Floor panel and methods of use thereof

A floor panel for forming a graded wet area for tiling, said panel comprising:

• a pair of opposed surfaces comprising an upper surface and an opposed lower surface interconnected by opposed side edges, a first end edge and an opposed second end edge;
• a plurality of protrusions protruding from the lower surface and extending at least partially across the floor panel between the opposed side edges, said protrusions protruding at differing heights from the one of the opposed surfaces to define a panel gradient extending between the first end edge and the second end edge;
• and
• a part of a connecting mechanism extending along each of the first and second end edges for connecting the floor panel with further floor panels in an end edge to end edge connection,
• wherein the connecting mechanism comprises a male formation defined on the first end edge of the floor panel and a female formation defined on the second end edge of the floor panel and wherein the male and female formations are configured to mate or couple with corresponding female and male formations provided on at least one of the further floor panels,
• wherein the female formation comprises a channel extending longitudinally along the first end edge of the floor panel, the channel comprises a first channel sidewall defined by the first end edge of the floor panel, an opposed second channel sidewall and a channel base wall extending therebetween, said second channel sidewall and said channel base wall defined by a substantially L-shaped member extending from the lower surface of the floor panel at or near the first end edge,
• wherein the male formation comprises a pair of edge members extending from and at least partially along the second end edge of the floor panel and wherein the pair of edge members are configured to be at least partially frictionally fitted into the channel of the female formation of the at least one of the further floor panels, and
• wherein at least one of the pair of edge members of the male formation comprise a retention portion extending from an outer end and configured to be snugly received in and frictionally engage with the channel to retain the male formation and the female formation of the connecting mechanism together when connected.