How To Install Ceramic Tile On Plywood Subfloor

A poor ceramic installation will delaminate from the subfloor split at the grout lines or worse crack directly across the tile.

How to install ceramic tile on plywood subfloor.

The floors joist are 19 on center. 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. I am laying the tile on a plywood sub floor above a basement. Plywood substrate alternatives.

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. No matter how firm the subfloor. Plywood or osb flakeboard can expand and contract at too high a rate to be a stable foundation for tile. 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.

Should i install durock before laying the tile. Preparing your subfloor for tile in this video learn how to prepare a wood or concrete subfloor for tile including such steps as checking for dips installing backerboard applying primer and thinset pouring liquid underlayment and when to use osb or exterior grade plywood. The best method is to refasten the subfloor then add a layer of plywood. 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.

Concrete expands and contracts and that type of movement can also crack the tiles and the grout. However you re not out of the woods. 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. One question that folks new to ceramic tile frequently ask is whether they can lay the ceramic directly on top of a plywood or osb subfloor using a thinset cement or liquid nails to glue down the tile to the wood.

I am installing ceramic 12 inch by 12 inch tiles in my foyer 150 sq ft. Cement backerboard is made for tiling. 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. Backerboard does not shrink or expand when it comes into contact with water mortar and grout both contain water.

The safest most prudent course is to install tile on top of a cement backerboard such as durock wonderboard or hardiebacker. Installing ceramic floor tile to a plywood sub floor has unique challenges beyond that of installation on a concrete floor.