Proper Subfloors For Ceramic Tile

Before installing a tile floor a subfloor and underlayment is necessary.

Proper subfloors for ceramic tile.

Heavy objects such as cast iron tubs refrigerators and clothes washers need strong flooring. 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. 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. Adding inch plywood to 5 8 ply will give you a.

Wood building materials contract and expand at different rates from natural humidity and exposure. Any excessive movement will loosen the tile and pop the grout. 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. 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.

The experts show how to install the subfloor in a bathroom. 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. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile. If you are planning on building an interior non load bearing wall you need the strongest subfloor possible.

Unsuitable subfloors for tile. It ensures that the tiles remain stable and will not crack due to floor movement or changes in floor pressure. Subfloors to avoid for tile installations are those that tend to flex expand contract or warp. 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.

Cement based backer board. Pourable self leveling products help to flatten and level a wood subfloor or a concrete slab before the tile is installed. For example base flooring layers need to be firm flat and deflection free for ceramic tile or natural stone. 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. Concrete subfloors are relatively simple to prepare for tiling while wooden subfloors need a bit more care and effort. Installing over wood. Proper preparation of the subfloor is critical to the success of your ceramic tile installation.