I want to retile my bathroom floor.There is tile over wire mesh over plywood now.I want to rip all this out. I am finishing my basement and have built a bar down there. And if the floor will get wet for prolonged periods, it’s a good idea to install a waterproofing membrane. Hi, Berry, i am a 67 year old female and dont know if i can handle backerboard. Tiles can be cut using a hand operated “score and snap” cutter or a motorized wet saw. It is also the thinnest, ideal for use where you don’t want height buildup. Roll the membrane out, and use a utility knife and a straightedge to cut pieces to fit. I am willing to pull up the plywood if needed, as it didnt cost too much. Because this was considered an “upgrade” not covered by my Condo Insurance, the porcelain tile was ‘out-of-pocket’. Is this correct? Shop for Tile & Stone Membranes from a large selection of flooring tools, supplies & accessories at Tools4Flooring.com! 10 years ago I had tile installed over wood floors. Good luck with your project. Love this site but can’t seem to be able to open and get the answer people are looking for… I click on the date and nothing happens…How do I see the answers???? My question is , should I remove the vinyl flooring prior to installing the membrane? To secure a paper-backed membrane, […] Hence my question: Can tile successfully be laid over the vinyl and if so what preparation should be made to the surface and can thin set be used ? Am redoing my kitchen ,bath,laundry room floors in my trailer ( its a 14×70, 1975 era)with ceramic tile. Once the membrane is cemented in place, the tiling proceeds as usual. Thanks so much! i have a ceramic tile floor in the kitchen and tearing it out it’s on plywood subflooring.would i have to put a Category: Repair. Floor tile are commonly made of either ceramic or porcelain: When installing a tile floor, a layer of cement backer board is usually put down over a plywood subfloor to provide a firm, stable surface. You can install directly to the floor. There’s a classification in the tile industry called crack isolation membranes (CIS membranes). Self-Leveling Underlayment, popularly known as SLU, is designed to flatten or possibly level a floor surface prior to installing tile. I am female, middle-aged and have some physical challenges myself and it is the way I was planning to go in my similar-sized guest bath before discovering I could tile directly over my vinyl flooring which is tightly adhered to the cement slab (YES!). His builder did not know he was putting tile flooring on the 2nd floor. What thickness should I use? Schluter Systems Kerdi-Band Orange Plastic Waterproofing Tile Membrane. Well now, after reading most comments on here, i am thinking i didnt need the plywood?? Crack isolation membranes are designed to deform with movement, absorbing some of the force, which helps to prevent cracks from transferring to the tile and grout. I have been told that Ditra overlay would help over the joists,allow tiles to “slide”. USG Durock™ Tile Membrane is distributed throughout the United States. Hello, In most cases, ceramic or stone tile can be installed directly on top of a backerboard or plywood underlayment. Our roof deck was recently replaced and now there is only the roof membrane. Can anyone help as to what i should do for the best?? DITRA (1/8”) and DITRA XL (5/16”) cost $1.35 to $2.15 per square foot for the material. BTW: This Condo is concrete construction with a 10′ height difference between floors with the ‘finished’ ceiling dropped to accommodate concealed utilities and ducts, etc., it doesn’t seem likely that I’d ever hear sounds from overhead. It's completely waterproof, and it allows the subfloor and tile layer to move independently. I am thinking of installing tile in the kitchen and other areas of the house. We definitely do not want to remove the cabinets now. 2. In this way you will smear the thinset evenly into the ‘tracks’ between the lines. I have a few questions if you don’t mind. 3. Rather than using cement boards (CBUs), the favored method is to use an uncoupling membrane. If I install hardibacker over thinset, and then the tile, the top step finished height will be much higher than the other steps. The floor is concrete but i did put down a plywood subfloor, just around the bar area, as i thought this would help level off the floor a bit, as the concrete floor underneath is a bit uneven. The garage floor is uninsulated concrete slab. This allows the tile to "float" over the concrete. Have a great day! However, if the floor tends to flex, consider installing an isolation membrane. The second best approach would be to apply a layer of plywood over the solid wood flooring followed by cement backer board then tile. The membrane avoids the mass, weight and height of a mortar bed, while providing better protection to the tile. In most cases, ceramic or stone tile can be installed directly on top of a backerboard or plywood underlayment. Sign In. Take care! Available under the brand names Schluter Ditra or Redgard Uncoupling Mat, this product is also known as anti-fracture membrane, crack isolation membrane, or crack suppression membrane. Spread thinset mortar-the same material that you will use to set the tiles-onto the floor using a notched trowel. Thank you. Ditra would not help the tiles to slide, but would be a membrane that causes the floor to flex when properly installed. Otherwise, the tile will crack over time due to movement in the floor. The floor is concrete. Would a membrane work better than cement backer board? Depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations, the membrane is applied over the crack at three times the width of the tile. In the mortar bed installation, the mortar bed is not bonded to the concrete - rather it is isolated from cracks in the concrete by the cleavage membrane. We’re home improvement experts and prefer to stick to how-to’s and practical advice for enhancing a home. The membrane will also work. And if the floor will get wet for prolonged periods, it’s a good idea to install a waterproofing membrane. PROBLEM #1: I personally cannot say that the Contractor did NOT use an underlayment or ‘special mortar’ during installation; and PROBLEM #2: Contractor’s original bid did NOT have “underlayment” specified (by check box). it is a wood subfloor .do i still have to use cement backerboard . Getting conflicting info – Thanks in advance for thoughts. as time was of the essence (bare concrete floors over 60 days). You want a 2-inch overlap at all seams. Glad I don’t have to make a living doing it!!! Hi Charlie, The contractor provided a bid which I shared with the Condo Mgmt. Spread adhesive for one piece of membrane at a time, and wait for the adhesive to dry until it is tacky. Your choice. In all cases, use a membrane under the tile. The anchoring fleece is embedded in thin-set mortar to provide a mechanical bond to the substrate. Do I need a waterproof membrane when builing a shower pan over a concrete basement floor? Maybe this is late, but since the expert hasn’t responded, I thought I would jump in. Would the perma base give me added strength and the dirt the flex I will need? Currently it has vinyl flooring throughout.I have been advised to use an uncoupled membrane. If the cement board was screwed or nailed every 6-8″ every 16″ on center with 1/8″ gap between staggered sheets and the joints were taped with fiberglass tape, there should not have been cracks in the floor. Once that half of the membrane has been rolled out, smooth any wrinkles with the flat edge of a trowel. Most recommend a thick-napped paint roller. It is made of yellow HDPE (high density polyethylene) and the mat indentations with their laminated grid give it very high rigidity and an optimum bond with thin bed mortar. (See below for a shopping list and tools. Some key details to keep in mind: The floor framing should be designed for max. For example, if the tile is a 12- x 12-inch format, the membrane … Roll the membrane out, and position it in place. When you place the tile down you should press and slightly move the tile back and forth in a motion opposite the parallel lines on the back of the tile. Hi Rick, An uncoupling membrane disconnects tile from its concrete subfloor and prevents cracking in the slab from being transmitted upward to the tile job. Is there anyway to go around this? In the partial method, the membrane is applied only over the cracks, also known as crack chasing. waterproof floor if they became damaged and leaked. (Imagine a woman’s stiletto heel coming down on a gap instead of solid thinset/tile. To minimize the thickness of the floor covering, a thin-set mortar can be used to bond tile directly to the existing flooring, resulting in a total increase in floor height less than 1/2". I just pulled up 3 layers of flooring and got down to hardwood flooring directly to the joists I had already bought tile and the ditra underlayment thinking I would hit subflooring.. Made of lightweight polyethylene, the membrane is only 1/8” … They’ve been scientifically tested in what they can handle and how much they can handle. I would like to install interlocking rubber tiles. Join us to get great money-saving tips, cool ideas, and valuable advice from home improvement expert Don Vandervort! Room is 7 x 11 feet in an old building condo. Apply a bed of thin-set without latex additive, and set the tile in it. DURABASE CI is a tiling mat with an installation height of 3.0 mm. Thanks for sharing your situation. Is membrane necessary before installing procelaine tile. The membrane acts as an anti-fracture barrier to keep direct cracks and