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What Kind of Subflooring Do You Need for Tile?

Ceramic and porcelain tile can be installed over a variety of subflooring and even over some types of old flooring. To install over existing floor, both the floor surface and the subfloor should be in decent condition. The preferred method, however, is to install tile over a subfloor specifically prepared for that purpose. Placing tile on a simple wood subfloor is not enough. An underlayment or another hard structure should be used to support the tile.

  1. Plywood

    • A single layer of plywood is not sufficient to support a tile floor. An additional layer of exterior-grade plywood should be placed over the initial layer to achieve a thickness of at least 1 1/8 inches. The seams of both layers should be staggered with a minimum offset of two inches. A showerpan, which consists of thin, rubberized materials to assist in expansion and contraction, should be included. Thin-set mortar will need to be applied under either layer to eliminate air gaps.

    Backerboard

    • Concrete backerboard is one of the most popular subfloors for tile. Galvanized nails or backerboard screws placed at 8-inch intervals are used to secure the material, which has a solid concrete core faced with fiberglass on either side. Backerboard seams should be staggered so they don't fall directly over subfloor joints. Thinset mortar, applied by a notched trowl, is used to set the tiles.

    Mortar Bed

    • This is the favorite underlayment of many professional contractors who lay tile. It is composed of a layer of thick roofing felt, wire mesh and a layer of mortar. Advantages of using a mortar bed is that it creates a level surface and provides the best possible surface for tile since it protects against floor deflections through the presence of the wire mesh. This results in fewer cracked tiles and loose grout and longer lasting flooring.

    Concrete Slab

    • Although it is a recommended subsurface, all cracks and uneven patches in a concrete slab should be filled and repaired in a concrete slab subfloor before tiles are bonded to it. If curing compound has been applied to the slab to reduce cracking, it should be removed to ensure a stronger bond between the tile and the concrete. Concrete should be as level as possible, particularly for larger size tiles, and should be clean and completely free of dust and debris to ensure a superior installation.

    Existing Flooring

    • Not all types of surfaces are suitable subfloors. As with other recommended surfaces, the surface should be as level as possible to insure better installation. Tile may be installed over vinyl, wood, linoleum and similar surfaces. Tile should not be installed if two or more surfaces are already present on the floor. One layer should be removed.

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Floor Repairs
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