Installing Ceramic Tile On A Plywood Floor

Installing over wood.

Installing ceramic tile on a plywood floor.

Plywood must be protected from liquids since this material is highly susceptible to moisture. A subfloor is the bottom most structural level of your floor. Plywood substrate alternatives. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout and a lot of headaches.

For more information download our pdf about types of subfloors. 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 ceramic floor tile to a plywood sub floor has unique challenges beyond that of installation on a concrete floor. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile.

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. Tile floors are an attractive functional option for kitchens bathrooms laundry rooms and entryways. Preparation for installing floor tile depends on the type of subfloor in the room you are tiling. 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.

A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. Tiles on the plywood on the floor fit in the case where there is no possibility to use other materials to align the roughing base. The floor tiles became loose cracked and ugly looking over about 2 decades of use. It is important to observe the installation technology otherwise the coating will not be used for long.

Cement backerboard is made for tiling. Thin set was used instead of glue or adhesive. The safest most prudent course is to install tile on top of a cement backerboard such as durock wonderboard or hardiebacker. Now the entire flooring of ceramic tiles needs to be torn out and replaced.

We have our large kitchen and hallway that was originally covered by 12 x 12 ceramic tiles on top of 3 8th inch plywood. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment such as plywood. Plywood or osb flakeboard can expand and contract at too high a rate to be a stable foundation for tile.