Jan 28, 2015 i was allowed to cut open the floor and sure enough, the flooring was adhered to the patch, but the patch was letting go from the subfloor. On a plywood subfloor, you need either a layer of cement backer board or an underlayment membrane, like custom building products wonderboard and redgard, between the subfloor and tile for the thinset adhesive to achieve a good. Vinyl is typically laid over a solid subfloor, which is ideally sturdy enough to keep from sagging under weight, should lay straight all the way across when measured with a leveler and shouldnt creak or sag in spots when you walk across it. May 05, 2015 with wood floor, you generally have to remove more than what you need to patch before you start laying new pieces. If the space at the wall is less than 12 tile, shift centerline to eliminate small cuts. Vinyl is one of the few types of floors that can be safely installed over concrete, wood, or other solid floors. But youll discover that if you want to make the floor really look interesting, youll install the tile diagonally in the room. If you do this, it will not be long before the tile has broken into pieces. Feb 26, 2019 installing ceramic floor tile to a plywood subfloor has unique challenges beyond that of installation on a concrete floor. Mark the edge tiles for cutting by laying them on the floor next to the wall. Our experts will show you how to check for dips, install backing board, apply primer.
Also, check the height of the floor with the height of doors and cabinets. One example would be to use laticretes 317 thinset mixed with laticrete 333 liquid latex additive. Clean with a degreaser and test a small area overnight for bonding. In this video, learn how to prepare a wood or concrete subfloor for tile, including such steps as checking for dips, installing backerboard, applying primer and thinset, pouring liquid underlayment and when to use osb or exteriorgrade plywood. Fulltrowel filler is thinner than wood patch, and designed to spread across the surface of the wood floor. Wood flooring can be installed over existing ceramic tile, marble or terrazzo with proper underlayment or adhesives according to manufacturers recommendation. Here is a brief overview of what you need to do to ensure your subfloor is clean, solid and level. Despite its durability, be careful not to tap too hard as marble can crack. Before you start laying your marble tiles, inspect them to ensure none are broken or defective.
First, changes in humidity make solid wood shrink, swell and cup more than plywood. It supports your decorative floor finish, whether its carpet, hardwood, vinyl, laminated wood or tile. A plywood subfloor must be structurally sound and able to support the installation. Jul 25, 2019 the subfloor is the foundation beneath finish flooring materials. Laying out the installation ensures your tile is set in a straight line and is square and level with adjacent surfaces. The most current ansi standards for tile installation a108 1999 specifically exclude osb. Preparing subfloor for tile is an important step to ensure your flooring holds up over time. Is this floor strong enough to prevent cracks in the ceramic tile. Whatever your subfloor is made of, be sure its squeak free before you install the cement board. The 20032004 tile council of americas tca handbook for ceramic tile installation contains numerous details for a double layer wood floor system supporting ceramic tile. Should i replace my subfloor before installing tile.
The first step to proper installation is to get the subfloor in order. Because plywood expands and contracts beneath the ceramic tile, grout and tile failure. Before you begin installing your tile floor, make sure the subfloor is completely flat and smooth. Types of subfloor materials in construction projects. The thicknesses of the subfloor and underlayment are given in each case. Laying tile to veneer plywood risks loosening and unbonding the veneer, creating an unstable base for the tile. Mar 28, 20 tile subfloor, thickness, deflection installing electric radiant heat pouring self leveling mortar leveling flattening the subfloor installing cement board cbu installing schluter ditra marking guidelines for tile how to lay tile how to grout tile joints theres a lot of information and misinformation online about what constitutes a suitable subfloor for tile, and its tough to find a. Learn how to prepare a wood or concrete subfloor for tile. Fixafloor is an extra strength repair adhesive customized fixafloor is an extra strength repair adhesive customized for the specific use of rebonding loose and hollow tile, marble, stone and wood flooring without removing or replacing. Preparing subfloor for tile the home depot youtube. Laying tile over a plywood subfloor can be tricky, but if you prepare the sub floor properly, your tile floor will last for a lifetime. Preparing your subfloor for tile in this video, learn how to prepare a wood or concrete subfloor for tile, including such steps as checking for dips, installing backerboard, applying primer and thinset, pouring liquid underlayment and when to use osb or exteriorgrade plywood.
