How To Install Ceramic Tile Floor On Plywood

While you can lay tile directly over a concrete slab using thin set adhesive don t make the mistake of applying tile directly to a plywood subfloor.

How to install ceramic tile floor on plywood.

This will cause either the tile itself to crack and even come loose or cause the grout to crack inside the joints. Installing a tile floor in any of these rooms will give you an easy to clean waterproof floor that holds up against weather and wear. A number of different types of substrate are used for tile including plywood. 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.

Install ceramic tile over a subfloor that s no less than 1 1 8 inches thick. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout and a lot of headaches. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. The plywood will expand and contract at a different rate as the tile causing cracks to develop in the grout lines or tiles over time.

Plywood or osb flakeboard can expand and contract at too high a rate to be a stable foundation for tile. Installing ceramic floor tile to a plywood sub floor has unique challenges beyond that of installation on a concrete floor. If your tile floors are worn or chipped or you re simply ready for an upgrade follow this guide to learn how to install a tile floor yourself. 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.

While most floor tile these days is installed onto a layer of cement board or similar backerboard it is possible to lay tile directly over plywood. Laying tile over a plywood subfloor can be a bit tricky but if you take the time to prepare the sub floor properly you can enjoy a new tile floor that will last for a lifetime. Tile floors are an attractive functional option for kitchens bathrooms laundry rooms and entryways.