How To Install Ceramic Floor Tile On Plywood

There are those who say that porcelain or ceramic tile should simply exist installed over a concrete floor and that they should never be installed over plywood. While there is some reasoning behind that claim, information technology's a reasoning that comes from failure. If the plywood subfloor is non properly prepared to support the tile, in that location's a very high chance of that tile breaking. But there are ways information technology can be prepared, so that it can provide the tile with the support it needs.

Simply first, allow me to analyze something near tile. That is, at that place are both porcelain and ceramic tiles on the market. Much of what nosotros come across in our local home comeback centers is the more pedestrian ceramic tile. But manufacturers, often the same manufacturers, too produce porcelain tile.

And so, what's the divergence between the 2? It's kind of like the difference between ceramic and china dishes; one is improve than the other. While porcelain can exist considered to exist a type of ceramic, it is made of a finer dirt (smaller grain), molded at a college pressure and kiln-fired at a higher temperature. This results in a stronger, less porous tile, which is less subject area to article of clothing and tear, and which doesn't blot equally much h2o.

While porcelain tile may be more expensive to buy than ceramic tile, it volition last longer. This could actually make the lifetime toll of porcelain tile Lower, as information technology will not accept to be replaced every bit soon. Equally it is difficult to remove an existing ceramic floor, replacement is expensive.

It'due south all About the Substrate

Installing porcelain or ceramic tile over plywood is all about the substrate. Three-quarter inch thick plywood isn't enough, every bit that can flex too easily. Since the tile itself can't flex, nor can the grout, that flexing eventually leads to cracked tiles, missing grout and tile delaminating from the floor.

The secret is to construct a subfloor that won't flex. Then, when the tile is installed, it volition last. In that location are really a couple of dissimilar ways of doing this.

Thicker Plywood

The most mutual option that people do is to add some other layer of plywood to the existing subfloor, making the total subfloor thicker. This additional layer needs to be a minimum of ½" thick, although ¾" is ameliorate. This should be exterior-class plywood and peculiarly should non be whatever plywood with thin face veneers, such every bit those found on hardwood plywood. The additional layer of plywood should be installed with the seams staggered from the original subfloor, to make the floor stronger. Leave a ane/sixteen" gap betwixt sheets, to allow for expansion.

Smash or screw downward this new layer of plywood every six inches around the perimeter and every viii inches in the middle. If nailing, only apply flooring nails. Whatever fasteners are being used, they need to be long enough to go through the existing flooring and well into the floor joists beneath. Avoid attaching the new layer of flooring only to the one below, without going into the structure beneath. Always make certain that the nail or screw heads are sunk below level, then that they don't cause the tile to exist uneven.

Cheque the plywood floor for flexing, before installing the tile. One skillful way of doing this is to set a glass of water on the floor, between the joists. Then walk on the floor and observe the level of the water. It should move some, due to the vibration of the floor from walking on it; but it should not become uneven, tipping to i side. That would betoken that the floor is lower in the direction information technology is tipping towards. In other words, the weight of walking on the floor is causing information technology to sag.

Adding Cement Backerboard

Cement backerboard, such as Durock or HardieBacker is ordinarily used for a substrate to mountain tiles to in shower stalls. Only there'south nix that says it can't be used for floors too. In fact, it's an excellent pick for floors as well, roofing the existing plywood subfloor.

Every bit with adding another layer of plywood, information technology is important to ensure that the fasteners are sunk beneath level, ensuring that they don't beetle or cause the cloth around them to do and then. Sometimes, inserting fasteners into these materials can cause a lump beside the fastener, so be sure to check that the surface is smooth and level, later installing.

Using a Uncoupling Membrane

Another thing to consider adding over your plywood subfloor is an uncoupling membrane. While the tile tin can exist mounted straight to the plywood subfloor, the addition of this membrane can increase the life of the floor.

There are a number of different brands of these, which are fabricated in a number of unlike means. 1 thing they all have in common though, is that they let the subfloor and the ceramic or porcelain to move separately. That way, when the plywood expands and contracts, due to differences in humidity, it won't affect the bond between the plywood and the tile mastic.

These membranes all employ their own adhesives and are sold as a system. They bail mainly to the plywood subfloor, providing a good, waterproof surface for the mortar to adhere to. They exercise add together some boosted summit to the floor, merely some can be used without the 2d layer of plywood, negating that disadvantage.

Tile over plywood, Ryan

Installing the Tile

While this commodity is non intended to be a tutorial on how to install tile, at that place are a few pointers that demand to exist made, which are particular to installing tile over plywood subflooring.

First, always utilise a flexible thin-ready mortar with a latex additive. The latex mastic will aggrandize and contract better with the wood, than other, less-flexible, mastics, reducing the risk of keen.

This may seem obvious, but only apply flooring tile on floors, non wall tile. Wall tile is thinner and more prone to breaking when walked upon or when heavy objects are dropped on it.

Lay out at least one full row of tile, with spacers, in both directions. This gives the opportunity to check spacing, mayhap eliminating the need to cut tiles along two of the walls or allowing the edge tiles to be cut evenly, so equally to create a uniform design. This is especially important in cases where multiple tile colors are existence installed to create a design.

Source: http://theplywood.com/porcelain-floor-tile

Posted by: fordquatere.blogspot.com

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