Work in chalked grids typically 2 tiles by 2 tiles allowing space for grout joints. Sleeperconstructed subfloor consists of wood subfloor installed over or on an existing concrete subfloor on or belowgrade without 18 of well ventilated air space. Place a row of tiles along each line, using spacers. The subfloor should be level, clean, and free of wax, grease, oil or dust. Space the field and edge fasteners correctly the top layer of plywood should be screwed down every 8 inches on the edge and every 6 inches in the field, or interior, section.
Especially in wet areas, such as a kitchen or bath, underlayment is essential, as moisture that may be absorbed into the wood subfloor will cause the tile to separate from the wood, and the grout will begin to come loose. Ceramic tile over wood, tile, concrete, or vinyl should be installed by using appropriate. Any good thinset can be used to install your new floor. When you walk on a tile installed over a hole or bump, your weight wont be evenly distributed and the brittle tile. This will cause either the tile itself to crack and even come loose, or cause the grout to crack inside the joints. Armstrong crescendo tile installation system with or. If installed correctly seams should not be patched, but sanded smooth. Wall tile can have different substrates beneath it. Nevertheless the tile and mortar were removed exposing a badly damaged and deteriorated wood sub floor. Subfloor preparation seal seams, fill cracks and holes, and level floor before installing tile use appropriate products that match your subfloor type moisture barrier sealer. Installing vinyl tile over existing vinyl floor hunker. To help you start your installation project off right, here are a few tips for preparing your subfloor. Higher latex content is essential for bonding to plywood.
Consistent floor tile height once you get three or more tiles in place next to one another, you can use a 2x4 to ensure that they all have an even height set into the mortar. Preparation for installing floor tile depends on the type of subfloor in the room you are tiling. The first step is to put some dead wood underneath the hole so you have a way to secure the patch. If necessary, patch or fill any cracks in the subfloor with armstrong patch or latex underlayment. The easy way to install marble tile is with the side of each tile parallel with a wall in the room. Lay down 12inch thick cement backerboard over the wood subfloor or hardwood. Preparing a subfloor for tile installation flooring how.
Thinset is the wet base that you first trowel on the plywood to make the tile stick. Preparation for installing floor tile depends on the type of subfloor in the room you are. Step 1 prepare the subfloor before laying down any granite flooring you must make sure the subfloor is clean. Below are several of the major tile set categories and their key features and benefits. Place the wood on the floor, stretching across the tiles.
Any bumps or gaps could weaken the tile and orcause cracking and other issues over time. Ceramic tiles on wood subfloors bathrooms ceramic tile text. How to install marble floor tile with pictures wikihow. The right subfloor ensures that marble tile will last. Why underlayment matters to a tile installation project. How to prepare a subfloor for tile installation the home depot.
Subfloor prep installation faqs armstrong flooring. Why underlayment matters to a tile installation project the. This article discusses floor framing and subfloor recommendations for use under ceramic tile, stone, granite, marble, and similar floors. Installing tile over a wood subfloor is a lot easier today than it was when i started my remodeling career. Any subfloor wood, tile, concrete or other that has had a floor on it before will have residual elements from the previous floor. The floor joists are oversized so little deflection. Before you begin installing your new floor tiles, youll need to make sure your existing floor is in good condition. Install tile on wood subfloor custom building products. Tiling over an old, solid wood subfloor is dicey, even with a layer of backer board. To do this, measure and cut the plywood to fit your room.
