Flooring Tile - install ceramic floor tiles

I understand we must remove our existing vinyl flooring, but do we have to install plywood on top of the sub-floor? Any assistance appreciated.....

Generally, no. Not if the subfloor is even nicely. I'm new to this work myself, but cement backer board has been recommended as opposed to plywood anyway. You may want to use that to cover the subfloor, but I think that if the subfloor is even, you can just tile directly onto it. I could be wrong, as I'm certainly not a flooring expert (just an amateur).

Check out http://www.doityourself.com/ialib.htm

Click on "How to install a Ceramic tile floor" towards the bottom of the "Home Decor" section. Watch that and see if it helps.

Chris

Need some more info before we can say with any kind of certainty as to what to do.What we need are joist size and spacing subfloor thickness and the span of the beam.Also what type of subfloor o.s.b.,plywood,particle board?Do not lay tile directly on the subfloor.Get back to us and we'll talk you through it after we find out what we're dealing with :cool:

I have since found out that the joists are 12" centres, the sub-floor is particle board 3/4" and we believe that there is also (it looks like) a 1/4" good one side plywood on top of that. The joists themselves are 2 x 4.

particle board is not a good subfloor for ceramic tile if at all possible take the particle board out and go back with 3/4 o..s.b or plywood.If that is not an option then i would take it all down to the subfloor and use a min. of 3/8 c.d.x. plywood then a 1/4 durock then the tile.Sounds like overkill but the particleboard scares me,and you need protection there if the particle board decides to fail you.Best scenario,pull the particle board and start over the rest is a roll of the dice :cool:

Updated info - Joists are 2 x 8 (typo in information). The sub-floor is 3/4" T & G Sheathing, (O.S.B). Don't know, but certainly hope this makes a difference. If suggestion is same as before, I guess we'll re-think this project.

o.s.b is good but the span now is what we need of the beam in the basement :cool:

The span of the beams in the basement are 10'. I can't think of any other info that you would require. Waiting for your input. Thanks

Should be o.k. use the 1/2 durock screwed every 2" on the seams and every4to6" in the field tape all the sems and use the mesh tape and trowel the thinset over the tape using the flat side of the trowel :cool: