Ceramic Tile Subfloor Options

This guide will show you how to prepare your subfloor for a tile installation project to ensure that it s fit to support ceramic or porcelain tile.

Ceramic tile subfloor options.

Oriented strand board osb and other porous manufactured boards are not recommended for the subfloor because they absorb moisture and will expand and contract. Is this adequate to install new 12 x 24 inch porcelain tiles. A number of trowel able and pourable tile underlayment options are available each with its own purpose and best use. Since it isn t porous porcelain tile is more water resistant and harder than ceramic but it is harder to cut.

However i did find that the previous installer had put another sheet of 1 2 plywood over the 3 4 inch plywood subfloor. Preparing a subfloor is an essential step for installing floor tile it provides a level surface that will allow the tiles to properly stay in place. Creating a bed of mortar is an older method of setting tiles on a concrete. For ceramic tile the tile council recommends using joists that are 16 inches on center a 3 4 inch thick plywood subfloor and a 1 2 inch thick cement backer board or concrete slab.

This tile is composed of sand which is fired at high temperature and pressure. For this reason ceramic and porcelain tile floors can be considered somewhat delicate despite the inherent strength of the material. Manufactured in the usa the basement subfloor tile is designed to create a floating underlayment base providing a barrier separating the concrete and the finished floor. When installing a tile floor a layer of cement backer board is usually put down over a plywood subfloor to provide a firm stable surface.

The diy basement subfloor interlocking tiles are great for use under vinyl planks or other laminate flooring. You have a number of choices when it comes to the ideal underlayment for ceramic tiles.