How thick of a subfloor do you need 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.

What subfloor is needed for porcelain tile?





1. Backer Board. This is the industry standard most preferred by construction pros when installing ceramic or porcelain tile. Backer board comes in four-foot-by-eight-foot and three-foot-by-five-foot rigid panels that contain a combination of cement, fiberglass, and sometimes crushed glass particles.

Do I need a subfloor under tile?

Ceramic and porcelain tile are among the most rigid materials for flooring. They require a subfloor that’s designed to account for this, without any fluctuation or movement. If ceramic or porcelain tiles are installed on an uneven surface, there is the risk they may crack or loosen.

Do I need plywood under tile?

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.

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.

What is the proper subfloor for 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.

What do I put between plywood and tile?

Thinset is the wet base that you first trowel on the plywood to make the tile stick. Higher latex content is essential for bonding to plywood. A quality unmodified thinset should be used and mixed with a latex additive.

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.

What do you put on subfloor before tile?


Quote from Youtube video: Once you've prepared your wood subfloor you will need to install cement.

Should I 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.

What should I put under tile?

Underlayment is something you put on top of your substrate to prepare it for tiling. The substrate (or subfloor) is the ground, whether it’s made of plywood or cement. Cement board or backer board are the most standard underlayments. They come in various thicknesses for different spaces.

Do you put cement board under tile floor?

What you need for a tile base. If you want to replace an old, cracked tile floor or other type of flooring with new ceramic tile, it’s absolutely imperative that you create a solid setting base for the new tile. If you’re working over a wood subfloor, cement board is the right choice for your tile base.

How thick is backer board for tile?



1/2-inch

The most common thickness of tile backer board is 1/2-inch. Quarter-inch and 5/8-inch thicknesses can also be found.

Can you lay tiles on joists?

Yes, but because wooden floors naturally bend, bounce and expand, tiles can end up cracking under the pressure if installed incorrectly. Tiling on wood surfaces is all about ensuring there is enough rigidity in the wooden subfloor and selecting the correct flexible tile adhesive.

Can I tile suspended floor?

Tiles can be laid on concrete and suspended timber floors. With a concrete floor, it’s important to clean it first with warm water and washing-up liquid.

How do you tile over a wooden sub floor?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Should be nailed or screwed every eight inches in the field. And every six inches around the perimeter. The nails themselves should be long enough to pass through both layers of underlayment.

What thickness ply to tile on?

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. This, along with your tiles, will raise the level of your flooring, so be sure to bear this in mind before you get started. The alternative is backer board.

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.

Is 12mm plywood OK for flooring?

The cross-graining technique used in our 12mm ply improves strength, stability and prevents warping, making it excellent for bath panelling, wall lining floors and roofs.