Flooring Tile - FiberRock Installation
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msherfy
12-28-05, 11:48 PM
First-timer installing ceramic tile over FiberRock underlayment. A couple of questions:
1) Manufacturer (USG) says you can staple it down using 1/4" crown staples on 2" centers (edge) or 4" centers (field). I'd like to do this if I can, but I'm unsure if it will hold as well as screws/nails. Has anybody out there tried it? (Must find good answer to justify recent compressor & stapler purchase...)
2) I am installing tile in a kitchen that currently has the following layers from the top down: sheet vinyl, 1/8 luan, old sheet vinyl, 5/8 particle board, 3/4 plywood. Joists are 2x10 16" OC, 12' span. I was going to remove the top vinyl layer and lay FiberRock on top of the luan, but I'm guessing the pros will recommend more agressive removal of the old flooring. I've read many posts saying you gotta rip up the old luan, but why? What layers should I remove and why?
:coffee:
Thanks!
1) Manufacturer (USG) says you can staple it down using 1/4" crown staples on 2" centers (edge) or 4" centers (field). I'd like to do this if I can, but I'm unsure if it will hold as well as screws/nails. Has anybody out there tried it? (Must find good answer to justify recent compressor & stapler purchase...)
2) I am installing tile in a kitchen that currently has the following layers from the top down: sheet vinyl, 1/8 luan, old sheet vinyl, 5/8 particle board, 3/4 plywood. Joists are 2x10 16" OC, 12' span. I was going to remove the top vinyl layer and lay FiberRock on top of the luan, but I'm guessing the pros will recommend more agressive removal of the old flooring. I've read many posts saying you gotta rip up the old luan, but why? What layers should I remove and why?
:coffee:
Thanks!
bigmtk
12-29-05, 03:04 AM
Everything but the 3/4 ply needs to come up. Add at least another 1/2 inch layer ply.
Why? Because you want to maximize the life of your new floor.
Why spend all that time and money just to have the possibility of havung to redo it after a few years.
Most floors I have redone due to failures have one or more common problems.
particle board and vinyl even installed with a tile underlayment causes problems.
Why? Because you want to maximize the life of your new floor.
Why spend all that time and money just to have the possibility of havung to redo it after a few years.
Most floors I have redone due to failures have one or more common problems.
particle board and vinyl even installed with a tile underlayment causes problems.
Tilebri
12-29-05, 05:21 AM
I'll second the above advice. Use bc or better graded exterior plywood, and don't fasten the second plywood layer to the joists and no glue between the layers.
Use the proper nails or screws to set the backer. They will better compress the supporting bed of thinset under the backet to ensure an even installation as well as a proprely supported sheet of backer. Staples can work loose over time and the thinset will be corrosive to impropper staples.
Luan needs to go because it compresses and delaminates, overall it is too unstable to have anywhere under tile.
Use the proper nails or screws to set the backer. They will better compress the supporting bed of thinset under the backet to ensure an even installation as well as a proprely supported sheet of backer. Staples can work loose over time and the thinset will be corrosive to impropper staples.
Luan needs to go because it compresses and delaminates, overall it is too unstable to have anywhere under tile.