Luan has been specifically outlawed (by the tile industry) for use under tile installations. You can find this information in the Tile Council of North America's Handbook For Ceramic Tile Installation. In the 2007 44th Edition the information appears on page 13, right-side column, second paragraph under the the word CAUTION in bold type.:)
Is Luan plywood suitable for ceramic tile installations?
This bulletin addresses the concerns of the suitability of Luan plywood in ceramic tile installations. Luan plywood is an unacceptable and unapproved substrate to receive tile or cementitious backer units (CBU). Ceramic tile, stone and/or cementitious backer unit installations utilizing any Luan species will not be warranted by CUSTOM®.
Can luxury vinyl flooring be installed over ceramic tile?
Luxury vinyl flooring can be directly installed over existing flooring, including ceramic tile. But there come two different situations. If the grout lines are not too wide, you can lay down the vinyl flooring over ceramic tiles. However, the grout lines of some installed ceramic tiles are not thin enough.
Can You Lay ceramic tile over tile?
It’s perfectly fine to lay ceramic tile over ceramic tile. But, if the tiles are particularly damaged, or you identify air pockets in the tiles, then it’s best to remove them. Air pockets indicate the tiles were installed incorrectly and will need replacing very soon. There are a range of subfloors that can be used for ceramic tiles.
How do I know if my ceramic tiles are level?
Ceramic tiles need to be inspected before laying ceramic tiles on top to ensure they are level, and installed correctly. Testing tiles to see if they are installed correctly is done by tapping the top lightly. Use your finger or a light coin like a quarter to tap on the surface of the tile. Where there are air pockets you will hear a hollow sound.
What is the thickness of Luan plywood?
Can you put tile over plywood?
Is Luan a good substrate for redguard?
Can Luan be used with ditra?
Is Lauan plywood a tile substrate?
About this website
Can you tile on top of Luan?
If you are looking for "correct' then the luan has to come up. Never have that under tile. The books says a minimum of 3/8 underlayment grade plywood, (no 1/4") then use Ditra or a 1/4" cement backer board, both are installed in a wet bed of thinset.
What should be installed over plywood before ceramic tile?
On a plywood subfloor, you need either a layer of cement backer board or an underlayment membrane, like Custom Building Products' Wonderboard and RedGard, between the subfloor and tile for the thin-set adhesive to achieve a good bond.
Can you tile over wood underlayment?
0:278:02How to Lay Tile Over Plywood - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe tile industry recommends a subfloor that's at least an inch and a quarter thick.MoreThe tile industry recommends a subfloor that's at least an inch and a quarter thick.
Can you put peel and stick tile over Luan?
0:341:44Good Underlayment for Self-Adhesive Tile : Working on Flooring - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStore the way you install luan is you run it opposite of your floor joists. So if your floor joistsMoreStore the way you install luan is you run it opposite of your floor joists. So if your floor joists are running like this you want to take your luan. And run it the opposite.
Can I lay tile directly on plywood?
Tile can be laid on plywood. But do not install tile directly on the plywood subfloor itself. Use an intervening layer of a sheet of thinner plywood.
Is tile too heavy for second floor?
Is tile too heavy for the second floor? No, tiles are not too heavy for a second floor because tiles are generally a lightweight material distributed over an even load. Architects and civil engineers ensure that a structure is capable of handling a reasonable amount of additional load.
How do you prepare wood subfloor for tile?
0:173:17How to Prepare Subfloor for Tile | The Home Depot - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst measure and cut the backer board to size then spread enough thinset on the subfloor to coverMoreFirst measure and cut the backer board to size then spread enough thinset on the subfloor to cover an area slightly larger than your first piece of backer.
Do you have to put cement board under tile?
It's available in sheets of many sizes. Most projects need 3-foot by 5-foot sheets. Whenever you're laying tile on a wood subfloor, you need to first install cement backer board. Backer board prevents leaks and water damage that could harm your flooring and the structure of your home.
What is the best underlayment for tile floors?
Exterior plywood is an acceptable underlayment for tile and is preferred to interior-grade plywoods because the bonding adhesives used are waterproof. If water seeps through the tile installation to the underlayment, it will not cause the wood to swell, as happens with interior-grade plywood.
Is Luan plywood good underlayment?
Luan, a thin plywood underlayment material, is lightweight and easy to install. While luan provides a smooth surface on which to install vinyl, it's not suitable for all types of vinyl flooring.
What kind of underlayment do you use for peel and stick tile?
Plywood. Plywood can be an acceptable surface for self-adhesive vinyl tiles as it makes a smooth underlayment for peel-and-stick tiles.
What should I put down before peel and stick tile?
0:484:28How to Install Peel-and-Stick Vinyl Tile Flooring | The Home DepotYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMay result in the failure of the adhesive installation requires that you first properly prepare theMoreMay result in the failure of the adhesive installation requires that you first properly prepare the sub floors before laying the tiles.
How do you prepare plywood for tile?
1:208:45Preparing Subfloor for Tile | The Home Depot - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWill work if first covered with a latex modified mortar and a tiling backer board and exterior-gradeMoreWill work if first covered with a latex modified mortar and a tiling backer board and exterior-grade plywood makes a perfect foundation for tile. Once you've prepared your wood subfloor you will need
Can I stick ceramic tiles to plywood?
For tiling onto plywood, we recommend using a flexible powder adhesive. When mixing your adhesive always refer to the manufacturer's instructions on the bag, as different brands will require different amounts of water.
How do you attach ceramic tile to plywood?
1:413:10DWA 215 Adhesive Tiling on plywood - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipApply a very thin layer of adhesive on the backside of the tile. And place it on the no adhesive onMoreApply a very thin layer of adhesive on the backside of the tile. And place it on the no adhesive on libraries. To ensure proper coverage.
Do I need to prime plywood before tiling?
In general, if the subfloor for tiling is made up of plywood, you don't have to use a primer. Instead, the plywood preparation is done so that it is made water-resistant and more adhesive suitable without using a primer.
What is the thickness of Luan plywood?
It can delaminate without a whole lot of help. The proper material is either an AC or BC grade plywood underlayment. Even with those two options the minimum thickness is 3 /8"... no 1/8" or 1/4" plywood products underneath tile.
Can you put tile over plywood?
You can install tile directly over plywood, but the hoops one has to jump through to "go by the book" is not worth the effort imo.
Is Luan a good substrate for redguard?
For those reading along, do not follow Jim's advice. Luan is NOT an acceptable substrate for tile or redguard.
Can Luan be used with ditra?
No! Luan delaminates, warps and generally becomes unstable when exposed to moisture. It will be exposed to moisture when you install either ditra or cementitious backer board, both of which must be set with thinset.
Is Lauan plywood a tile substrate?
Carol, I'm glad you had success with your installation. I can say for sure that lauan plywood is NOT an approved tile substrate according to the TCNA, ANSI, or the plywood & redguard manufacturers.
What happens if Luan is on top of a subfloor?from stripersonline.com
If your Luan is on top of a standard 5/8 or 3/4" sub-floor you will have a failure due to flex. Take the Luan up put down adequate thickness wood.
How thick is a Luan subfloor?from stripersonline.com
A sub-floor needs to be one and one quarter inch 1 1/4" thick of wood like 2 layers of 5/8" plywood. If your Luan is on top of a standard 5/8 or 3/4" sub-floor you will have a failure due to flex. Take the Luan up put down adequate thickness wood.
Can you substitute tile backer for wood?from stripersonline.com
Substituting tile backer for wood thickness is not a solution, it is a failure waiting to happen.
Can Lauan backing be used in a bathroom?from stripersonline.com
Lauan backing would work in a kitchen under a counter top back splash or in an area that won't get wet, but NEVER in a bathroom.
Is it bad to tile over Lauan?from stripersonline.com
In the "good old days" contractors used to tile right over lauan, but nowadays its a bad idea. Get a flat shovel and pull that stuff off.
Can you tile over plywood?from stripersonline.com
Yes, you need to check to see if you floor structure is stiff enough, and if it is, then take up the luan, put down hardibacker or cbu, then tile. Michael Byrne (I think I'm remembering name right) published a good book on setting tile (published by JLC).
Why Shouldn’t you Install Tile Over Tile?
Whenever someone is tackling a renovation project or a remodel, this tends to be the first question that they ask. Someone already laid all of that tile, do I really need to rip it out and start over?
Why do you put a grip on the back of tile?
You want a firm grip on the back of your tiles to make sure there’s no lifting or breakage once they’re installed.
How long does it take for grout to dry on tile?
Once your tile is set, let it sit to dry. This could take 24 hours or more, so be patient! 5. Time to Grout & Seal. Now that your tiles are in place and the adhesive has set, you’re ready to seal the spaces between them with grout. For smaller grout lines (⅛” or less), unsanded ground is typically recommended.
How long does it take for tile to dry?
Once your tile is set, let it sit to dry. This could take 24 hours or more, so be patient!
Can you use unsanded grout on tile?
Now that your tiles are in place and the adhesive has set, you’re ready to seal the spaces between them with grout. For smaller grout lines (⅛” or less), unsanded ground is typically recommended. Unsanded grout works better on flooring and wall tiles with grout lines larger than ⅛”, since it resists shrinking and cracking better than sanded grout.
Can you use adhesive to bond tile?
Not all adhesives can bond tile to tile. Many thinsets and tile mortars are intended to bond with a backerboard or substrate and the bottom of a tile - they may not properly bond with the surface of a glazed ceramic tile or polished glass tile.
Can you til over uneven tile?
Handyman extraordinaire Bob Vil a warns that tiling over an uneven surface will give you a less than ideal end result. For best results when tiling over tile, level out any mounds of dried grout with a sander and secure loose tiles before laying new tile. You can use a tile adhesive to secure any that are loose to create a smooth surface for your new tiles.
Why do you lay ceramic tile over tile?
Generally, laying ceramic tiles over tiles saves labor cost/time which means the job will be cheaper and take far less time than removing the existing tiles.
How to lay out tiles in a kitchen?
An easy way to lay them out is to start with one row of tiles down the middle. Then lay out the rest of the tiles. Adjust where the middle row is so that the end tiles are the biggest size possible.
How long does it take for grout to dry after laying tile?
But, there will still be a space in between the tiles that needs to be filled with grout. After 24 to 28 hours the mortar underneath the tiles will have dried and you can remove the spacers. Now, you need to apply grout to the spaces in between each tile.
How to test if tile is installed correctly?
Testing tiles to see if they are installed correctly is done by tapping the top lightly. Use your finger or a light coin like a quarter to tap on the surface of the tile. Where there are air pockets you will hear a hollow sound.
Can you use builders putty to fill imperfections?
You can also build up areas, and fill in imperfections using filler. There are many different kinds and brands available from your local hardware store. A generic builders/tilers putty or filler works well.
Do you need to level tile?
The surface that you install tiles onto needs to be level otherwise the resulting tile floor won’t be level. Use your carpenters level to check the existing ceramic tiles to see if they are level.
What is the difference between luxury vinyl and ceramic tile?
Luxury vinyl flooring is a new material, which is beautiful, inexpensive, and durable. Many homeowners want to refresh their houses' look, and one of the best ways is to remodel the flooring. Replacing the old flooring with the new one always costs much time, labor, or even money. Luxury vinyl is a DIY friend flooring that can be installed over the existing flooring. So lots of people have been asking: can they install luxury vinyl flooring directly over ceramic tiles? Before answering this question, let's explore why luxury vinyl can be an alternative to ceramic tiles.
Is luxury vinyl flooring cheap?
There are various designs of luxury vinyl flooring, so you can find a wide variety of textures, colors, styles. Luxury vinyl won't look cheap because it can resemble the look of real hardwood, stone, or other natural materials.
Is vinyl flooring cheaper than ceramic tile?
Luxury vinyl flooring is much more inexpensive than ceramic tiles. If you want to save your budget, vinyl flooring is the best choice. Besides the material, vinyl flooring is DIY-friendly, so you don't need to spend extra money hiring the installer to do the job.
Is vinyl flooring waterproof?
Luxury vinyl flooring can withstand the high traffic at homes because it is highly scratch-resistant and wear-resistant. In particular, it is 100% waterproof so that it can be used in moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms. If you have pets at home, vinyl flooring is an excellent option to handle the scratch of pets' paws.
Can you walk on vinyl flooring barefoot?
Instead, luxury vinyl can give you a warmer and softer foot feel. You can even walk barefoot on the vinyl flooring if you want.
What is the thickness of Luan plywood?
It can delaminate without a whole lot of help. The proper material is either an AC or BC grade plywood underlayment. Even with those two options the minimum thickness is 3 /8"... no 1/8" or 1/4" plywood products underneath tile.
Can you put tile over plywood?
You can install tile directly over plywood, but the hoops one has to jump through to "go by the book" is not worth the effort imo.
Is Luan a good substrate for redguard?
For those reading along, do not follow Jim's advice. Luan is NOT an acceptable substrate for tile or redguard.
Can Luan be used with ditra?
No! Luan delaminates, warps and generally becomes unstable when exposed to moisture. It will be exposed to moisture when you install either ditra or cementitious backer board, both of which must be set with thinset.
Is Lauan plywood a tile substrate?
Carol, I'm glad you had success with your installation. I can say for sure that lauan plywood is NOT an approved tile substrate according to the TCNA, ANSI, or the plywood & redguard manufacturers.