tiles, which I believe were incorrectly installed (e.g. no decoupling mat), as lots of them have cracks running through them. Can we repair the limestone somehow? Without risk of recracking. If not I'm wondering if we can lay luxury vinyl tiles (or similar) on top of the tiles directly? I've heard ripping up old flooring may damage UFH and also it will be expensive/messy. But obviously I don't want to make the house cold or have the new flooring become damaged in the same way. Thanks for any advice.

 

[flameport]

If you really must install crap plastic flooring, then the floor must be 100% perfectly flat and stable with no cracks, holes, low spots, movement or anything else.

 

[yesitsjess89]

If you really must install crap plastic flooring, then the floor must be 100% perfectly flat and stable with no cracks, holes, low spots, movement or anything else.

I'd rather keep the limestone but at 136sqm if we have to replace I'll need something cheaper

 

[Mr Chibs]

How many tiles are loose? How bad are the cracks?

If there are lots of cracks would be better taking tiles off, self levelling (if needed), installing a mat, then re-tile.
It's quite a job though.

I have similar floor with mat. Last year I advised customer to fit a mat, they didn't listen and now they have tiles loose... the tiler said it wasn't needed.

 

[yesitsjess89]

How many tiles are loose? How bad are the cracks?

If there are lots of cracks would be better taking tiles off, self levelling (if needed), installing a mat, then re-tile.
It's quite a job though.

I have similar floor with mat. Last year I advised customer to fit a mat, they didn't listen and now they have tiles loose... the tiler said it wasn't needed.

I think it's all cosmetic, the tiles don't appear to be loose at all and the cracks are sort of hairline but very long and spidery

 

[Mr Chibs]

What about finding a grout that's a close match then?

 

[yesitsjess89]

What about finding a grout that's a close match then?

That's a good idea which I would never have thought of! Definitely sounds worth a try. Have you ever done that before?

 

[Lower]

I've done it with travertine in the past. Blended in very well. Had to open up the cracks a bit though to get the grout in.