How To Install Ceramic Tile On Plywood Floor

Laying tile over a plywood subfloor can be tricky but.

How to install ceramic tile on plywood floor.

Installing over wood. 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. The safest most prudent course is to install tile on top of a cement backerboard such as durock wonderboard or hardiebacker. A poor ceramic installation will delaminate from the subfloor split at the grout lines or worse crack directly across the tile.

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. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout and a lot of headaches. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment such as plywood. One question that folks new to ceramic tile frequently ask is whether they can lay the ceramic directly on top of a plywood or osb subfloor using a thinset cement or liquid nails to glue down the tile to the wood.

Tile floors are an attractive functional option for kitchens bathrooms laundry rooms and entryways. Plywood or osb flakeboard can expand and contract at too high a rate to be a stable foundation for tile. Cement backerboard is made for tiling. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile.

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. Laying tile over a plywood subfloor can be a bit tricky but if you take the time to prepare the sub floor properly you can enjoy a new tile floor that will last for a lifetime. 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. Installing ceramic floor tile to a plywood sub floor has unique challenges beyond that of installation on a concrete floor.

This will cause either the tile itself to crack and even come loose or cause the grout to crack inside the joints. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. If your tile floors are worn or chipped or you re simply ready for an upgrade follow this guide to learn how to install a tile floor yourself. Backerboard does not shrink or expand when it comes into contact with water mortar and grout both contain water.