How To Install Ceramic Tile Over Plywood Floors

When it comes to mortar latex or epoxy options are best for installing tile over tile.

How to install ceramic tile over plywood floors.

Fill seams in the subfloor with caulk. Once you have filled the space place the sheet down onto the thinset. Use thinset with a higher latex content thinset is the wet base that you first trowel on the plywood to make the tile stick. While tile can be laid on plywood do not install tile directly onto the plywood subfloor itself.

If you find hollows and valleys you must fill them with a self leveling underlayment. Concrete board concrete board also called backer board comes in 1 4 and 1 2 thicknesses and is usually sold in 4 x 6 sheets. Lay down a vapour barrier overtop the concrete pad then fasten 3 4 inch plywood using a ramset to the concrete pad through the vapor barrier then install the heating system to the plywood followed by applying the self leveling mortar over top the heating system and plywood and finally installing the tiles over top that. Use intervening layers of two sheets of plywood.

Mix your thinset according to the instructions on the bag. Try laying tile over 1 2 durock or hardie and see what happens when the joists are 19 2 or 24 on center. There are two materials commonly used for laying ceramic on plywood or osb that are applied before the tile. Check for dips in the floor by sliding a 4 foot to 6 foot straight edge in different directions all around the room.

Also consider that doors cabinets and other hardware might need to be reworked or replaced with new ones to compensate for the higher floor. It should be fastened to the subfloor using thinset and then screwed down every 10 square. Once you ve set the tile out and imitated the grout size with spacers go ahead and cut the edge tiles with a carbide wheeled tile cutter. Use a thin set product to install ceramic tile over existing tiles.

A successful tile installation project requires a level surface. Slide the dry fit tile around on the floor until you have an equal sized gap on each end of the run ensuring that the edge pieces are uniform all the way around the room. Tile can be installed over a plywood substrate and it is actually a fantastic way to make sure you don t have deflection in your floor. Lift one sheet leave the rest in place and spread thinset directly onto the subfloor filling the area left by the sheet use a 1 4 x 1 4 notch trowel.