Can you install tile directly on subfloor?
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. No matter how firm the subfloor; 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.
What type of plywood to use for a subfloor?
Standard plywood can be used for subfloors, but a better material is 3/4-inch tongue-and-groove plywood subflooring. The tongue-and-groove edges interlock to resist movement along the panel edges and create an overall stiffer floor. Read the full answer. Like Sturd-I-Floor, Rated Sheathing may be plywood or OSB.
How to prepare a subfloor for tile installation?
- To prepare your concrete subfloor, make sure that it can accept water penetration. ...
- The concrete must be free of efflorescence or salts on the surface. ...
- Slide a 4- to 6-foot straight edge in different directions all around the room to check how level the floor is. ...
How to install plywood on top of your subfloor?
Installing Plywood Underlayment. Sweep away all debris on your subfloor, then use a vacuum cleaner to remove as much dirt as possible. Take a sheet of plywood and lay it on the subfloor, starting from one corner of your work area. Leave a gap of at least 1/8 of an inch between the plywood sheets and the walls to allow for natural expansion and ...
What do you use for subfloor under tile?
Exterior-Grade Plywood 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.
How thick should plywood subfloor be for tile?
The 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.
Can you lay tile directly on plywood subfloor?
0:338:02How to Lay Tile Over Plywood - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBefore laying tile over any plywood subfloor it's important to make sure that the floor. Itself isMoreBefore laying tile over any plywood subfloor it's important to make sure that the floor. Itself is free from excessive deflection or bending which can pop grout joints and loosen or crack tiles a
Should I put plywood down before tiling?
Yes you need at least 9mm thick plywood on bathroom floorboards screwed down prior to floor tiling layed with flexible floor tile adhesive.
What is the best plywood for bathroom floor?
CDX plywoodPlywood as a Subfloor Material Traditionally, exterior grade plywood has been the subfloor material of choice for many bathroom flooring projects. Plywood is made by gluing alternating layers of wood veneer. CDX plywood (¾”) in particular is used often because it has a high level of resistance to moisture and humidity.
Can you tile over OSB?
Ceramic tiling can be installed onto 23/32” OSB subflooring panels where the panels are supported by 16” o.c. joist spacing. Manufacturers generally recommend that the deflection of the subfloor system be limited to no more than span/360 under total load.
How do you prepare plywood for tile subfloor?
The safest, most trouble-free method for prepping plywood subfloor for tiling involves the addition of a layer of cement backerboard, which will not interact with the moisture found in the mortar and grout that hold ceramic and porcelain tiles in place.
What is best material for subfloor?
PlywoodPlywood. Plywood is considered the most popular material used for subflooring, it has been used since the 1950s and remains one of the top choices for contractors. Standard plywood works perfectly fine as a subflooring material, but the best option is ¾” tongue-and-groove plywood subflooring.
Do you have to use cement board under tile?
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.
Can you tile straight on to plywood?
just seal the ply wood with pva or just screw some plasterboard to the pipe boxing and use any good tile adhesive should stick just fine .
Should I use cement board or plywood?
Cement backerboard is more stable than plywood in high humidity and other wet environments. It won't swell and buckle the way that plywood does, so it's safe to use in mudrooms and bathrooms where things like spills and puddles are normal, as well as in areas with high levels of moisture in the air.
Can I tile on 6mm plywood?
6mm No More Ply is a pre-primed tile backer board which provides a flat, stable surface ready for floor tiling. It is ideal for floors which my be susceptible to deflection or lateral movement, such as expansion and contraction.
How thick is a subfloor?
In new construction, a subfloor is typically a minimum of 5/8-inch thick. Another common size is 7/8 inch, and some subfloors are even thicker. New homes are not constructed with multilayer subfloors, but multilayer subfloors are used when a home is being retrofitted.
What is subfloor flooring?
By John Willis. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. A subfloor is a wooden, structural substrate to which durable finished flooring is attached. Plywood is usually used as subfloor today. There are many types, sizes and configurations of plywood. Different plywoods use various materials and methods of manufacture, ...