Just pour a workable puddle and trowel the floor, going back and forth across the cracks and voids to ensure deep penetration, removing excess filler as you go. May 21, 2018 at times i look at the option of installing a new floor coverings over existing ceramic tile or marble. Travertine is a porous stone, so it might also be a good idea to protect the floor from any water damage by installing a polythene sheet. For naildown applications, flooring can be installed over existing sheet vinyl or vinyl tile if fastener penetration is not significantly diminished and the subfloor meets minimum. Adding a layer of conventional backer board will add to the deflection problemsnot remove them. The safest, most prudent course is to install tile on top of a cement backerboard such as durock, wonderboard, or hardiebacker. Installing ceramic tile over concrete requires repairing all cracks and voids in the. Nov 21, 2019 the first step to the question how to install granite floor tiles is you need to make sure that the subfloor is clean and even. Subflooring is a structural layer and should not be confused with. After all, if it had stayed in the ground a bit longer, it wouldve turned into marble. According to backer board manufacturers and tile setters, installing backer board directly over an old, solidwood subfloor is risky for a couple of reasons. On a plywood subfloor, you need either a layer of cement backer board or an. It is more important as a subfloor than anything else. Preparing a subfloor for tile installation proper surface preparation is the key to great results when laying floor tile.
This means the tiles are set at a 45degree angle to all the walls. How to strengthen subfloor for travertine flooring. If you find hollows and valleys, you must fill them with a selfleveling underlayment. The oldfashioned mud method of floating a thick mortar bed in preparation for the tile has given way to using cement backer board over a plywood subfloor. The cement board smooths over imperfections in the plywood, and the thinset below the cement board will fill in voids.
On wood frame floors, the subflooring provides a continuous structural surface over the floor joists. I am thinking of installing a ceramic tile floor in my kitchen. Use a rubber mallet to lightly tap the marble tile firmly into place. Should you strengthen your subfloor before travertine. In addition to the marble threshold, i also picked up a number of wood trim pieces as this was truly an improvisation effort and i wasnt completely sure the marble would be enough.
Step 2 14 wonderboard place 14 or 12 wonderboard lite backerboard. How to install tile over a wood subfloor todays homeowner. This makes the floor more rigid and suitable for tile installation. Tile set refers to all of the products which go into installing a tile flooring project. Wood subfloor moves too much to support marble tile. The floor consists of 2 x 10 southern yellow pine floor joists 16 inches on center. A small twist will help the adhesive bond more tightly to the tile. If installing over existing vinyl, use liquid underlayment or embossing leveler ro smooth any texture or embossing on the old floor. Often the best approach is to center the main field of full tiles in your project area, and adjust the field to leave partial, cut tiles that are about the same size around the edges. Cut the backerboard to fit the edges of the room with a carbide tipped scoring tool.
How to install granite flooring an extended howto guide. Replacing marble threshold over plywood subfloor archive. If installing over ceramic tile, terrazzo, or marble, ensure that the tiles are firmly bonded. Liquid applied membrane it is applied with a roller or trowel for crack prevention. For wall installations, your real concerns are whether you want to use thinset directly on the wood and whether you are. Installing tile over a wood subfloor todays homeowner use thinset under backer boardno drywall screwsuse caulk not grout at edges, etc see more. Subfloor preparation seal seams, fill cracks and holes, and level floor before installing tile use appropriate products that match your subfloor type. Can we lay an antislip vinyl flooring on a marble floor. Apa trademarked wood underlayments approved as suitable for the installation of resilient flooring by apa the engineered wood association. Tile over wood subfloor plywood and osb are the two most common materials used for floor decking, and typically they are 58. Install the edge tiles as you did the other tiles in step 2 and step 3. When installing new resilient tile such as premium excelon vct and standard excelon vct, armstrong flooring allows the use of s89, s515, s700 and s750 resilient tile adhesives over old adhesive residue as long as the adhesive residue has no ridges or puddles evident and what remains is a thin, smooth film. New flooring must be installed over a suitable underlayment that is solid, stable, dry, clean and smooth.
We discuss the stiffness of floor framing needed to avoid cracks or loosening of ceramic tile, stone, slate, and similar flooring and we describe alternative methods of floor preparation for tiling. Currently loaded videos are 1 through 15 of 33 total videos. How to install cement board on a floor the family handyman. How to prepare different subfloors for tile installation builddirect. How to install tile backer board on a wood subfloor. The marble was set with thinset and i dont know if they used a bonding agent or not. Read this article to find out everything you need to know about laying a tile floor from measuring and layout to cutting and laying tile. While you can lay tile directly over a concrete slab using thinset adhesive, dont make the mistake of applying tile directly to a plywood subfloor. It will break or dislodge if the surface bends under the load.
