Which flooring method and type shall I apply

[LDNRennovation]

Hi guys, 

 

got a 90’s bungalow with concrete floors (slab) at the moment. It’s fairly level and previously was carpet. 
 

I’d like a herringbone pattern, I don’t like a bouncy floor or fake looking wood vinyl. Currently thinking of engineered timber. 
 

We’d like to lay it ourselves. And also can’t figure out whether to lay it with the chevrons pointing towards the fireplace or lengthwise in the dining kitchen. The room it’s going in is L shaped. 

[markc]

A friend of mine did herringbone in a L shaped kitchen and lined up with a wall - looks great in one part and terrible in the other because of straightness / right angle discrepancies.

[-rick-]

If you are interested in DIYing herringbone you might be interested in watching Jenna Phipps and how she and her partner Nick (it's mostly Nick doing the floor) have done it. There's multiple videos but this one highlights the issue @markc mentioned though in their case they noticed the problem and corrected for it. These videos make very clear that to get a good result you need an eye for detail and lots and lots of patience.

 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by -rick-

[LDNRennovation]

Thanks Rick! I’ve seen that and it’s part of why I want herringbone lol. Poor Nick does everything doesn’t he. 
 

We can probably manage that I just don’t know about screeding such a big area. 

[-rick-]

8 minutes ago, LDNRennovation said:

I’ve seen that and it’s part of why I want herringbone lol.

 

It does look good, for me though I think the amount of work offset the attractiveness of the result.

 

8 minutes ago, LDNRennovation said:

Poor Nick does everything doesn’t he.

 

Sometimes it seems that way but I can't discount that Jenna seems have huge drive and ability to motivate and she does most of the filming/editing which is what's paying for a lot of this (I think).

 

8 minutes ago, LDNRennovation said:

We can probably manage that I just don’t know about screeding such a big area. 

 

Don't take advice from me on this, but my impression is that the screeding is the easy bit compared to the laying. Jenna/Nick have applied self level over the whole floor before the herringbone, if you already have a sound concrete floor do you need anything more than self level?

[LDNRennovation]

I don’t think so, I have spoken to a few suppliers and they say do a screed and then stick in down. I don’t however know what is under the slab and how moisture is going to affect it if we do that. It feels like a bad idea but basically I don’t know. 

[JohnMo]

49 minutes ago, LDNRennovation said:

I don’t however know what is under the slab and how moisture is going to affect

Check for moisture. If present use a liquid dpm, which is an epoxy type paint. Use a self leveling compound as needed to get level prior to Dpm paint. Bond floor direct to dpm. Why do you need to screed?

 

Herringbone, lifes too short, for the faff and living with it if you don't get it perfect. Keep it simple.

[LDNRennovation]

I think I said screed instead of self levelling compound. 
 

not sure really I just like herringbone.