Why use construction adhesive on subfloor?
Construction adhesive is used to better seal the tongue-and-groove joint.
Why is plywood X rated?
This is desirable for structural panels because finish plywood can be extremely expensive. The "X" indicates that the plywood can withstand some exposure. As with OSB, it is suitable for exterior sheathing as well, although it is not as water-resistant as OSB. Advertisement.
Why is plywood used as a subfloor?
Plywood is used as a subfloor material which means it helps support the finished flooring. In some cases it even helps secure it by holding the nails such as with hardwood. So it needs to be string and stiff. If your plywood flooring flexes even a little you could end up with squeaks, gaps or cracks.
What are the different types of plywood?
Types Of Plywood. When shopping for plywood you’ll see terms such as “Interior,” “exterior,” “structural” or “marine”. These are all classifications of plywood based one where they’re meant to be used. This is a separate classification from a plywood sheet’s letter grading.
What does the letter A mean in plywood?
The letters A, B, C, D and X are all grades of plywood that signify it’s quality. A being the highest quality. However these letter grades don’t represent structural properties. They’re all about cosmetics. Higher grade plywood is made of better looking wood that’s sanded and sometimes stain grade. Premium grade plywood is most commonly used for making furniture or cabinetry and not as a subfloor material.
How wide should a floor joist be?
When you lay your plywood onto the floor joist, the edge should sit in the middle of the joist. Each floor joist is wide enough to support the edges of two plywood sheets. For example, an 1 1/2″ wide 2×12 can support 2 sheets of plywood. Each sheet rests on 3/4 inch.
What is plywood joists?
Joists are what supports the floor. They’re typically 2×8, 2×10, 2×12 or engineered lumber and 16 inches on center. A plywood subfloor is glued and screwed directly to the joists. This is usually OSB, CDX or regular plywood. All three come in 4×8 sheets at 5/8 inch thickness. Different underlayment materials are then installed on top ...
How many layers of wood are there in a wood frame house?
A typical wood framed house has four layers of stacked material that make up the floor. Joists are what supports the floor. They’re typically 2×8, 2×10, 2×12 or engineered lumber and 16 inches on center. A plywood subfloor is glued and screwed directly to the joists.
How thick should a new floor be?
However many older homes used 24″ o.c. The National Wood Flooring Association recommends a minimum plywood thickness of 7/8 inch for joist spans of 19.2 to 24 inches and a minimum plywood thickness of 5/8 inch for joist spans of 16 inches or less.
What is plywood subfloor?
Though often used interchangeably, the two terms refer to different components of a well-structured floor design. A subfloor is a base layer designed to provide structural ...
How thick is plywood for underlayment?
A final mark to check is the thickness of the plywood. Most underlayment-approved plywood is at least 11/32 inches, the standard recommendation. Some professionals, however, will use plywood as thin as 1/4 inch for resilient flooring if the subfloor is in particularly good condition. Advertisement.
What is underlayment flooring?
Underlayment Basics. An important aspect of choosing an underlayment is the flooring surface. Resilient floors, such as linoleum, rubber or fiber composite surfaces, and fully adhered carpet require an especially smooth underlayment because any flaws beneath (nail pops, splinters and cracks) have an increased visibility.
Why is an underlayment needed?
The subfloor is not expected to be smooth, as it is exposed to weathering and regular construction traffic, which is why an underlayment is necessary. The underlayment serves as a smooth, durable surface upon which the floor surface can be laid. Advertisement.
What is grade N plywood?
Plywood is graded with a lettering system A through D , with the letter N sometimes used as well. Grade N plywood is categorized by having the least number of blemishes, followed by A. The scale progresses to D, which has the greatest number of blemishes, splinters and knots. Typically, retailers use a two-letter system to indicate the quality ...
Why is it important to have a smooth floor?
As previously mentioned, it is important that the surface be smooth to avoid imperfections in the cosmetic layer of the floor. Dimensional strength refers to the material's ability to retain its original shape. Exposure to water and seasonal changes in temperature effect underlayment and must be compensated for in material construction.
