CHAPTER 04 — FLOORING

Bathroom flooring starts with the floor underneath

Floor work usually comes up as part of a bathroom renovation, not as a job on its own. Once the old tiles or coverings are lifted, the condition of the floor underneath decides what can sensibly be laid on top. Ivan Bodnar handles floor preparation and flooring within renovations across Caulfield and the surrounding Melbourne suburbs.

Reference photo: floor tiles being repaired or laid over mortar.

CHAPTER 04 — WHAT THE FLOOR SHOWS

What you find once the old floor comes up

Old adhesive and bedding

Lifted tiles often leave adhesive, bedding or earlier levelling material that has to be removed or assessed first.

Soundness of the base

Loose, cracked or flexing areas show where the base needs repair before any new finish is considered.

Level and transitions

Uneven sections may need preparation so the new floor sits properly and meets the doorway and adjoining rooms neatly.

Concealed issues

Damage that only becomes visible once the floor is opened up can affect the scope after work begins.

LAYER 3 — PREPARATION

UNDER THE NEW FLOOR

Preparation decides what can go on top

The visible finish is only one part of a successful renovation. A new floor tile can look right on the day and still let you down if the surface beneath it was never suited to it. Whether a floor is ready for tiling depends on the existing substrate and the system proposed for it, so that question is answered before materials are chosen, not after.

In practice, that can mean removing old material, repairing damaged sections, or preparing the surface more extensively. The work behind this is covered in more detail on Surface Preparation, Plasterboard and Plastering and in the guide Preparation Before Tile: Why the Substrate Matters.

Reference photo: a large-format tile being set over fresh mortar.

PART OF THE BATHROOM

Flooring is planned with the rest of the room

A bathroom floor connects to the walls, the shower area and the fixtures, so it is rarely sensible to treat it as a separate trade. Floor work is scoped as part of your bathroom renovation or alongside wall and floor tiling.

You speak directly with the person assessing the floor and carrying out the work. That means you get a plain explanation of what can be assessed at the start and what may remain uncertain until the old surface is removed.

SPECIALIST LAYER

Drains, wiring and regulated work

Bathroom floors often sit around a floor waste, pipework or underfloor wiring. Plumbing, electrical and other regulated work is done by appropriately licensed specialists, and Ivan may coordinate their involvement so the floor preparation and their work happen in a sensible order. Read more on Licensed Specialist Coordination.