Proper Subfloors For Ceramic Tile

Heavy objects such as cast iron tubs refrigerators and clothes washers need strong flooring.

Proper subfloors for ceramic tile.

Installing over wood. Here s a list of no go subfloors. Wood building materials contract and expand at different rates from natural humidity and exposure. Chipboard cushioned vinyl flooring particle boards of any type oriented strand board osb interior grade plywood tongue and groove planking and hardwood floors are unsuitable substrates for direct installation of ceramic tile.

Concrete subfloors are relatively simple to prepare for tiling while wooden subfloors need a bit more care and effort. Unsuitable subfloors must be replaced or covered with a suitable underlayment. The dry product is mixed with water to a liquid consistency and poured on. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile.

It sounds like your joists are well within the acceptable limits of l 300 so your main concern is the deflection of the subfloor between joists. It is generically called cement board or backer board or it can also be referred to by one of the common brand names such as densshield hardiebacker and wonderboard. Any excessive movement will loosen the tile and pop the grout. Preparing a subfloor is an essential step for installing floor tile it provides a level surface that will allow the tiles to properly stay in place.

If you are planning on building an interior non load bearing wall you need the strongest subfloor possible. Cement based backer board. Now largely regarded as the very best underlayment for ceramic tile in any application floors walls and countertops cement based backer board goes by many names. Pourable self leveling products help to flatten and level a wood subfloor or a concrete slab before the tile is installed.

It ensures that the tiles remain stable and will not crack due to floor movement or changes in floor pressure. Adding inch plywood to 5 8 ply will give you a. Unsuitable subfloors for tile. Proper preparation of the subfloor is critical to the success of your ceramic tile installation.

This guide will show you how to prepare your subfloor for a tile installation project to ensure that it s fit to support ceramic or porcelain tile. The experts show how to install the subfloor in a bathroom. With ceramic tile you also need to limit the deflection between joists which is a function of the subfloor thickness and how it is installed. Subfloors to avoid for tile installations are those that tend to flex expand contract or warp.