I have succumbed to several years of pleading by my wife and have decided to turn my deck into a screened in porch. The decking (5/4 x 6 pressure treated) is several years old and in good shape but Im not thrilled with the idea of it as the floor of my screened in porch. I was wondering if I could screw durock to it then tile over it. I see tile in other outdoor applications and it seems to hold up. The decking and floor joists are sturdy. I do live in a climate that sees snow and below freezing temps.
Any ideas? Taking off the decking and putting down new trex-type decking is an expensive way to get a marginally appearance.
Thx, Pete
Replies
The concrete backer board will need 100% support from beneath. The small gaps between your decking will be a problem that will cause eventual cracking.
If you first put down a layer of treated plywood, then that support issue is solved.
Other issues for you to think about include drainage, the strength of the undercarriage, and feasibility of tile in the first place.
If the finished surface of your tiled deck will have a bit of slope, then rain that comes through the screens can go somewhere (weep holes in the bottom of the screen panels?). If not, you'll have annoying puddles -- and problems as a result.
Concerning the strength issue -- if your deck has the least bit of bounce to it, then tile is not a good idea. Either the tile, or the grout joints, will crack.
And if you are in an area tha has hard freezes, you might want to reconsider altogether. The expansion and contraction could be a huge issue, causing tiles to break.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
I would get rid of the P.T. decking and start fresh over the floor joists. That decking is just too irregular and unstable for plywood and ceramic tile.
Put down a layer of 3/4" P.T. plywood and a layer of durarock
So you think the PT plywood/durock combo would be stable enough to withstand freeze thaw cycles? I live in central Ohio and we get plenty of winter. Id put thinset down before the durock to create the recomended bond. Thx for the input.
Pete
gotta use porcelain tile, no air pockets in it to absorb water & freeze/thaw like ceramic does.... face will blowout on ceramic
Have you considered a nice indoor/outdoor carpet?
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
I'd be comfortable using 5/8" cdx ply over the 5/4 and then thinset and then "Wonderboard".
Seems strong enough to me.
BE floored
andy
My life is my passion!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 5/3/2004 7:05 am ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
I'm about to put a tile floo down over concrete & have been looking at Ditra, it's a roll product looks like a plastic orange waffle over a canvas backing which is supposed to be set w/ thinset and tiled over w/ thinset. Anyone w/ experience? It's referred to as an isolation layer so the deck flex issue might be addressed w/ the stuff. Plywood is a must, I agree.
Yep
Did my bathroom and laundry room with it not long ago.
It makes life super easy but its expensive and hard to locate small amts.
Jeff Bucks also used it and I think feels the same way I do.
Be floored
andyMy life is my passion!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM