How thick should sub floor be when installing marble tiles?
- The sheet vinyl must be clean and free of wax or other bond breakers. ...
- The sheet vinyl must be single layer only, and well attached. It should not be perimeter-glued, and it should not have a cushion or foam back. ...
- The subfloor beneath the vinyl must deflect less than the industry standard: L360 deflection criteria. ...
What is the best subfloor thickness for optimum insulation?
- Floor covering
- Plywood fastened to the sleepers
- Two-by-four sleepers installed on center every 12 to 16 inches and fastened down, with rigid foam insulation 1-1/2-inch thick placed between the sleepers
- Vapor retarder
- Concrete basement floor
Should I replace my subfloor before installing tile?
- Start exposing the floor to fresh air by removing any rugs or furniture. ...
- Any wet drywall needs to be removed anyway, so remove the ceiling drywall below the damage to expose the floor joists.
- Create air movement with box fans ( available on Amazon ), both on top of the finished flooring and the floor below. ...
How much subfloor do you need under tile?
Tile installed over wood floor systems MUST have a minimum of 1-1/4 inches of solid material beneath it. This means you can have a 3/4 inch wood subfloor covered by 1/2 inch plywood, cement board, or approved gypsum fiber underlayment. Then, what kind of subfloor is needed for ceramic tile?
Is 3/4 subfloor enough for tile?
CLICK TO ENLARGE Plywood underlayment, glued and screwed to a nominal 3/4 in. plywood subfloor, makes a sturdy substrate for ceramic tile. The uncoupling (crack isolation) membrane helps prevent cracking in the tiles and grout.
Is 1 subfloor thick enough for tile?
Plywood must be installed over an adequate subfloor and must be at least 1 1/8″ thick when combined with the subfloor. Interior-grade plywood and particleboard are not considered strong enough for a tile installation.
What kind of subfloor is needed for ceramic tile?
As with a wooden subfloor, a concrete subfloor must be level for successful tile installation. Additionally, steps must be taken to ensure that a concrete floor will create a solid bond. Your concrete floor should be clean, dry, flat and free of adhesives.
Do I need a subfloor for ceramic tile?
0:008:45Preparing Subfloor for Tile | The Home Depot - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipA subfloor is the bottom most structural. Level of your floor. And supports your decorative floorMoreA subfloor is the bottom most structural. Level of your floor. And supports your decorative floor finish whether it's carpet hardwood vinyl laminated wood or tile floor preparation for installing tile
What is minimum thickness of subfloor with tile on it?
1 1/8″ thickThe subfloor under the tile should be at least 1 1/8″ thick, with a minimum of 5/8″ thick exterior grade plywood topped by 1/2″ cement backer board.
How do you prepare a floor for ceramic tile?
2:585:04How to Prep Subfloor for Tile Installation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipApply a thin layer of mortar to the substrate with the flat side to produce solid. Contact with theMoreApply a thin layer of mortar to the substrate with the flat side to produce solid. Contact with the surface. And then comb the mortar using the nock side rule.
What thickness subfloor is recommended?
The spacing of the joists governs the recommended thickness of the plywood subfloor. Some experts suggest that 15/32-inch plywood should be standard if the underlying floor joists are spaced 16 inches apart or less, but you should use slightly thicker 3/4-inch plywood for joists spaced further apart.
Can I lay ceramic tile over 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.
What is the minimum thickness of subfloor?
The minimum thickness of plywood for subflooring is about 5/8 inch. Since it does not hold fasteners as well as plywood, OSB must be a little thicker, or at least 23/32 inch.
How thick should plywood be for tiling?
When using plywood, you'll need to ensure it's at least 12mm or more in thickness to create a rigid surface for your tiles.
What do you put on subfloor before tile?
Install a cement backer board to set a good base for your tile and prevent any movement-related cracking of tile or grout. Backer board is screwed down to wood subfloor using specific backer board screws and mortared down with tile adhesive mortar plywood subfloor.
Can you use 1/4 inch cement board on floors?
1/4" USG Durock® cement board is an ideal substrate for floor and countertop ceramic tile installations. The 1/4" thickness helps eliminate transition trim when abutting carpet or wood flooring and minimize level variations with other finish materials.
How many subfloors are there for ceramic tile?
There are six subfloor/underlayment structures that are widely accepted for ceramic tile floors.
How heavy is a second layer of ceramic tile?
Two layers of ceramic tile will be quite heavy, and can weigh more than the underlying joists and subfloor can adequately handle. A subfloor system that worked fine for a single layer of ceramic tile may not be strong enough to handle the many hundreds of extra pounds added when a second layer is added.
What happens if tile is not in good shape?
If the underlying flooring structure—which usually consists of floor joists, a subfloor, and an underlayment —is not in good shape, the ceramic tile floor will flex underfoot, leading to cracked grout joints and a ruined installation.
What is cement based backer board?
Whatever its name, cement-based backer board is what the name suggests: a layer of cementitious material faced with fiberglass mesh to hold it together. It is commonly sold in 1/4- or 1/2-inch-thick sheets that are three-by-five feet or four-by-eight feet in size.
Can you put tile over sheet vinyl?
If it does not lift up, it is full contact vinyl. When installing tile over sheet vinyl, make sure to use a specialty thin-set adhesive that is formulated to bond to vinyl. Overly glossy, or cushioned vinyl flooring does not work very well as an underlayment for ceramic tile.
Can you use vinyl underlayment on ceramic tile?
The TCNA gives the following requirements for using vinyl flooring as an underlayment for ceramic tile: 1 . The sheet vinyl must be clean and free of wax or other bond breakers. The very shiny vinyl must be scuffed up, or scarified, in order to provide a surface that tile adhesives can bond to.
Is concrete a good underlayment for ceramic tile?
A concrete slab is also a good ceramic tile underlayment. In fact, it is one of the very best underlayments, since it closely resembles the solid mortar bases that were once the norm for ceramic tile installations. It is important, though, for the underlying slab to be perfectly flat and level, and for it to be stable and not prone to settling or heaving. And you need to be careful not to tile over expansion joints in the underlying slab, which will cause the tile job to fracture.
What causes tile grout to crack?
Deflection, or bounciness, can cause tiles and grout to crack or come loose, and the tolerance depends on what type of tile is being installed. For instance, ceramic tile can withstand more deflection than natural stone.
Can you put tile over existing tile?
Tile can be installed directly over existing tile given that it is free of cracks and there are no loose tiles. Jim and Rich advise using a bond-promoting primer to enable the mortar to better adhere to the existing floor, and to set the floor with a specialty polymer modified mortar.
Can tile be installed over concrete?
It’s also common to see til e installed over a concrete subfloor, and the big concern is movement from cracks, or expansion / contraction. Jim and Rich often flash the floor to create a flat surface, and they always recommend installing an uncoupling membrane like DITRA overtop concrete.
How thick should a concrete floor be for ceramic tile?
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. However, you're not out of the woods: Concrete expands and contracts, and that type of movement can also crack the tiles and the grout.
Why do you need a subfloor for porcelain tile?
Perhaps more than any other flooring material, ceramic and porcelain tile need a stable subfloor because any flexing or other movements will crack the tile grout and maybe even the til es. This is why it's vital to evaluate the subfloor before you decide to install new tile.
How many inches of tile per foot?
The substrate for tiles shorter than 15 inches must be so flat that it varies no more than 1/16 inch per foot, according to the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation. Most floor tile is adhered to the subfloor or underlayment with cement-based thinset mortar. Image Credit: Natalia Baran/iStock/GettyImages.
What is the condition of a subfloor?
Subfloor condition: The subfloor must be free of moisture damage, including rot and sponginess, and must be securely fastened to the joists and squeak-free. Don't lay tiles on a concrete slab with cracks that appear to be spreading or irregularities that prevent you from leveling it.
How wide should floor joists be?
Joist spacing: The spacing of the floor joists is also an important factor, but you can usually compensate for wide spacing by adding extra layers of subflooring. A spacing of 16 inches is great, but joists are often spaced by 24 inches, and that's more dicey, usually requiring an extra layer of subflooring.
How far apart should cementboard sheets be?
The seams between the cementboard sheets must be offset from the plywood seams by at least 2 inches, and the end joints of the cementboard sheets should also be staggered by at least that much with respect to each other. Screw the sheets to the subfloor, using rust-resistant screws and spacing them 6 inches apart.
Do you need an underlayment for a concrete floor?
You don't always need an underlayment when installing a tile floor on a concrete subfloor, but when the concrete is below grade and susceptible to groundwater seepage, is outdoors or subject to heavy loads, an uncoupling membrane is recommended.
What is the maximum deflection for tile?
The Tile Council of America (TCA) specifies a maximum deflection for floors of L/360 under a 300-pound concentrated load. While building codes limit deflection in living spaces to L/360 under uniform loads, code-compliant floors may still have too much flexing between joists under point loads. Many natural stone tiles require stiffer conditions, ranging from L/480 to as stiff as L/720.
How stiff is a TCA floor?
To meet TCA stiffness requirements, floor framing should be no more than 16 inches on-center with minimum 19/32 -inch plywood subflooring. Upgrading to 23/32- inch plywood will stiffen the subfloor by almost 80% and provide a more solid feeling floor. The subflooring should be level to 1/8 inch in 10 feet.
How much space between plywood sheets?
Leave a 1/8 -inch gap between sheets and make sure the edges of adjacent plywood sheets are no more than 1/32 inch out of plane. Overall, the surface should be level to 1/8 inch over 10 feet (1/4 inch is allowed by the tile industry but is not suitable for large tiles). Fasten with ring-shank nails or screws at 6 inches on-center.
Will a floor crack?
By safe perhaps you mean will the floor crack - the answer is it depends ... on the floor framing and its rigidity, which may vary depending on the age of home and how it was built.
Can ceramic tile be used over concrete?
Ceramic tile can be installed over clean and sound concrete, plywood, cement backerboard, drywall, or plaster. Most substrates can be used with either organic mastic or thinset mortar, but the installer should always check the adhesive label for compatibility with the substrate.
How thick should a subfloor be?
Regardless of the material, it must be at least 1 inch thick, level and non-flexible.
Can you put tile over a subfloor?
Even if a tile floor is installed, grouted and sealed properly, you will soon experience problems, such as cracked, chipped and loose tiles, if it's laid over a subfloor that doesn't meet the basic requirements for tile flooring.
Can plywood be sanded?
Plywood subfloors can be sanded to make them even, while leveling compound can be used to make concrete level. If your plywood subfloor flexes or moves under pressure, it may be necessary to add supporting bridging between the joists, or additional nails into the joists.
How thick is plywood to install under a subfloor?
If needed, sand the plywood down to level the subfloor. Plywood must be installed over an adequate subfloor and must be at least 1 1/8″ thick when combined with the subfloor.
How do I repair a crack in a concrete floor?
1. Laying tile flooring over concrete. Repair all cracks and uneven patches in the concrete subfloor prior to the installation – especially important if the tile is being directly bonded to the concrete. In case of subfloors with large cracks, consider the possibility of removing a large section of concrete slab and replacing it ...
Can you use thinset over tile?
Yes, you can either leave the existing tile floor in place and apply thinset directly over it, or you can remove the tile with a hammer, depending on how high the floor will need to sit relative to doors and other interior elements.
Is plywood subfloor a hard material?
A plywood subfloor must be structurally sound and able to support the installation. Tile floors are heavy and tile is a hard material. It will break or dislodge if the surface bends under the load.
Can subfloors be used for tile?
Unsuitable subfloors for tile. Subfloors to avoid for tile installations are those that tend to flex, expand, contract, or warp. Any excessive movement will loosen the tile and pop the grout. Unsuitable subfloors must be replaced or covered with a suitable underlayment.
How much do floor joists deflect?
Floor joists beneath ceramic tile floors must not deflect more than 1/360 of their span. Assuming your joists are #1 grade and the span is no greater than 16 feet 9 inches, you can proceed.
Can cementitious board be used as underlayment?
Cementitious board makes a great underlayment, however, it requires some additional labor. It is necessary to install the cementitious board in a layer of fresh thinset or dry set mortar. This material acts as a filler for any low spots in the plywood.
Do you need underlayment for ceramic tile?
You will need to add additional underlayment prior to installing the ceramic tile. However, you need to check something else before you proceed. The floor joist span may be too great. Ceramic tile is a very rigid material. Most ceramic tiles have very little tensile strength.
What is the minimum compressive strength of gypsum underlayment?
Structurally sound concrete floors require that the gypsum underlayment meet a minimum compressive strength of 3.000 psi and be a minimum thickness of 1/2”.
What is self leveling underlayment?
Self-Leveling Underlayment, popularly known as SLU, is designed to flatten or possibly level a floor surface prior to installing tile. The floor surface must be properly prepared and primed with the manufacturer’s recommended product and allowed to dry.
What is floor patching?
Floor patch materials come from a variety of manufacturers and are used to obtain the required plane for tile installations. This includes filling cracks, voids, rough surfaces and low or depressed areas.
What is trowelable underlayment?
Trowelable underlayments contain cement, aggregate and are mixed with either potable water or a latex additive. Many manufacturers recommend applying a slurry coat of the product to the substrate allowing it to dry until it becomes tacky. The recommended liquid and powder mix is then applied to the surface.
What is waterproof membrane?
Waterproof membranes, conforming to ANSI A118.10, are available in sheet and liquid forms and can be used with both vertical and horizontal thin bed and thick bed installations of tile.
How to make a powdery surface?
Too little water can impede the flow of the mixture while too much water can cause the aggregate to sink to the bottom, separating from the other components, yielding a weak and powdery surface. 2. Use a mixer that maintains the proper speed.
Do backer boards need mortar?
As a general rule on floor applications, backer boards require a supporting layer of thin set mortar or other product, as directed by the manufacturer. Furthermore, f astening the board and seam treatment should strictly follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Failure to do so can void the manufacturer’s warranty.
