Has anyone had sucess laying ceramic tile over wood flooring?

Question

Have a flooring problem, not level in a few spots. Can I lay tile right on the wood floor with any success?

Answer 1

I tile everyday, and yes have had many successes over wood substrate.

You'll get various answers here...Leveling compounds, thin set screeded/floated to a level, shim and install concrete backer board substrate, etc.,,,and all are valid.

Part of the issue is some skill level you might have, your budget, any time constraints, and what level of success you want to achieve.

Personally, I'd fill any depressions. If rises are the issue then you'll have more of a challenge, then I'd remove any cove base, to replace later, and add at least 1/4 inch concrete backer board, then tile.

Steven Wolf

Without strictly knowing your situation, IE: NOT level meaning the entire floor slopes to one or more perimeters, it's pretty much up to you to determine the methods. If the floor is only minutely NOT level in minor shallows, by fractions, then fill and level, and apply the mortar for the tile, checking each installed piece with your hand at the butted edges and a carpenters level.

Answer 2

Laying Ceramic Tile

Answer 3

You will get two different answers with this kind of questions. Some people swear by it that you can install ceramic over wood floors with nothing but thin set. And then you get the other people who say you need to install a cement backer board of some type. Well my employer (Lowe's Home Improvement) says that you need the cement backer board. You will need a 1/4" cement backer board preferable Hardiebacker which is mold resistant and not as fragile as old cement board like Durock. You will secure this Hardiebacker board down with a bed of thin set mortar preferably Multipurpose thin set mortar then place your 3 x 5 sheets down. Then anchor it down with the 1 1/4" Hardiebacker screws which are coated to prevent rust. You will patch the seems with seem tape and once this is all dried it will provide a level and very sturdy sub floor to lay tile on.

Remember that wood is flexible. Humidity, temperature and weight will all wreak havoc on a tile flooring thats just simply thin set on to it. You will either have broken tile, cracked grout lines, or popped tile.

There use to be a flooring called "Edge" which was laminate with ceramic tile glued to the laminate flooring. Snapped together and floated and when snapped together you were to place a epoxy type grout in the cracks so it would look like grout. This company however found tons of problems with it and bought most of it back but you will still find some in some Lowe's Home Improvement stores.

Armstrong and couple of other flooring companies do make a laminate that looks like ceramic instead of wood. Snaps together, not as cold as ceramic and will give you a hard surface similar to ceramic. Easier to install, cheaper too. Run down to your nearest Lowe's flooring department and take a look.

Answer 4

It's not a good idea though I've seen it done. Wood floor expands and contracts with changes in humidity. This will cause tile to debond and crack. When I've seen it done either felt paper, a wire lath and mud bed or tile backer board was done over the wood then tile or marble is laid over that. It works but is risky and adds a lot of height to the existing floor. Wood floor isn't that hard to tear up so that would be the best way to go.

Answer 5

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Yes you can, if in good condition. If you have hardwood over planks, then it won't move anymore than having cement board over planks will. 1.5 inches of wood in excellent condition doesn't have enough bounce to bother tile. Cement board is overkill in most jobs. And not that great of one in the first place. On the flip side, If it is not an overkill, then it probably isn't enough. Any tile that goes over the seams of the cement board, is at high risk for cracking. Tile in the center of cement board is very safe. Mine you if the joists aren't strong enough, it won't matter what the sub floor is or how many layers of cement board you have, you can't do tile. If the floor moves a 1/16th of an inch when 300 pounds is set in one spot, then you have to reinforce or replace the joists, nothing else will fix it. This is how most plank floors fail. Old floors often are built with 2x6 lumber spanning 10 feet. And then there is the new technology: Tile membranes. Cement board harden the floor so it doesn't move. Tile membranes create a floating layer for the tile to sit on. As long as the floor doesn't move more than an 1/8 at the extreme, the tile won't crack on top of a tile membrane. Tile membranes cost about 1.00 to 1.80 US dollars a square foot. The basic membrane is 1/8 of an inch thick. Due to price most tile installers have rarely or never used it, so be prepared to see skeptics. common membrane brands: "Schluter®-DITRA" is the favorite of TV shows like Holmes on Homes and is sold at home depot among other places. Homelux is sold at Menards

Answer 6

No you cant. Do you mean wood planks or your subfloor. If it is hardwood planks you have to remove them. If you try to install duroc and tile over them and get more problems with your wood, you will have wasted lots of money and time.
Remove the planks and fix whatever is making them uneven. Then install Duroc and the tile over it. If it is subfloor you can patch in the spots that are uneven with thinset to make it level, then put Duroc (backerboard) down and then install the tile.
If you install tile right over wood and have any problems, it will cost you a lot more when you have to fix it. If you use duroc you can get the tile off the duroc and then remove the duroc and your existing floor will be the same.

Answer 7

Laying Tile on an floor that is not level is going to cause your tile to be un-leveled as well. You need to use a product to level the floor first. If your wood floor has a high shine on it, the tile adhesive wont stick. There are some self-levelling products. Ask Home Depot...they know it all!

Answer 8

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Answer 9

There is laminate flooring available that has tile attached to it. Go to Lowe's or Home depot and check it out. Looked nice to me.

Answer 10

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