You have just bought a resale flat. The location is good, the rooms are spacious, and most of the house looks fine. But there’s one thing you want to change before moving in: the flooring.
Perhaps the tiles look outdated, or the colours don’t go well with the interiors you have planned. Replacing them seems like a simple renovation job until the contractor starts discussing demolition, floor levels, and additional expenses.
Unlike a newly built flat, a resale property may have undergone repairs or renovations over the years. Some of that work may not be visible during a house visit.
So, before picking out your new floor tiles, there are a few things worth checking.
The old flooring may not look too bad when you first visit a resale flat. But the actual condition becomes clearer once you start planning the renovation, particularly if some tiles have already come loose or show signs of damage.
A crack across one tile is quite different from cracks appearing across several tiles in the same room. In the first case, the problem may be limited to that piece. When the damage covers a larger area, it’s worth checking whether something beneath the flooring is causing it.
Loose tiles are another concern. Some may even sound hollow when tapped, which could indicate poor bonding. However, a hollow sound on its own doesn’t confirm that the tile has failed.
So, if you find several such areas, have the contractor inspect them before starting the renovation. You may need to remove more than just the damaged tiles, depending on what’s causing the problem.
A few tiles may have been replaced long before the flat was put up for sale. Hence, it’s worth asking the previous owner what prompted those repairs, especially if there was water leakage near the bathroom.
Old repair bills can also tell you what work was done. Share whatever information you find with the contractor so they can check those areas before removing the flooring.
Replacing floor tiles doesn’t necessarily mean breaking and removing the entire existing floor. Depending on its condition, there may be another installation option.
Sometimes, the old tiles have to come out before any new work can begin. This is particularly true when several tiles are loose, the floor is uneven, or there is damage underneath.
Once the tiles are removed, the contractor can see the condition of the base and make any repairs needed. The drawback is the amount of breaking involved. There will be dust, noise, and broken tiles that need to be cleared from the flat.
Removing the old flooring isn’t the only option. If the tiles are firmly fixed and the base is in good condition, the contractor may be able to lay new tiles over them. This requires an adhesive suited to tile-on-tile work, along with proper surface preparation.
The trouble is that the floor becomes higher once another layer is added. A bedroom door that opens freely now might scrape against the new flooring. Even the level between two rooms could change. So, before choosing this method, get the existing floor checked for loose tiles, uneven areas, and moisture problems.
The cost of replacing floor tiles doesn’t stop at buying the new ones. In a resale flat, removing the old flooring can take up a good part of the budget, especially when the base underneath needs repairs.
You’ll also need to account for labour, debris removal, adhesives, grout, and levelling work. In some flats, door trimming or skirting replacement may add to the bill. Waterproofing repairs, if needed, are another expense.
Ask the contractor to give you a breakdown of the costs rather than one amount for the entire job. Since you may not know the condition underneath the tiles until they’re removed, keeping some money aside for unexpected repairs is sensible.
If the budget is tight, you could prioritise rooms where the flooring is damaged and leave the others for later.
Before bringing workers into the flat, speak to the building’s maintenance team or residents’ association.
You might have the workers and materials ready, only to find out that your society doesn’t allow tile-breaking work at certain hours. Since removing old flooring can create considerable noise, it’s worth checking the permitted renovation timings beforehand.
Also, find out whether the society needs a written request before the work begins. There may be a security deposit to pay, and arrangements for using the service lift or removing broken tiles.
It’s worth informing nearby neighbours if the work involves extensive breaking. Make sure the contractor also understands that structural slabs, beams, columns, and concealed building services must not be damaged during renovation.
Say you’re replacing the living room tiles but leaving the bedroom flooring as it is. Once the new tiles are laid, you might notice that the two floors no longer meet at the same level. The door could also scrape against the tiles if there isn’t enough space underneath.
Hence, before the work begins, have the contractor measure how much height the new tiles, adhesive, and any levelling material will add. The same check is needed near the main entrance and balcony doors.
In bathrooms, the floor needs a slight slope towards the drain. Without it, water can remain in corners after a shower or move towards the doorway. This is why the drainage slope needs to be checked when changing the floor level.
You may notice a damp patch near the bathroom door or a water stain at the bottom of a wall. In an older flat, these marks are worth checking before the flooring work begins. They could be related to a plumbing leak, damaged waterproofing, or another source of moisture.
If you’re replacing bathroom or balcony tiles, get the waterproofing checked as well. New tiles and grout won’t fix a leak underneath the floor. Any damaged waterproofing or plumbing needs to be repaired before the new tiles are laid.
The flooring you choose will be part of your home for years, so take some time to compare the options. Apart from the colour or design, look at how the tiles will work in each room.
If the living room receives plenty of sunlight, check how the tile colour looks during the day. A glossy surface may also show reflections from windows or overhead lights. For bedrooms, you might prefer a quieter design that goes well with the furniture and wall colours.
Vitrified and porcelain tiles are commonly considered for these spaces. You can look at marble-look, stone-look, or wood-look designs, depending on the interiors you have planned.
Tile size is another decision. A large tile may look good across an open living room, but it could need more cutting around corners or in smaller areas. Ask the installer to check the layout before placing the order.
Think about the area around the kitchen sink, where water can sometimes reach the floor. Cooking spills are another thing to account for, especially if you’re considering tiles with a textured surface that may take more effort to clean.
Bathrooms have a different concern. The floor is likely to get wet during everyday use, so checking the tile’s suitability for wet areas is important. A matt finish doesn’t necessarily mean the tile offers better grip. Look at the manufacturer’s slip-resistance information before making a decision.
Planning to change the kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, or wall paint as well? Try to complete the flooring work before installing new furniture and giving the walls their final coat of paint.
If the flat already has fitted cabinets, check whether the tiles underneath need replacing. Removing those tiles may involve dismantling some of the existing units.
For an occupied flat, you could get the work done one room at a time. Also account for adhesive setting, grouting, and curing times. Follow the installation product’s instructions before allowing regular foot traffic or moving heavy furniture onto the new floor.
Before making the final payment, spend some time checking the new flooring. Look closely at the grout lines, tile edges, and cuts along the walls. Cracked tiles or noticeable differences in height between neighbouring tiles are worth pointing out to the contractor.
Try opening the doors to see if they clear the floor properly. In bathrooms and balconies, pour a little water on the floor to check whether it reaches the drain or collects in one place.
If something doesn’t look right, get it checked before the work is signed off. Keep a few spare tiles from the same batch in case repairs are needed later.
Replacing the floor tiles in a resale flat is about more than changing how the rooms look. You may have already chosen the design you like, but what happens underneath the existing flooring can make a difference to the renovation.
An uneven base, an old leakage problem, or a change in floor height might not seem important when you’re looking at tile designs. Yet these are the things that can delay the work or add to the cost later.
Before starting, understand what needs to be repaired, what can be retained, and how the flooring work fits into the rest of your renovation. This gives you a clearer picture of the work ahead, rather than discovering problems after the old tiles have been removed.
