Tile Subfloor Options

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Tile subfloor options.

Concrete backer board durock and wonderboard which is the standard material for tile underlayment. Underlayment for ceramic tile floors. Once properly in place and cured the tile can be installed. Subfloor systems eliminate the cake layer approach and give you all layers fused into tiles that can be attached to each other at a higher price than the methods above.

On wood frame floors the subflooring provides a continuous structural surface over the floor joists. A successful tile installation project requires a level surface. 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. Rubber tile or rubber sheets 3 8 sq.

It is important to distinguish the components of a flooring system in order to understand the best installation. Exterior grade plywood is the preferred subfloor under tile rather than osb since it deflects less and is more resistant to water and moisture. Janseptember 22 2009 at 4 40 pm. For tiles and 1 5 sq.

A plywood subfloor should be a minimum of 5 8 thick depending on joist spacing topped by 1 2 cement backer board. The following backer boards are commonly used for tile flooring in wet or dry areas over wood subfloors. 2x2x1 125 inch tiles with osb wood on top and closed cell polystyrene insulation xps on the bottom. Barricade is one such example.

If you want a tile floor that isn t cold underfoot put down a basement subfloor before you install your tile. You ve probably seen this resilient flooring in health clubs and gyms. The subfloor is the foundation beneath finish flooring materials. Trowel able and pourable underlayment a number of trowel able and pourable tile underlayment options are available.

In basements and in homes with slab on grade foundations the subfloor may simply be a concrete slab. Backer board this is the industry standard most preferred by construction pros when installing ceramic or porcelain. If the structure is adequate the use of a cement based floor patch that allows for the needed height may be the best choice. If you find hollows and valleys you must fill them with a self leveling underlayment.

Concrete backer board has a solid concrete core and both sides are faced with fiberglass.