movement from the subfloor below transferring up to the tile, and latex modifed thinsets further fortify the installation. Oct 1, 2020 - We love a beautiful tiled floor! Thanks for taking questions! These products, if used exactly according to the manufacturers installation instructions guarantee you that your floor will not crack. One flooring company said they would install an uncoupling membrane when installing tile over my 100-year-old basement laundry room's concrete floor. Lay the pieces of membrane in the thinset, and embed them using a sheet-flooring roller. We heard that a toe kick saw gets the particle board out and we can put down 5/8″ plywood and ditra and then set the tile on that. Do I use the Ditra and can it be installed over the stained conrete? I am going to tile around the bar area. We also have a video on How to Tile a Bathroom Floor that demonstrates several methods of cutting tile around openings. If you attach the tile to concrete, you need to take special precautions by uncoupling the tile from the concrete. We focus on home improvement advice and respectfully try to avoid determining whether a contractor, painter, home builder or some other professional took the right action for a given circumstance. When installing a tile floor, a layer of cement backer board is usually put down over a plywood subfloor to provide a firm, stable surface. 1. No, you don’t need the membrane or a backer board on concrete. Thanks for any help, Anna, I am building a shower pan which will go six inches up a wall on the sides how do I seal up the seams of the corners of the pan with schleuter Kerdi ditra underlaymenrt Over laps ? The membrane is waterproof, not just water-resistant. I have a house that the builder put particle board in all areas except wet areas there they used plywood, now I want to use ceramic tile in all areas how can I do this without pulling the particle board? Stainproof grout is also available. adhesive ?Thank you. I’ve had a Professional Flooring Contractor replace my “water damaged” LR carpet/padding with “wood plank” Porcelain Tile. Good luck with your project! With the backing still attached, place a piece of membrane on the adhesive, unroll both ends, and position it precisely. . More than almost any other type of floor covering, tile needs a rock-solid base. After the thinset has set, trowel on another layer of thinset in which to set the tiles. A waterproof underlayment membrane like Ditra from Schluter Systems can be substituted for backer board. You can find the membrane at any large local do-it-yourself stores. To install ceramic tile over wood, the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile. Durock™ Tile Membrane Adhesive included in kit) USG Durock™ Tile Membrane is rated for residential and light-commercial applications under ASTM C627, Standard Test Method for Evaluating Ceramic Floor Tile Installation Systems Using the Robinson-Type Floor Tester. There are no cracks in the concrete, and I … Installed cost is $3.00 to $4.00. The subfloor is over a crawl space and the room has moisture issues. Grout is available in a variety of colors, but darker grout stains less. In answer to your question. To fill in any low spots in the slab, apply a floor patch or leveling compound before tiling. Thank You for your Help! If your subfloor is plywood you will need to lay down something as plywood will expand and contract causing your tiles to crack and/or pop loose. You might try using another brand of grout or a new container in case yours has gone bad. To make the floor waterproof, seal the seams and floor-to-wall junctions with a waterproof tile membrane. The same goes for the Ditra. Yes, you can attach the marble threshold to the backer board with thin-set. 2. Hello! If someone responds to a question that was posed in another comment, it will appear on the date the response was posted, not as a drop down from the previous comment. Is it ok? Yes, you install the plywood subfloor directly to your floor joist (screws hold better than nails). The membrane has a wax-paper backing that will not stick to the adhesive. An uncoupling membrane provides an optimal surface for laying tile, as long as it’s properly installed according to the manufacturer’s directions. I am installing travertine tile in a bath and laundry room, my question is since I have 3/4 OSB down as subfloor. Hi Mark, After the tiles have set, apply grout to the joints using a rubber float. Good luck with the situation. If grout has already become stained, a grout stain pen can be used to stain the grout a uniform color. You’ll need either the membrane or a cement back board. Only every month or two. Thinset on the cement backerboard ok? Thanks so much for any advice or guidance. It allows the tile layer to move independently of the subfloor, so expansion