Any builders around for advice please?

There are heated tiles that run on electricity and they seem no thicker then ordinary tiles.

I would have though a plastic membrane then normal screed or self levelling would be the root to go if you have the height.

Otherwise consult the original builder (Ouija board? ask for Tom the tiler)

Already spent loads on the floor tiles Bill... So don't want to get different ones.

Plastic?...would that insulate...it doesn't need waterproofing.
...but.... Would rubberised pond liner be insulating?...or would it 'give' and cause the joints to crack....or are there chaper alternatives.

Ouija board?...doubt he'd understand my Accent!

Good ideas though Bill...keep em coming

Is there enough height to add a layer of high density foam sheeting ? Celotex make it down to 12mm thick,doubtless there are other manufacturers,some may even go thinner than that

Allo Allo eet iz zee eengleeesh kalling ........

Is it solid enough to tile onto BB or does it compress?

(we could manage 12mm max..plus the tile height)...less would be preferable though.)

Hi Nicos,

In your circumstances I would have a look at the electric under floor heating mats. They are basically an electric wire that sits in the coat of tile adhesive with a thermostat to0 control temperature.

They aren't cheap but you do not need to cover the complete area as the tile surface will conduct the heat to small unheated areas.

If you do not want to heat the floor a much cheaper option are the thermal boards by Klima, they are for use with under tile heating but can be used as a stand alone product depths of 10mm or 6mm are available. Go to klima.co.uk

I have used both products with success.

...good ideas there Potty.
Have you heard of a thermal self levelling screed?
I know you can get something you can put on walls- but that's not weighbearing.

I'd really like to go down this line of thinking as a first port of call...and then have an alternative back up plan.

I'm no builder but I am also good for a quick google - have a look at this

The underfloor wiring can be laid in the tile adhesive if you choose to, you can get a paint on product to apply directly to your existing tiles which was originally created to protect the space shuttle on re entry to our atmosphere (It reflects heat). The only real problems with electric underfloor heating like 'Warm Up' (there are other products available), is its initial cost and the ongoing monthly bills.

As your property is 16th century I'd suggest the original floor was laid directly onto the earth, are your walls stone and lime mortar Nicos? If so the concrete floor that has been laid is not helping as the rising moisture has no where to go and will be soaked up in the walls not ideal really.

Most modern homes are obsessed with keeping moisture out and warmth in, this is due to the materials used being light in weight and not dense enough to form a thermal mass. Older properties built from stone generally didn't have proper foundations or a damp proof course as moisture was designed to be absorbed by the mortar and released again to dry out.

If you do choose to head down the underfloor heating route I would not recommend it for an area bigger than 10-15sqm TBH as it will cost a small fortune to run. It was created really for upstairs bathrooms as these rooms are notoriously cold and drafty and at first floor level not really suitable for a wet system (central heating pipes). When cables are used at ground floor you can end up wasting a lot of energy heating the sub floor (slab) rather than the tile which is the objective. Hence the use of the paint, it contains ceramic crystals which reflect the heat away from the existing slab/tile back towards your new floor covering.

The other option might be to entertain a kick space heater, these can be hydronic and just electric. The hydronic type feeds your centrally heating pipes through a coiled pipe and blows air over the top of them so that you benefit from the warmth of the heating pipes. The pure electric versions are a little more expensive to run, but both are a good solution if you just need 10-15 minutes blast of heat. For long term use they can have a tendancy to dry the air in the room and give you a sore throat or itchy eyes.

A further option would be to look at a room calculator for radiators Bisque have a handy one to use online, you put in your room dimensions, window opening dimensions, floor and wall structure and the ambient air temperature you are after. (kitchens generally only need to be around 18-20 degrees a few degrees colder than a lounge, as we move about more in them). It will give you a KWH (kilowatt Per Hour) for your room, you can then check out some radiators online to find the closest to your existing ones dimensions and decide whether you could benefit from increasing its size or adding an additional radiator.

All food for thought Nicos.

I have general self levelling screed Jeanie...I just wondered if there was something which would have much higher thermal properties.
..or did I miss a link there????

The cold floor sucks heat out of the room....(your feet, even when wearing thick soled slippers!!)

If you just want to increase the thermal properties of the existing tiles, what about mixing something like this in with pva and applying several coats. This should repel the cold and send the warmth of the room back up. All for the thickness of a coat of paint.

An extra pair of socks is sounding a lot cheaper

Sorry, but I have nothing practical to offer at this stage, other than to say aren't tiles cold anyway? In other words, how much worse (regarding temperature) would your new tiles be on your floor compared to another floor? Are you over-egging the pudding here?

Mikey,
It's open plan into the lounge and the walls are granite and mud.(we are going to put lime and hemp on the walls as it needs to be breathable.
It looks like there is probably a source under the kitchen and the floor is watertight but we were warned not to compromise it.
the previous owner has sadly died so we can't talk to him about what he did.

The room is well heated-it's just that the floor sucks out the heat!

Not really keen to add to the electrical costs to be honest which is why the idea of something like the bitumen layer we had in the UK came to mind.

What is the product you mention..."a paint on product to apply directly to your existing tiles which was originally created to protect the space shuttle on re entry" Micky??

Sounds more like what I'm after to be honest..and it would stand alone without the floor heating ?
Do you know if I could then slap tile adhesive to it, or is it going to resist that???

AIC...the tiles are multishades of urine with dark chocolate brown grouting. So far we've not met anyone else..French or English who think they are anything but eeeeewww!
We're re-tiling to make it feel like our home and not someone else's bizarre taste! A thin layer of thermal screed would have sorted it...then tile adhesive, then the new tiles....I just need to find someone who makes it!

( yeh,,,I have a very logical mind and would really have thought this product would be a best seller!)