Flooring Tile - New Bathroom ceramic
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Luthar28
06-07-06, 09:50 AM
Hi there,
I want to run something by you guys to see if I'm proceeding correctly.
I just gutted a bathroom on a second story. The original 3/4" planking is starting to rot (looks like the tub had leaked somewhat) so I've taken the flooring down to the joists. The joists are 2x8s (true 2x8s) over a 10' span at 16" center. The joists are sound (don't need to be replaced and there's no sign of water damage).
I want to tile this location. The bathroom is very small (5' by 7.5'). So I'm thinking I'll put down 5/8" T&G, followed by 1/2" ply. Is that an adequate base for ceramic? Can I get away with omitting hte 1/2" ply and using that 1/8" rhinoboard?
My next question (if the thickness of my plywood is correct) is how I should install the plywood. Do I need to put up additional blocking?
Thanks in advance.
I want to run something by you guys to see if I'm proceeding correctly.
I just gutted a bathroom on a second story. The original 3/4" planking is starting to rot (looks like the tub had leaked somewhat) so I've taken the flooring down to the joists. The joists are 2x8s (true 2x8s) over a 10' span at 16" center. The joists are sound (don't need to be replaced and there's no sign of water damage).
I want to tile this location. The bathroom is very small (5' by 7.5'). So I'm thinking I'll put down 5/8" T&G, followed by 1/2" ply. Is that an adequate base for ceramic? Can I get away with omitting hte 1/2" ply and using that 1/8" rhinoboard?
My next question (if the thickness of my plywood is correct) is how I should install the plywood. Do I need to put up additional blocking?
Thanks in advance.
BuiLDPro68
06-07-06, 11:06 AM
Since you already have the floor tore up to the joist I would go ahead and asister them up (double the joist) Not much more work or expense at this point so would be good to do. 5/8" TG is not a common flooring anymore so use 3/4" TG with 1/2" on top of that. Then you might want to use 1/4" cementboard on top of that. Remember that the cementboard has no structural value. It is for the excellent adhesion that it provides for the tiles.
HeresJohnny
06-07-06, 12:55 PM
No need to sister the joists if your using ceramic tile. If you are using natural stone then you should sister the joists as BP68 says.
If using ceramic tile you could get away with 3/4" t&g plywood and 1/4" cement board (hardi, wonderboard etc). Adding the additional 1/2" as BP68 suggests certainly wouldnt hurt (and is the way to go) if you can afford the height. The second layer of ply gets screwed to the first layer perpendicular to the joists. No glue, just screws every 8" in the field and 6" around the perimeter of each sheet. Take care to stagger the seams so the second layer does not line up over the first. Avoid screwing the second layer into the joists. This helps isolate movement. No additional blocking should be required.
I don't know much about rhino board - havent used it.:)
If using ceramic tile you could get away with 3/4" t&g plywood and 1/4" cement board (hardi, wonderboard etc). Adding the additional 1/2" as BP68 suggests certainly wouldnt hurt (and is the way to go) if you can afford the height. The second layer of ply gets screwed to the first layer perpendicular to the joists. No glue, just screws every 8" in the field and 6" around the perimeter of each sheet. Take care to stagger the seams so the second layer does not line up over the first. Avoid screwing the second layer into the joists. This helps isolate movement. No additional blocking should be required.
I don't know much about rhino board - havent used it.:)
Luthar28
06-07-06, 05:26 PM
Can I omit the cement board and go with 1/2" ply...or should I use the cement board?
BuiLDPro68
06-07-06, 06:07 PM
I did a couple of small bathrooms recently where I skipped on the cementboard but I was using those small tiles on a 12"X12" sheet and they are pretty forgiving. For larger tile I would say better to skip the cementboard then the extra ply as again the cementboard is not structual.
HeresJohnny
06-08-06, 08:17 AM
L28
Plywood is not the best subfloor for setting tile directly to. It takes a lot of things being done just right to do so and really not recommended for diy'ers. In my opinion to many possibilities for failure. If height is the concern, you could use 3/8" ply instead of the 1/2" ply and a membrane like schluter ditra which is about 1/8". This would get you to approx the same height and get the job done right.
If you are not comfortable with the membrane idea, use 1/4" cement board over the 3/8" ply. 3/8" ply is the minimum thickness ply you could use (no 1/4" ever).
If you already have the 3/4" ply down you technically don't need the additional layer of plywood for ceramic. Would it be better - yeah. Is it absolutely required - no. You could go 1/4" cement board right over the 3/4" t&g. Keep in mind the the cement board gets set in a bed of unmodified thinset mortar and then screwed to the ply.:)
Plywood is not the best subfloor for setting tile directly to. It takes a lot of things being done just right to do so and really not recommended for diy'ers. In my opinion to many possibilities for failure. If height is the concern, you could use 3/8" ply instead of the 1/2" ply and a membrane like schluter ditra which is about 1/8". This would get you to approx the same height and get the job done right.
If you are not comfortable with the membrane idea, use 1/4" cement board over the 3/8" ply. 3/8" ply is the minimum thickness ply you could use (no 1/4" ever).
If you already have the 3/4" ply down you technically don't need the additional layer of plywood for ceramic. Would it be better - yeah. Is it absolutely required - no. You could go 1/4" cement board right over the 3/4" t&g. Keep in mind the the cement board gets set in a bed of unmodified thinset mortar and then screwed to the ply.:)