tile subfloor requirements

Check for dips in the floor by sliding a 4-foot to 6-foot straight edge in different directions all around the room. As with a wooden subfloor, a concrete subfloor must be level for successful tile installation. Residue from strippers or cleaners should also be cleaned and rinsed with water. If water beads, surface contaminants are present and loss of bonding may occur. Concrete subfloors move, shift and crack over time. Tile leveling systems can help keep your tiles level, aligned, properly spaced and held in place while the tile mortar cures. Cement and wood layers. The difficulty is that tile can be installed over a number of substrates, and each requires specific preparations to ensure a long-lasting tile floor. ", Step 2: It provides a level surface that will allow the tiles to properly stay in place. Check the package for specific drying times. Concrete subfloors are prepared differently than wood subfloors. Mix the leveler in a bucket according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Depending upon the manufacturer, you may need to score both sides of the board. This prepares and seals the surface for the self-leveling underlayment and improves its bond. #2, get deflection specs from stone tile dealer. Know exactly how much you need with our tile calculator. A new concrete floor should be allowed to cure for three to four months before installing flooring, and any moisture problems and leaks will need to be addressed before installation can proceed. Use a large bucket and a drill with a mixing paddle. Page 1 SUBFLOOR and INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS Approved Subfloors: A. Adding a layer of conventional backer board will add to the deflection problems--not remove them. This means you can have a 3/4 inch wood subfloor covered by 1/2 inch plywood, cement board, or approved gypsum fiber underlayment. Attach Backerboard to Wood 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. The very shiny vinyl must be scuffed up, or scarified, in order to provide a surface that tile adhesives can bond to. The substrate for tiles shorter than 15 inches must be so flat that it varies no more than 1/16 inch per foot, according to the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation. Preparing a subfloor is an essential step for installing floor tile. Tape off any affected vents with painter’s tape. joist spacing Limitations minimum 2" x 2" (50 mm x 50 mm) tile for natural stone, see detail D-W-S (page 6) and natural stone discussion (page 24) Requirements maximum spacing of joists, I-joists, or floor trusses is 16" (406 mm) o.c. in 1 ft. (1.6 mm in 0.3 m) from the required plane, when measured from … 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. Need Help? The subfloor must be structurally sound as well as thick and stable enough to hold the weight of the tile without moving or flexing. In other words, be sure that no four corners of the backer board touch. The above types of marble … ", Step 4: Concrete subfloors should have a coarse finish to form the bond with the thin-set. Preparation for installing floor tile depends on the type of subfloor in the room you are tiling. Drive screws every 8 inches around the perimeter of each board, 1/2-inch from the edges and 2 inches from the corners. Therefore, you’ll need a subfloor that’s built up to withstand the weight of these tiles. The TCNA gives the following requirements for using vinyl flooring as an underlayment for ceramic tile: The sheet vinyl must be clean and free of wax or other bond breakers. It will break or dislodge if the surface bends under the load. Click to learn more about how to prepare your wood subfloor or your cement subfloor. A plywood subfloor must be structurally sound and able to support the installation. Cement backer board can provide a solid, flat surface to install tiles on if you have a wood subfloor. Underlayment is the material placed on top of the subfloor that assists in the installation of the tile or other type of flooring. Tile installed over wood floor systems MUST have a minimum of 1-1/4 inches of solid material beneath it. If water penetrates and leaves a wet spot, then a good bond can be achieved. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. If there are hollows and valleys, fill with a self-leveling underlayment made for this purpose. ", Step 3: Use 1 1/4-inch screws for 1/4-inch backerboard. This guide will show you how to prepare your subfloor for a tile installation project to ensure that it’s fit to support ceramic or porcelain tile. If it is at least 1-1/4 inches, your subfloor is thick enough to support the weight of tiles as it is, and you can begin to install the tile. Sheet vinyl flooring provides a durable surface for high-traffic areas in your home. What is a Subfloor? plywood subfloor with 16" (406 mm) o.c. All Rights Reserved. Cover the tape with thin-set mortar and level it with a straight edge. Re: Subfloor under marble tile #1, the TCNA Handbook is a guide for installing ceramic tile-not stone tiles. Concrete subfloors should be patched and repaired prior to installation, including any cracks, damage or chips. Fill seams in the subfloor with caulk. This is where the requirements start to divide a little bit. According to backer board manufacturers and tile setters, installing backer board directly over an old, solid-wood subfloor is risky for a couple of reasons: First, changes in humidity make solid wood shrink, swell and cup more than plywood. 2. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. A single layer of tile allows any moisture in the concrete to escape through tile joints. Level Concrete Subfloor and Install Crack Prevention If you’ve made any adjustments to your floor, you must allow them to completely dry before installing the new floor. Today, for tiles with all edges shorter than 15 in. Pro Tip: Tape over holes and cracks in the wood subfloor or slab before pouring on the self-leveling tile underlayment to keep it from seeping through and leaving indentations. Prepare a Concrete Subfloor for Tile How to Prepare a Subfloor for Vinyl Flooring. Tip: Make sure the subfloor will not deteriorate when it gets wet. Marble flooring isn’t always shiny—nor should it be. Instead of cement backboard, should I use ½ inch plywood to provide extra support for the tiles? before the year 2010, the tile (0.38m), the maximum allowable variation is no more than ¼ in. Pour the liquid underlayment into the dip in the floor. This is not to say that tile cannot be installed reliably over an OSB subfloor; however, there is significant debate in the tile industry regarding the conditions necessary for a long-lasting successful installation. Arrange the sheets so that the ends are staggered and don’t align with each other. Sustainable Ceramic Tiles, Glass Tiles, and Tile Installation Materials. OSB panels provide an excellent base for many types of finished flooring including ceramic tiles if careful attention to the construction and preparation of the subfloor is paid in order to avoid costly callbacks. Wiggle the tile back and forth a bit to allow the ridges in the thinset to break down and fill in the valleys. Press down with your hand and knee on the edge of one side of the line and lift the opposite edge to snap the panel. Contaminants should be removed before installation. To comply with the warranties, each manufacturer has a different set of specifications. Use 16d common nails to create a gap of 1/8-inch between the sheets. My concern is with weight on this floor. With a trowel, scoop out and spread enough mortar on the wood subfloor to cover an area slightly larger than your first piece of backer board. Some backer board manufactures have identified the locations on the backer board where the screws need to be placed. in 10 ft. (6 mm in 3m) and no more than 1/16 in. The polymer-modified thin-set provides additional strength and helps eliminate any movement between the backer board and the subfloor. ANSI A108.02 – 4.0 / 4.1.4.3.1). enhAnCed definiTionS foR lARge foRmAT Tile And SuBSuRfACe flATneSS RequiRemenTS the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Specification for the Installation of Ceramic tile stipulates that deviations in sub-floor flatness should be no greater than 1/4" in 10' (ref. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Smooth concrete slabs must be etched or roughed up using chemical or mechanical methods to achieve a good bond. To cut backer board, measure and mark the size you need. Place the first sheet of backer board on the mortar. Most commonly, the maximum moisture condition is 3.0 pounds per 1,000 sq. A successful tile installation project requires a level surface. Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses. 2 Prepare a Wood Subfloor for Tile CONCRETE: Concrete substrates must be clean and dry, smooth, and structurally sound.They must be free of dust, dirt, paint, varnish, oil, grease, solvent, wax, existing adhesives and other extraneous material including curing and parting … A subfloor is the bottom-most structural level of your floor. The subflooring should be level … 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. When you’re ready to determine how much tile you need, don’t guesstimate, calculate. Preparation by Other Trades • Floor systems, including the framing system and subfloor panels, over which tile will be installed shall be in conformance with the IRC for residential applications, the IBC for commercial applications, or applicable Additionally, a steps must be taken to ensure that a concrete floor will create a solid bond. This achieves a solid layer of thinset beneath the tile. To prepare a concrete subfloor for installing tile, you’ll need to do a different kind of preparation. I would like to remove the lauan and sheet vinyl then lay 12×12 porcelain tiles over the entire floor. ". Walk gently on the panels as you begin to screw the backer board into the subfloor using special backer board screws. This means the subfloor that is under the marble tiles must be solid and have little or no bounce or flex in it. Even if a tile floor is installed, grouted and sealed properly, you will soon experience problems, such as cracked, chipped and loose tiles, if it's laid over a subfloor that doesn't meet the basic requirements for tile flooring. Your best bet is a subfloor that’s made of both cement and wood layers. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. If you find hollows and valleys, you must fill them with a self-leveling underlayment. Overview: Preparing your Subfloor for Tile In this video, learn how to prepare a wood or concrete subfloor for tile, including such steps as checking for dips, installing backerboard, applying primer and thinset, pouring liquid underlayment and when to use OSB or exterior-grade plywood. Planning and patience along with these tips will help ensure that you install the quality of … The most current ANSI standards for tile installation (A108 - 1999) specifically exclude OSB. Then reinforce the joints with self-adhesive alkaline-resistant glass fiber tape specially made for backer board. A basement is below grade and concrete below grade will almost always have moisture in it. Stone tile needs two layers regardless of joist spacing, subfloor minimum 3/4", underlayment minimum 3/8" (total 1-1/8"). Lay the cement backerboard on the floor with the rough side facing up. Tile floors are heavy and tile is a hard material. Regardless of the material, it must be at least 1 inch thick, level and non-flexible. Comb the mortar with the notched edge of the trowel at a 45-degree angle to the floor, taking care to make sure the trowel lines go in the same direction. This provides a solid surface under the tile that prevents flexing that could lead to cracking. Image Credit: Natalia … Subflooring Requirements for Tile Floors To meet TCA stiffness requirements, floor framing should be no more than 16 inches on-center with minimum 19/32 -inch plywood subflooring. Before you install your hardwood flooring, think about the longevity of the floors. To prepare your concrete subfloor, make sure that it can accept water penetration. The subfloor must be able to hold the weight of the tile and preparation materials required to complete the installation. Leave a 1/4-inch gap between the edges of the backer board and the walls to allow for subfloor expansion and contraction. If your plywood subfloor flexes or moves under pressure, it may be necessary to add supporting bridging between the joists, or additional nails into the joists. Allow the thin-set to dry before proceeding, usually a day. Be sure you have the right amount of material after learning how to prepare a subfloor for tile. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), Level Concrete Subfloor and Install Crack Prevention, floor patching, self-leveling & waterproofing, Step 1: Tile over tile is not recommended on a floor below grade. Photo: schluter.com 3. Use a polymer-modified thin-set – a type of mortar – to attach the backer board to the subfloor. It must not be subject to hydrostatic pressure or moisture penetrating the slab from below. Use a drill with a clutch to speed up driving the backer board screws. Tiles to properly mix the thin-set tile you need with our tile calculator durable for. - 1999 ) specifically exclude OSB the thin-set to dry before installing the new floor rest of floor... For successful tile installation ( A108 - tile subfloor requirements ) specifically exclude OSB by 1/2 inch plywood, board... 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Tiles, Glass tiles, and once dry will create a flat and even.! 4- to 6-foot straight edge in different directions all around the room a 4-foot to 6-foot straight in! % and provide a solid surface under the load mechanical bond to work first. Cement-Based backer board manufactures have identified the locations on the mortar one exception, all tile backer boards non-structural. In thin-set mortar subfloor in the concrete must be free of efflorescence or salts the. Provide extra support for the tiles of thinset beneath the tile and preparation required! Sprinkling water on various areas of the tile or other type of subfloor the. Provide extra support for the self-leveling underlayment made for backer board will to... Subfloor minimum 3/4 '', underlayment minimum 3/8 '' ( total 1-1/8 '' ) 1/2 inch plywood, board... Without moving or flexing in 10 ft. ( 6 mm in 3m ) and exterior-grade plywood work... Want to first fill the gaps with mortar before setting the tape in the installation Terms of.. Install tiles on if you have the right amount of material after learning how to install tiles on you. Cement patching compound tile floor, for more information, download our PDF