Flooring Tile - Floor Prep - Alternatives to backerboard?
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flandcl
03-14-02, 03:12 PM
I just finished pulling up the 20+ year old tile in my kitchen. The old tile was laid directly onto plywood (I don't know the total thickness of subfloor, I am just assuming since it was strong enough to hold the old tile, it will be good enough for new tile)
I am now in the surface prep stage and am running into a problem. The old tile was laid without an underlayment such as backerboard. Thus for me to use backerboard, I would have to increase the height of my floor. This is a problem at the threshold to the door outside because I don't have the skills to raise the threshold so that it would still seal if I cut the door to fit over new tile and backerboard.
Is it neccessary to install backerboard, or can I install onto the same plywood the old tile was installed on. If so, how should I prepare the plywood to received the new tile?
Thanks! flandcl
I am now in the surface prep stage and am running into a problem. The old tile was laid without an underlayment such as backerboard. Thus for me to use backerboard, I would have to increase the height of my floor. This is a problem at the threshold to the door outside because I don't have the skills to raise the threshold so that it would still seal if I cut the door to fit over new tile and backerboard.
Is it neccessary to install backerboard, or can I install onto the same plywood the old tile was installed on. If so, how should I prepare the plywood to received the new tile?
Thanks! flandcl
adanac
03-14-02, 03:43 PM
Hi
You didn't mention why you pulled up the old tile...was it loose?..anyway...2x10 joists..16 inches on center with 5/8 T&G plywood is the minimum thickness for ceramic tile. On top of this you should have alt least 1/2 inch backerboard and then the tile.
There is a product called DITRA that is 1/8 inch thick that can go over the 5/8 ply...it is a good product.
You can see it here:
http://www.schluter.com/english/products/h6.1-ditra.htm
You didn't mention why you pulled up the old tile...was it loose?..anyway...2x10 joists..16 inches on center with 5/8 T&G plywood is the minimum thickness for ceramic tile. On top of this you should have alt least 1/2 inch backerboard and then the tile.
There is a product called DITRA that is 1/8 inch thick that can go over the 5/8 ply...it is a good product.
You can see it here:
http://www.schluter.com/english/products/h6.1-ditra.htm
flandcl
03-14-02, 04:16 PM
I pulled up the old tile because it was ugly and I didn't like it. Not loose at all which my back can attest to after the hours spent pulling it up.
How can I tel what my subfloor is like without being able to see it. I don't have the carpentry skills to risk cutting into the plywood there to see how thick it is. The townhouse was built in 1980 and as I mentioned before, I am assuming the floor is structurally sound for tile since it has had tile on it for 20 years. (The old tile was a 1/2" by 3" by 5" fake brick)
Thanks
How can I tel what my subfloor is like without being able to see it. I don't have the carpentry skills to risk cutting into the plywood there to see how thick it is. The townhouse was built in 1980 and as I mentioned before, I am assuming the floor is structurally sound for tile since it has had tile on it for 20 years. (The old tile was a 1/2" by 3" by 5" fake brick)
Thanks
adanac
03-14-02, 04:41 PM
Hi
Do you have a heat register on the floor? You can pull off the grate and at least check the thickness there. Another good test is to just go into the middle of the room and jump up and down...do you feel any movement? is it springy?..or put a glass of water in the middle of the floor and go to the other end and jump..does the water move?
Do you have a heat register on the floor? You can pull off the grate and at least check the thickness there. Another good test is to just go into the middle of the room and jump up and down...do you feel any movement? is it springy?..or put a glass of water in the middle of the floor and go to the other end and jump..does the water move?