Do I need to put any type of underlayment or vapor barrier underneath it? A: It’s perfectly acceptable to put tile directly on concrete — with a couple of caveats. … Those products should help prevent any cracks in the slab from damaging the newly installed tile.
for instance, Should I put cement board under tile?
If you’re working over a wood subfloor, cement board is the right choice for your tile base. … Because plywood expands and contracts beneath the ceramic tile, grout and tile failure (loose tiles and cracked, crumbling grout) is just a matter of time.
significantly, Can you install tile on subfloor?
Tile can be laid on plywood. But do not install tile directly on the plywood subfloor itself. Use an intervening layer of a sheet of thinner plywood.
also Can moisture come up through concrete?
Concrete’s porous nature means that water from under your home can seep up through your concrete floor, making it damp. … Basements and garages – the typical rooms with concrete floors – also suffer from poor air circulation, giving the moisture nowhere to go once it seeps through the floor.
Can you tile onto a damp floor? Short Answer:
Yes, you can tile a damp basement if it’s rising damp, but it’s very important to use breathable tiles, such as unsealed quarry tiles or natural stone tiles that have been treated with a water based sealer such as LTP Mattstone H2O.
Table of Contents
Can I put floor tile directly on plywood?
Tile can be laid on plywood. But do not install tile directly on the plywood subfloor itself. Use an intervening layer of a sheet of thinner plywood.
How thick should cement board be under tile floor?
Floors: A 1/4-inch minimum thickness is needed, but thicker panels are also fine. Walls: Use 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch-thick cement board, not 1/4-inch. The extra thickness is needed when spanning the studs and it provides a solid base for the tile.
Can you just screw down cement board?
Screw and Joints
Do not use drywall screws as they are not recommended to be used to hold the backer board in place. All of your backer board pieces should be cut before they are placed on the floor. Along the perimeter, screws should be installed at least ½ inch from the edge, but no more than 2 1/4 inches.
Can you lay tile on OSB subfloor?
Ceramic tiling can be installed onto 23/32” OSB subflooring panels where the panels are supported by 16” o.c. joist spacing. Manufacturers generally recommend that the deflection of the subfloor system be limited to no more than span/360 under total load.
What kind of plywood do you use for subfloor under tile?
Exterior-Grade Plywood
Exterior plywood is an acceptable underlayment for tile and is preferred to interior-grade plywoods because the bonding adhesives used are waterproof. If water seeps through the tile installation to the underlayment, it will not cause the wood to swell, as happens with interior-grade plywood.
How do I stop moisture coming through concrete floor?
Methods Used to Stop Moisture in Concrete Floors
- Low-permeance Vapor Barrier or Retarder. …
- Allow Natural Drying of Concrete Slab. …
- Keep Excavation Free of Water. …
- Apply Damping Agent for Existing Concrete Floor.
How do I stop my concrete slab from sweating?
How to stop concrete sweating
- Dry out the room by air movement: a high volume low speed fan works well.
- Turn down the air conditioning/turn up the heat to keep the concrete floor temperature and the air temperature at similiar levels.
- Use a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air and reduce the condensation.
Why is water coming up through concrete floor?
When it rains, water is absorbed into the ground until the earth is too saturated to soak up any more water. At this point, the water will begin to rise to the surface, causing hydrostatic pressure to build up against your foundation and basement floors, which leads directly to water seepage into your home.
Do tiles stop damp?
Unfortunately you cannot tile onto a damp wall; that has to be cured first or they will never stay up there.
Do I need to waterproof concrete floor before tiling?
Cement is actually a very porous material and can easily absorb water. Therefore, any concrete that may come into regular contact with water, such as under tile or for a pool, will need to be waterproofed. If cement is not waterproofed, it can cause issues with the mortar used between the tiles.
Should you wet concrete before tiling?
Although you don’t need to install an underlayment between the concrete and the tile, you need to prepare the surface before placing the tile. After all, cracks and uneven areas in the concrete can cause damage to the tile above, and uncontrolled moisture in the concrete can destroy the mortar and loosen the tiles.
How do you prepare a wooden floor for tile?
The first step in preparing wood floors to receive new tile involves securing plywood subfloors or hardwood to the joists below. Use 2-inch screws every 3 inches along the length of each board to firmly fasten the wood to the joists, then cover the entire surface with 1/2-inch thick sheets of plywood.
Do I need to seal cement board before tiling?
Contrary to popular thought, tile and grout are not waterproof, and some moisture will penetrate even if sealant is used. … However, if you choose to use concrete backerboard, which is much stronger and more durable than gypsum board, a water vapor membrane must be placed underneath it or a sealant applied on top of it.
Which is better cement board or Hardibacker?
HardieBacker is much more light, and it is also the best selling brand of cement board available. It is much cleaner because it does not have any glass in it. It allows for a smooth job with minimal mess. As a bonus, HardieBacker board has an EZ Grid pattern so you can cut perfect lines.
How thick should thinset be under tile?
The terms thinset cement, thinset mortar, dryset mortar, and drybond mortar are synonymous. This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer – typically not greater than 3/16th thick. For example, a 3/8″ notch trowel will produce a 3/16th inch thick coating after the tiles are pressed in to the cement.
Do you nail or screw cement board?
3. Using the screw pattern as a guide, fasten your HardieBacker Cement Board with nails or screws every 8” on center over the entire surface. 4. Keep screws between ⅜” and ¾” from board edges and 2” from board corners.
Do I really need thinset under backer board?
Not only is thinset a critical component underneath cement board but the other critical component is the fasteners. And you won’t have the fasteners if you are trying to install it over concrete.
What kind of subfloor is needed for ceramic tile?
The subfloor under the tile should be at least 1 1/8″ thick, with a minimum of 5/8″ thick exterior grade plywood topped by 1/2″ cement backer board.
What happens if you lay tile on subfloor?
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. No matter how firm the subfloor; 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.
Can you put cement board over OSB?
OSB as a subfloor is fine. You install a backer or Ditra then the tiles and you’re good. What they were saying, (or should have been saying), is that you can not install tiles over OSB.
Discussion about this post