Hi,
I forgot to specify to my contractor that I wanted the cement backer board applied to the plywood with thinset as the adhesive in my bathroom for tile installation (I know, bad homeowner! bad!) and he used strong as nails (they say they always use it, but I need the added rigidity…trust me). Well, it’s my fault so I removed the backer board and am scraping up the adhesive (they are flexible enough to deal w/this). Anyway, as I was scraping I remembered that 5/8 plywood is recommended under tile and mine is 1/2 (and 40-some years old with some water blackening but not water damage). My questions are:
First, should I consider topping the plywood with a 3/8 luan to add to the thickness or leave well enough alone? It is only $10. a sheet–much less than a new plywood base these days). I’m worried about the suitability of luan, although it’s a thin plywood, not particleboard or oriented strand board.
And if I do use this luan–which has the advantage of being water resistant–how do I adhere it? I’m thinking of nails and glue but not sure what glue. What do you think?
Thanks in advance
Lisa