How To Install Ceramic Floor Tile On Plywood

Tile floors are an attractive functional option for kitchens bathrooms laundry rooms and entryways.

How to install ceramic floor tile on plywood.

Install ceramic tile over a subfloor that s no less than 1 1 8 inches thick. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. When you re ready to lay the tile you ll need to start from the exact center of the floor and lay the tile in lines toward either wall leaving a small space between each tile. 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.

Installing ceramic floor tile to a plywood sub floor has unique challenges beyond that of installation on a concrete floor. 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. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile. Installing over wood.

To prepare the floor you ll need to lay fiberglass or cement backer board as a base then apply a leveling compound to even out any holes or divets. The safest most prudent course is to install tile on top of a cement backerboard such as durock wonderboard or hardiebacker. Installing a tile floor in any of these rooms will give you an easy to clean waterproof floor that holds up against weather and wear. The most suitable materials for the subfloor are concrete plywood and cement board.

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. Plywood substrate alternatives. 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. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout and a lot of headaches.

Cement backerboard is made for tiling. This will cause either the tile itself to crack and even come loose or cause the grout to crack inside the joints. 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. Plywood or osb flakeboard can expand and contract at too high a rate to be a stable foundation for tile.

Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of. Tile can be installed over various types of subfloor.