and contraction caused by moisture and thermal gradients won't cause the grout or … We have now realized that we can’t lay our ceramic tile on the particle board floor. I am planning to tile a room with ceramic tile 8″ by 24″ over plywood subfloor. The tile will break. The membrane would be much easier for you to work with as it is thin, lightweight, and flexible, and easy to cut. If you combed the thinset into curvy shapes there will be gaps remaining, and those gap spots can cause cracks when pressure is placed on them. I was going to use cement backer board and an underlayment membrane, is this a bad idea or completely un-necessary? You can find out more about tiling in our articles on Installing Tile Over a Wood Subfloor and How to Lay a Tile Floor. Hi Blake, Good luck with your project! Can i put plywood right on top of the floor joists? To find out more, watch our video on How to Level a Subfloor, and read our step-by-step article on How to Lay a Tile Floor. Uncoupling membrane for tiled floor applications; Prevents cracked tile and grout and provides waterproofing; Ditra is 1/8 in. Subscribe today for exclusive content & tips in your inbox! This would solve the code problem. We selected the Tile and Grout colors. Of course, the contractor wanted to get started right away. Waterproofing these areas will help to prevent the delamination of tile coverings in the event of water loss. When it comes to recommendations, and what’s best for your unique home, we recommend submitting questions to the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show. A few years ago you were not required to thinset the backerboard down. In the thinset installation, a crack isolation membrane is bonded to the concrete. i have a small 5 1/2 by 5 1/2 bath. I wish to tile my laundry room that currently has glued down vinyl flooring over 11/2 inches of sub flooring and a 1/4″ sheeting to make a smooth surface for the vinyl. Comments posted by members of the Today’s Homeowner staff appear in yellow with the Danny Lipford logo next to them. I have not approached the Contractor, as I’ve just discovered the predicament. Once the leveling compound has set, apply thin-set adhesive to the slab with a notched trowel and tile. Since I’d never heard of an underlayment over “concrete” in conjunction with ceramic/porcelain and mortar installation – I’ve started to research and found that in Multi-Family Dwellings soundproofing ‘can be’ required. You can lay tile directly on a concrete slab without any additional subfloor or membrane. Redgard Uncoupling Mat Membrane For Tile And Stone Prevent Tiles From Cracking Due To Poor Subfloor Tile Repair Flooring Contractor Roof Restoration from www.pinterest.com. However, if the floor tends to flex, consider installing an isolation membrane. This post may contain affiliate links. Hi, Wenndy! QUESTION: Should the Professional Estimator and/or Professional Tile Installer have recognized the soundproofing ‘requirement’, as certainly I, the homeowner would not? I put down a 12 x 16 area carpet and that noise has stopped. To find out more about cutting tile, check out our Ask Danny article on How to Cut Tile Around Electrical Outlets. Good luck with your project! A waterproof underlayment membrane like Ditra from Schluter Systems can be substituted for backer board. Tile installers usually use cementboard as a tile underlayment over a standard plywood subfloor, but as Home Flooring Pros advises, there are situations for which an uncoupling membrane is a better choice. His extensive hands-on experience and understanding of the industry make him the go-to source for all things having to do with the home – from advice on simple repairs, to complete remodels, to helping homeowners prepare their homes for extreme weather and seasons. Is there a better material to protect the roof membrane? In one area of the house we have 4 foot on center floor joists and in the other we have 32″ on center floor joists. To secure a paper-backed membrane, start by sweeping and mopping the floor to clear away even the smallest bits of debris. Without having intimate knowledge of a situation, it would be difficult to determine. (If you’re facing the tile and your lines are straight up and down, wiggle the tile sideways as you place it.) Schluter-Ditra Tile Underlayment is a polyethylene membrane that replaces 1/2″ cement backer board when applying tile over a plywood subfloor. Step 1 Cut the Membrane Photo by Wendell T. Webber. Clicking on the date doesn’t really do anything. It is more expensive but you have a small area you are tiling so it should be doable. Is it okay to put level quick on top of cement board prior to laying ceramic tile? Cut through the paper backing, and start peeling the paper off, slowly rolling the exposed membrane onto the adhesive as you work.