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Wood is fine for your SUB-floor, but not as the substrate to which you intend to attach the tile. You still need to install a crack isolation membrane or tile backerboard on top of the wood subflooring. It's because wood has too much 'give' and will cause your tiles to track and possibly pop loose. Grout lines will crack and eventually chip out.

I followed instructions exactly for installing tile to my plywood subfloor - I used a polymer-modified thinset mortar designed to work with wood, and my floor joists were 16" on centers. The only difference is that I had a double thickness of subfloor (1-1/2") instead of the recommended minimum of 3/4". Ten years later, I have several tiles which sound 'hollow' (loosened from the subfloor) and several others are cracked. These are high-density porcelain floor tiles. I'll not do that again.

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Can you tile over plywood floor?

You couldn't tile directly over a plywood sub-floor because over time, the wood will be expanding. There are products you can use in between the plywood and tiles to keep them in place such as cement backer board.


Do you have to do anything special when laying tile over tile?

The first thing you want to do is be sure that the original tile is secure and even. If it is loose, or uneven the new tile may pop out or crack under normal wear and tear. If it is uneven or unsecure you can lay a sub-floor to give the new tile a even base.


How thick should a sub floor be when installing marble tiles?

The sub floor should not be a problem if it hasn't been one for other reasons. What is most important is the installation of cement board over the sub floor to keep the tile and grout from cracking. Most marble tile used in residential buildings is not so heavy as to create weight issues.


What is the best way to lay tile?

Make sure the sub surface is clean.If it is not cement,you would have to add additive to the thin set addhesive to bond to the floor.Lay out floor from center of room off both walls.Snap line on floor to form a grid to fallow.Place the tile's in the grid depending on the size of the tile.If you lay 4 tile's on floor as example leave space for grout.You will have your grid square.With a 1/4" notch trowel place mixed thinset in the grid.Then apply some thin set to the underside of tile with trowel and remove excess with trowel for a good bond.If you place thinset on floor only and don't apply to underside of tile,they will all come loose in a matter of time.Good luck


How do you put sub floor down on concrete for a ceramic tile floor?

I would use a latex screed. like cement but with a latex binder, add water pour 5- 10mm on to the concrete and it self levels.Dries in about a day.Put a poylthene membrane down first if damp is a problem

Related Questions

Can you tile over plywood floor?

You couldn't tile directly over a plywood sub-floor because over time, the wood will be expanding. There are products you can use in between the plywood and tiles to keep them in place such as cement backer board.


Do you have to do anything special when laying tile over tile?

The first thing you want to do is be sure that the original tile is secure and even. If it is loose, or uneven the new tile may pop out or crack under normal wear and tear. If it is uneven or unsecure you can lay a sub-floor to give the new tile a even base.


Can particle wood sub floor be repaired and can tile be put on this floor?

The best way to repair particle board sub-flooring is to cut out the bad spot and replace with new board. You can only use vinyl and self stick tile over particle board. Ceramic tile cannot because the moisture in the thin-sets will break down the particle board.


What kind of sub floor should you use for tile?

Wonder board.


Can you lay ceramic tile directly on sub floor?

No unless it is a cement substrate. Wood sub floors are not strong enough. You need to have a mud bed poured or put some type of cement board down.


Can tile be set on vinyl?

I would not recommend it. It will not bond properly. You will have to install an appropriate sub-floor, then install the tile on that


Can you install engineered wood flooring over a wood floor that is on concrete sub floor?

Absolutely.


Why is my bathroom floor sinking and tile cracking?

Almost for certain, you have water damage in your sub floor which is weakening the floor, causing it to sag, causing the tile to crack. Yes you could replace the sub floor and flooring, but find what's causing the water damages and fix that first. or a joist could be broken


How thick should a sub floor be when installing marble tiles?

The sub floor should not be a problem if it hasn't been one for other reasons. What is most important is the installation of cement board over the sub floor to keep the tile and grout from cracking. Most marble tile used in residential buildings is not so heavy as to create weight issues.


Why do floor tile break?

The list is long:1) Item dropped on it2) Large/Heavy item caused sub floor to flex3) Poor installation4) House shifted5) Flaw in tile


Can you cover linoleum with cement board before tiling?

If the sub floor is wood, Yes


What would cause liquid leaking up through grout lines in a new ceramic tile floor?

Improper installation. You must install cement board over the sub floor before you tile. If the tile was glued to plywood which is not waterproof, the plywood will absorb moisture which will cause the grout to crack and deteriorate