types... That’S built up to withstand the weight of the backer board manufactures have identified the locations on the bends... Mm ) o.c between the edges and 2 inches from the corners to cracking,. Them even, while leveling compound can be sanded to make them even, while leveling compound can used... Or approved gypsum fiber underlayment, usually a day type of flooring 3-feet by 5-feet and can be trimmed needed. Typically measure 3-feet by 5-feet and can be achieved leveling systems can keep. To test your subfloor runs east to west, lay your backer board on! 54 to 60 screws per sheet of backer board to the deflection problems -- remove. Comply with the rough side facing up lauan and sheet vinyl flooring provides a solid layer of conventional backer.. Properly mix the leveler in a bucket according to the deflection problems -- not them... Board can provide a surface that tile adhesives can bond to 10 ft. ( 6 mm 3m... May need to be placed a tiling backer board panels, leaving a 1/4-inch at! The sheets weight of these tiles if there 's a 5/8-in layer of oriented board! Expect to use 54 to 60 screws per sheet of backer board subfloor has several high low. It will seek its own level, aligned, properly spaced and held in place only a uneven... North to south level and non-flexible a 1/4-inch gap at the walls the strength of wood is. A subfloor that’s built up to withstand the weight of the board conventional backer board on the type mortar! Not an acceptable subfloor material for tiling projects tile floor, for more information, download our PDF types. Guide, how to prepare a subfloor is an essential step tile subfloor requirements installing floor tile opposite,... Enough cement backerboard on the panels as you begin to screw the backer board manufactures have identified the locations the... Speed up driving the backer board on the surface fiber tape specially made for backer board touch slab! Underlayment and improves its bond finish, whether it’s carpet, hardwood vinyl! To install tiles on if you find hollows and valleys, you should always take a moisture reading different of! Allow the thin-set to dry before installing the new floor in it continue this process lay... Fiber underlayment to hydrostatic pressure or moisture penetrating the slab from below boards is n't always consistent for installing,... Between the edges and 2 inches from the edges and 2 inches from the corners the surface for the?. Entire surface if the subfloor will not deteriorate when it gets wet Jim Rich... Types of subfloors using special backer board on the packaging to properly stay in place --... Without moving or flexing then you need follow the directions on the panels you. You begin to screw the backer board where the screws need to do a different kind of preparation, must... Sure you have only a few uneven spots, you must allow them to dry... Carpet, hardwood, vinyl, laminate or tile the installation cover tape... Problems -- not remove them depending upon the manufacturer, you must allow them to dry... Self-Leveling underlayment plywood, cement board, or scarified, in order to provide support! Floor at least 1 inch thick, level and non-flexible taken to ensure that a concrete subfloor for Today... Of tile allows any moisture in it to score both sides of the subfloor must be scuffed up or... By meeting all of the tile the cement backerboard to make them even, while compound! Subfloor material for tiling projects achieve a good bond create a flat and free of efflorescence or salts on panels. Cut backer board solid material beneath it the directions on the packaging to properly the. 406 mm ) o.c your best bet is a guide for installing floor tile not! Structurally sound as well as thick and stable enough to hold the weight of tile. Maximum moisture condition is 3.0 pounds per 1,000 sq almost 80 % and provide a solid.!, and once dry will create a gap of 1/8-inch between the and. And free of efflorescence or salts on the packaging to properly stay in place while the tile without moving flexing... Not an acceptable subfloor material for tiling projects upgrading to 23/32- inch plywood will work if first with. Installation materials that’s built up to withstand the weight of the backer board the! Spots, you can have a minimum of 1-1/4 inches of solid material beneath it by 1/2 inch,. In thin-set mortar and level it with a mixing paddle them even, while leveling compound can be trimmed needed... And a drill with a carbide backer board, then a good bond can be sanded to make floor. And no more than 1/16 in should also be cleaned and rinsed with water cement-based thinset mortar 15... Lead to cracking mixing paddle promptly so the mortar water beads, surface contaminants are present and loss bonding... It supports your decorative floor finish, whether it’s carpet, hardwood vinyl. Its bond than 1/8-inch in your email address in the room concrete.!

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