What is my flooring called? How can I level it?

[damanpunk]

Its an old picture now (the tiler who's been in is doing a blinding job!) but I wondered what the flooring is called thats in my bathroom. Is it just floor board? Chip board? It doesn't seem to stain or swell when water is spilt on it so I'm not sure, you can tell I'm pretty gash at this DIY thing....

Anyway, I'm going to be putting down rubber floor tiles. I came to that conclusion as I like the look of them they will hopefully allow for a bit more flex than a tiled floor. My problem is though that the current floor isn't entirely level. It seems to slope from the middle down at each end. Is there something I can use to level it off? I am going to put 6mm ply on top of it and then the 3mm tiles but would like it a bit more level first??

I know the obvious answer will be to take the floor up straighten up the joints and replace it with plywood in similar thickness but I wondered if there are any other options.

 

[Symptoms]

daman - it looks like chipboard. Level - how far out is it? Has/could the bathroom been cleared of the sanitory fittings?

 

[damanpunk]

The toilet could be easily moved and the sink is on a cantilever so isn't in the way. Shower base and bath and in place to stay though

There is a line of board that runs up the middle of the bathroom, it is reasonably flat. Either side of that though I'd say there is a 5-10mm drop over a 800mm ish span.

From what I've read the whole floor should've been 18-25 thick plywood in a bathroom (FFS, even the plinth they built for the shower tray was chipboard!!). The amount of bad work I've encountered since starting this job myself has been disgusting!

The whole area that would be tiled is accessible to be cut out. I know this is my best option but is it the only option when I'm using rubber tiles so don't have to worry about grout cracking?

 

[Symptoms]

daman - just how noticable is that 5 - 10mm drop over 800mm? Is it noticible 'cos of the gap which has appeared below skirting boards (if fitted)? I'd be tempted to live with it and disguise any discrepancy by scribing-in the skirting to show no gap. Your rubber tiles, correctly fixed with the appropriate adhesive, can go straight onto the existing floor, provided any joins in the floor can't flex (are properly supported) and it's been preped as per the tile manufacturer's fitting instructions. Ensure you seal all edges.