Wet-area floors
fail from below.

Sometimes. It depends on whether the existing floor is sound and well bonded, and on whether the extra build-up height causes problems with doors, thresholds and adjoining rooms.

In wet areas it is more often better to remove, because a new waterproofing system needs to start from the substrate.

Porcelain is the usual answer for wet areas — very low porosity, hard-wearing and available in slip-rated finishes. Natural stone is beautiful but needs sealing, and LVP is warmer underfoot but demands a very flat substrate.

The comparison table above sets out the real differences.

A wet area does, yes, as a continuous system taken into corners, up upstands and correctly detailed at any drain. Tile and grout are not a waterproof layer — water passes through grout.

Because tile is rigid. Any deviation in the substrate shows as lipping between adjacent tiles, and the larger the format the worse it looks. The only remedy after laying is relaying.

Usually movement — either in the substrate or at a junction where a movement joint should have been left and sealed rather than grouted solid. Occasionally it is adhesive coverage, leaving voids under the tile.

Yes, within the floor build-up. It affects the build-up height, needs an electrical connection and has to be commissioned, so it is decided before preparation rather than added later.

It depends on removal difficulty and cure times more than on laying. Levelling and waterproofing systems have cure periods that cannot be shortened, and grouting and sealing follow laying.

Flooring alone generally does not require a permit. Where it forms part of a wider bathroom or kitchen remodel involving plumbing or electrical work, it falls under that permit.

Worth specifying deliberately in bathrooms and around sinks, especially with children or anyone unsteady. Tiles are tested for slip performance and the rating is available — it is not something you can judge by looking.

In wet areas and around sinks it resists staining considerably better and holds its colour. It costs more in material and noticeably more in labour, because it is demanding to install well.

We can advise on how close a match is achievable, but exact matches across production runs and ranges are rarely possible. Often a deliberate transition detail looks better than a near-miss.

It depends on the material. Porcelain is close to maintenance-free beyond grout cleaning; natural stone needs periodic sealing; LVP needs care at seams. We hand over aftercare guidance for what you chose.