Tile Over Subfloor

Concrete expands and contracts and that type of movement can also crack the tiles and the grout.

Tile over subfloor.

It is an orange colored membrane designed as a backer for tile. Elements of a solid subfloor. If the underlying flooring structure which usually consists of floor joists a subfloor and an underlayment is not in good shape the ceramic tile floor will flex underfoot leading to cracked grout joints and a ruined installation. If you are installing ceramic tile over another surface it is important to follow specific recommendations and steps to make sure there will be proper bonding.

If ceramic or porcelain tiles are installed on an uneven surface you run the risk of allowing the tiles to crack or loosen. Use thinset with a higher latex content. They require a subfloor that s designed to account for this without any fluctuation or movement. However you re not out of the woods.

Check for dips in the floor by sliding a 4 foot to 6 foot straight edge in different directions all around the room. First of all tile definitely should not be put down over a wood sub floor. No matter how firm the subfloor. First changes in humidity make solid wood shrink swell and cup more than plywood.

Thinset is the wet base that you first trowel on the plywood to make the tile. However there is a new product by schluter called the ditra system. Ceramic and porcelain tile are among the most rigid materials for flooring. Ceramic tiling can be installed onto 23 32 osb subflooring panels where the panels are supported by 16 o c.

Fill seams in the subfloor with caulk. A successful tile installation project requires a level surface. Ceramic tile over wood tile concrete or vinyl should be installed by using appropriate products that will allow the right adhesion between surfaces. Manufacturers generally recommend that the deflection of the subfloor system be limited to no more than span 360 under total load.

While you can lay tile directly over a concrete slab using thin set adhesive don t make the mistake of applying tile directly to a plywood subfloor. According to backer board manufacturers and tile setters installing backer board directly over an old solid wood subfloor is risky for a couple of reasons. The plywood will expand and contract at a different rate as the tile causing cracks to develop in the grout lines or tiles over time. The best method is to refasten the subfloor then add a layer of plywood.

Wooden subfloors in older houses need to be strengthened and stabilized before backer board and tile are installed. Use the right. When installing a ceramic tile floor on a concrete subfloor you don t have to worry about flexing as long as the concrete slab is at least 1 1 8 inch thick which most slabs are.