If the subfloor doesn t have enough stability you can usually but not always remedy the situation by installing cement backer board also called cementboard.
How to installing backerboard on uneven floor.
Upstairs bathroom floor i put 1 2 inch backerboard on the tongue and groove plank subfloor and then tiled and it has been wonderful for 15 years so far.
When installing a ceramic tile floor on a concrete subfloor you don t have to worry about flexing as long as the concrete slab is at least 1 1 8 inch thick which most slabs are.
But this kerdi stuff is different.
The various brands of cement board such as hardiebacker durock denshield and wonderboard have become a standard tile backer material for nearly all ceramic porcelain and stone tiles for floor wall and countertop applications.
Because it is waterproof and resists movement cement board is the preferred backing material for ceramic tiles.
Ceramic tile and natural stone tile installations require some type of a cement based surface for a long term.
It comes in sheets that resemble small heavy.
Before installing a tile floor a subfloor and underlayment is necessary.
This means that tile applied to cement backer board resists cracking and popping loose better than tile applied to a plywood subfloor alone.
How to install a cement backer board over a plywood subfloor in the bathroom.
Cement backer board is more dimensionally stable than plywood and forms a better bond with the thin set adhesive used to glue the tile down.
How to repair uneven cement boards.
So 1 2 inch plywood under the shower and ramp then install kerdi to its instructions.
It s available in sheets of many sizes with 3 foot by 5 foot sheets being the most common.
These convenient panels of cementitious board provide an instant flat hard surface that bonds with the thin set adhesives or mortars used to install tile.
Cement backerboard is a thin layer of concrete with fiberglass mesh on both sides.
Installing a tile floor requires medium level diy skills but with a bit of patience diyers can add this durable yet beautiful flooring.