How to prepare a subfloor for terrazzo tile howtos diy. Therefore, youll need a subfloor thats built up to withstand the weight of these tiles. Do not line up the second layer with joints in the first layer. While some types of plywood can be used in certain types of tile installations, use of the material has limitations. I always find it best to buy extra material for most every project and then return whatever i dont use afterwards. Attach and arrange cementbased backerboard to wood subfloor. Im just focusing on patching the subfloor in this post to keep it simple. Subfloor preparation is similarcement board underlayment installed over a sturdy plywood subfloor is the best base for marble tiles, just as it is with ceramic tile. Todays resilient floor coverings do not contain asbestos.
How to install tile on level concrete subfloors custom. Forcing patch into the joints will cause telegraphing in resilients once the sheets expandcontract, breaking the patch at the joint. I cut out a larger area and sure enough, the installer poured a layer of patch over a 316 thick layer of carpet residue. When you install your vinyl on a wood subfloor, the top plywood should be a minimum of 14. While you can lay tile directly over a concrete slab using thinset adhesive, dont make. Tile set tile set refers to all of the products which go into installing a tile flooring project.
Make sure the floor is scraped clean of any residue left over from previous flooring before you begin. Tiles are glued down with a thinset adhesivea mortarbased product that now is the standard for ceramic and stone tile products. In the past, some of these products, including sheet vinyl backing, vinyl composition tile, asphalt tile and lining felts may have contained asbestos fibers that were firmly encapsulated or locked in the products to provide durability. The great thing about installing granite flooring is that you can easily install the flooring yourself in a weekend, and the tiles themselves are relatively inexpensive. Specific guidance on where to butt the underlayment end joints is not given for any detail. Before installing travertine tiles or flooring, it is a good idea to prepare the subfloor to hold the extra weight of the stone. Plywood or osb flakeboard can expand and contract at too high a rate to be a stable foundation for tile. Some people try to take a major shortcut by installing the marble tile directly on to the wood subfloor. Flooring installation can i install over existing floor. If you follow all these steps, youll have a stiff, monolithic, crackfree floor. Avoid tile and grout cracks in the finished floor with proper preparati. This is not to say that tile cannot be installed reliably over an osb subfloor. How to install marble tiles learning centerlearning center.
Sheet a 3x5 cement board such as durock or fiberock which is applied on the wood subfloor to help with deflection i. A tile backer or membrane separates the marble and subfloor, allowing them to move independently of each other, so that the stresses on the plywood dont translate through to the marble. Marble tile installation instructions f page 3 instructions are from flooring. On a plywood subfloor, you need either a layer of cement backer board or an underlayment membrane, like custom building products wonderboard and redgard, between the subfloor and tile for the thinset adhesive to achieve a good bond.
Installing ceramic tile over different floor surfaces. Your best bet is a subfloor thats made of both cement and wood layers. Armstrong crescendo tile installation system with or without. Dealing with adhesive residue the flooring professionals. The wood sub floor had originally been constructed of 1x8 douglas fir boards laid diagonally to the 2x6 flooring joists that had been laid 16 on center. A quality unmodified thinset should be used and mixed with a latex additive. This finished tile floor is installed over a plywood and cement backer board subfloor. In basements and in homes with slab on grade foundations, the subfloor may simply be a concrete slab.
For most subfloors, you will need to add an extra layer of wood. To my surprise, the marble tiles were laid directly on top of this plywood. At this point, all that can be done is to remove the tile, install the proper underlayment, and lay new tile. Anchor wonderboard with panels, with label side down, on fresh mortar. Installing ceramic floor tile to a plywood subfloor has unique challenges beyond that of installation on a concrete floor. Learn if you can lay tile on plywood or on subfloor and tips for how to. How to prepare different subfloors for tile installation. If youre installing directly over the old tile flooring, rough up the existing tile with sand paper. Second, the strength of wood boards isnt always consistent. Subfloor a subfloor is selected for structural purposes and is the substrate supporting layer for the underlayment. This is how they did it and said it should be done. If youre installing over concrete, patch any cracks and holes, and sweep off all debris. Tips for laying tile on plywood subfloor the spruce.