What is exposure 1 plywood?
Exposure 1 is constructed to withstand minimal water exposure and should not be used out of doors or in areas that are at risk for frequent water exposure. Exterior plywood is able to withstand repeated water exposure and weathering without being damaged. This class of plywood is appropriate for use outside as well in areas ...
How thick is plywood underlayment?
Types of Plywood Underlayment. Most plywood underlayment is about 1/4 inch thick and has square edges and a smooth, knot-free top face. It typically comes in 4 x 8-foot sheets.
What is underlayment plywood?
Plywood underlayment is a thin plywood material that is most commonly used under resilient flooring materials, such as vinyl and linoleum sheets and tiles. It can also be used under hardwood, laminate, and carpet, ...
What is the difference between subfloor and underlayment?
Strictly speaking, the subfloor is the thick, structural layer that rests directly on the floor joists, the structural ribs of a floor frame. Underlayment is a thinner material that lies over the subfloor. While underlayment may add a modest amount ...
When is plywood underlayment needed?
Plywood underlayment is typically needed when a floor material must have a very smooth, flat surface. For example, if you install resilient tiles or sheet flooring over a subfloor, any bumps, dips, or voids in the subfloor may be evident in the finished flooring.
Is plywood the same as underlayment?
There are also engineered subfloor panels designed for covering concrete slabs in basements. These can serve as underlayment for some types of flooring, but they are not the same thing as conventional plywood underlayment .
Can you cut plywood sheets with a saw?
Plywood underlayment is easy to install. The sheets are lightweight and have perfectly uniform dimensions and edges. You can cut sheets with a circular saw, jigsaw, table saw, or handsaw, just like any wood sheet material.
Can you use plywood under laminate?
It can also be used under hardwood, laminate, and carpet, but this is much less common these days because subflooring is typically smooth enough for these materials, many of which are installed with a different type of underlayment or pad. Plywood underlayment provides a smooth, flat surface, without voids from knots or other surface imperfections ...
How to improve stiffness of floor joists?
Since adding additional joists (or sistering the existing joists) would be impractical, you could improve the stiffness somewhat by adding solid blocking every couple of feet. For greater strength and stiffness, you could add a layer of subflooring to the bottom of the floor joists on the 14 ft. span.
How much does a tile floor weigh?
Tile floors are likely to weigh 15 to 20 pounds or more when you add the framing, ceiling below, subflooring, tile, and setting materials. Kitchen cabinets or bathroom fixtures above can also add to the dead load. Typical values are shown in the table below from lumber supplier Boise Cascade.
What to use for wet areas?
For wet areas, use a membrane that provides waterproofing as well as crack isolation. Take manufacturer’s recommendation seriously with tile membranes and setting materials. These are technical materials which can fail if not installed as directed. Don’t mix and match.
Can you grout with one manufacturer?
Stick with one manufacturer for setting materials – thinset, grout, colorant, sealer. Mix two products and no one is responsible if there are problems. Never grout tile joints that abut other materials, planes, or restraints such as : wood, fiberglass/acrylic, tile base, recesses, etc.
Can you double up on joists?
It would be a lot of work to double up on the joists because of perpendicular wires, copper pipes, and PVC through some of the joists and some round duct running along between two joists. A layer of crack-isolation membrane over two layers of plywood provides an excellent substrate for tile.
Is wood framing good for tile?
Steve Bliss, of BuildingAdvisor.com, responds: Wood framing is not an ideal substrate for tile since wood tends to flex, shrink, and expand, while tile and grout are very inflexible. Excessive deflection in a wood floor system is a common cause for cracking in thin-set tile installations.
Is tile waterproofing a membrane?
Most tile membranes are also designed to provide waterproofing if installed according to specifications. TCNA does still show a single-layer ¾” T&G subfloor with an uncoupling membrane (F148), but I don’t know anyone in the tile industry who advocates a single-layer plywood substrate for ceramic tile or stone.