Preparing WOOD subfloor for ceramic floor tile...?

Question

Despite tons of searching, I am not getting clear instructions on what I consider to be some very basic questions on how to lay tile on a wood subfloor. We have wood subfloors, with particle board on top of that and real wood floors. I know the wood flooring and particle board has to come up, so we are down to bare subfloor. Then what?
1) What is the best way to level the subfloor? Our floor is not even ( slopes a bit) and the 7.5" wood floor that is down now is VERY forgiving and we know tile is not.
2) If we use cement backer board, is that okay? The best?
3) If so,must it have expansion gaps like our wood plywood underlay did, or do you butt it together? If not do we tape these joints?
If you have laid ceramic tile on a less than perfect wood subfloor, what materials did you use and detailed steps in preparing your floor right up until you laid the tile would be helpful and much appreciated!

Answer 1

After multiple thousands of sq. ft. of flooring installs, I'll add two cents.

Since you're stripping the current floor. you might take it down to the floor joists, #1 to check their condition; # 2 to do a better leveling job initially than using leveling compounds above. If the floor joists are solid I'd use treated lumber bracing, butted to and attached to the joists, perhaps the length of each joist, and perhaps even on both sides, on a level plane, then install 3/4 PLY, not MDF, then 1/2 inch concrete backer board, assuring in each level that level is maintained; Then do your tile. (Brand name anything is purely subjective)

Flooring shouldn't need expansion joints, and yes you should tape and seal the joints and screw holes in the backerboard, but it's not dictated by any codes or laws.


Steven Wolf

Answer 2

If your sub floor has any noticeable give in it you will need another layer of sub floor. Use plywood with screws every 8". Ideally screws should be long enough and positioned to drive into floor joists. The plywood thickness should be determined by how much stronger the floor needs to be. Try to select a thickness that will allow you new floor to meet any existing flooring. Consider that you will be placing 1/2" or 1/4" thick cement board on the sub floor and then mud and tile. 1/4" is normal for floors but you can use 1/2" if it works out better.

rundown-
Plywood
3'x5'hardi backer no expansion spacing needed

www.bayerfloors.com

Answer 3

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Answer 4

you may have to lay new plywood subfloor and level it out.
then put backer board over it.
i re-did a bathroom in a 1932 house, the previous owner put tile over the plywood, it did not work right. tiles were cracked and loose.


http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/flooring/tile/prep1/cement_backer.htm

Answer 5

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