Is backer board really needed? I found out my bathroom floor does not have anything between tiles and plywood.

Question

I would like to replace floor tiles in my bathroom. It looks like it only has plywood, mortar, and tiles (from botton to top). Can I just follow this setting to replace it or I'd better have backer board in between.

Answer 1

Yes, backer board. The above answer is right, too, the orange membrane is called Ditra-Mat from Schlueter. It isolates framing movement from the tile floor. He is correct.

But backer board is a more than suitable product. The problem with plywood is two-fold. First, with what I assume is 3/4" plywood on the joists, there is too much possibility for deflection and movement from the framing. Second, even with 1/2" plywood on 3/4" plywood or structurewood, plywood has a tendency to suck the moisture out the mortar before it cures properly. Some people will say plywood is fine. Some will say it isn't. I suspect the people who say it isn't have seen what happens when a plywood underlayment fails.

Backer board is fine, never had a problem with it. But for added assurance, you can't go wrong with Ditra-Mat. Another similar product is called Mapie-Lath. In my opinion Ditra-Mat is a better product, but it is worth mentioning.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Use the backing board. I built a home last year and put ceramic tile down. The guy that put the tile down didn't use the backing board, now my tile is coming up and I have to replace the entire floor at my expense, because the guy was of questionalble character and is in jail now and my insurance company won't help us. If you were on a concrete slab it would stick, but tile won't stick to plywood. Learn from my very expensive mistake. Good luck. 2D

Answer 3

you can either use the backer board or the crate looking stuff(the name flew out the window) the purpose of these products is to not let the wood subfloor move and crack the grout and pop the tiles loose. I prefer the backer board. i have only used the orange crate stuff a few times but i haven't had any call backs so it must work. You don't want to have to spend the money to redo it again. also if you use the fast setting mortar you can grout in about 3 or 4 hours instead of waiting 12 to 24 hours.

Answer 4

yes use backer board , there is different expansion and contraction rates between wood and tile which means it will be a more stable and durable job if you use backer board makes up for the rates of exp/ contr. etc. stronger floor altogether. make sure every thing is nice and level too,

Answer 5

if its solid its ok, if not put some down
backer board is normaly used on the walls,