How To Install Porcelain Tile On Plywood Floor

Tile can be installed over a plywood substrate and it is actually a fantastic way to make sure you don t have deflection in your floor.

How to install porcelain tile on plywood floor.

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. 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. 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. Plywood substrate alternatives.

The safest most prudent course is to install tile on top of a cement backerboard such as durock wonderboard or hardiebacker. Tile floors are an attractive functional option for kitchens bathrooms laundry rooms and entryways. Backerboard does not shrink or expand when it comes into contact with water mortar and grout both contain water. If you have items in the way like radiator pipes or bath pipes you ll need to drill holes in those tiles ahead of time so they can fit in place.

Plywood or osb flakeboard can expand and contract at too high a rate to be a stable foundation for tile. Installing ceramic floor tile to a plywood sub floor has unique challenges beyond that of installation on a concrete floor. Cement backerboard is made for tiling. This will cause either the tile itself to crack and even come loose or cause the grout to crack inside the joints.

When you re ready to lay the tile you ll need to start from the exact center of the floor and lay the tile in lines toward either wall leaving a small space between each tile. The boards come in 3 x 5 foot sheets and are available where tile and grout are sold. Installing over wood. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment such as plywood.

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. After you establish your guidelines or layout lines it s time to install the tile. 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.