By Melissa Fleur AfsharShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA homeowner’s attempt to renovate their kitchen floor took an unexpected turn after uncovering a surprising layer hidden beneath limestone tiles, prompting discussion among keen renovators on social media.
The Reddit post, shared by u/bsr90 in the r/DIYUK subreddit, featured the caption: "Lifted kitchen floor to find this…Lifting limestone pavers in the kitchen floor and found this underneath. Need some ideas on what this is and how to deal with it!"
The accompanying images showed a partially lifted floor revealing what appeared to be mounds and broken sections of concrete over a plasticlike layer—possibly a vapor barrier—sparking questions and speculation about what had been done in previous renovations.
In the post, the homeowner added crucial context: "Probably was a suspended timber floor but probably filled completely with concrete at some point. Would a deep-base self-leveling compound get me to a position to put down wet UFH?"
The acronym refers to underfloor heating, a modern system that many homeowners consider during home upgrades for efficiency and comfort.
Viewers quickly responded, offering practical advice, personal opinions, and warnings about the complexity of such projects.
One of the most-upvoted comments advised a minimalist approach: "Fill in some of the holes you've made with concrete and then self-level the rest and walk away, don't think about it."
Others, however, cautioned that the reality of installing underfloor heating would be far more labor-intensive.
..."I mean what were you expecting to find? You’ve got rubble, mortar and some concrete there. You’ve got a **** load more digging to do for your UFH," one commenter wrote.
The tone in the thread fluctuated between sarcasm, support, and detailed technical advice as others jumped in to discuss the challenge of retrofitting a system like underfloor heating into an older structure.
One viewer wrote: "Huge job. Disposal will be a pain. If floor level is different, you'll have problems with skirtings, door thresholds, maybe kitchen units. Hope no pipes in floor. You may regret not staying with rads! Also hire a bigger breaker and I hope the socks aren't your only foot protection."
That particular concern about insulation and floor depth resonated with another contributor, who laid out the potential structural demands: "A few days of hard work is 100 percent worth underfloor heating. But you need to go way deeper and install at least 50 mm of insulation on a concrete base with screed on top. So at least 220 mm deep (90 mm concrete, 50 mm insulation, 80 mm screed)."
Technical issues aside, the thread became a crowdsourced consultation room for anyone contemplating similar renovations. Some questioned the premise of the post itself.
"Mortar? What is the problem exactly. How else will you lay uneven stone but in a bed of mortar…" another user asked, suggesting the discovery may not have been as unusual as initially perceived.
One of the most-detailed replies addressed the practical limitations of height changes and adjoining floors.
Although the post received over 125 upvotes, the depth of discussion it triggered reflects a broader trend on Reddit, where DIY projects frequently spark a mixture of community troubleshooting, trade-based expertise and humor. While the homeowner has yet to share whether they have moved forward with the renovation, one thing is certain—installing underfloor heating is not as simple as lifting a few tiles.
Newsweek reached out to u/bsr90 for more information via Reddit.
Have you got a renovation dilemma? Let us know via [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
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