We’re converting an area with wood flooring into a bathroom and plan on tiling the floor- here’s my question: What’s the best thing to put down underneath the tile to minimize the natural give of the wood floor but without being too thick? The ceiling is pretty low and we don’t want to build it up any more any higher than is absolutely necessary because in this space, every inch counts.
Thanks!
Replies
You cannot apply tile to wood. You need a layer of cement board (hardibacker etc.) The wood pulls the water out of the thinset before it can setup. This will cause the tile adhesion to fail.
As far as "wood natural give" If the floor has a lot of give or movement in it (deflection) nothing added on top will correct this. The joist would have to be strengthened to stop this movement, if not tiles will surely pop off or crack.
Is this wood a finished floor or the subfloor? If it's the finished floor you could rip it up to save headroom.
It doesn't have alot of give, but I knew that something would have to go down first to level things out and give us a smooth surface to apply the tile to. The space is a step up from the adjacent room so being level with another room isn't a concern. The wood flooring is strips without a subfloor- we think it was installed in the 40's. It was a strange addition that was made to the 2nd floor of the house (1880's farmhouse)- it's kind of set up like a large hallway running along the back of the house- so it has a slanted ceiling which makes height a real concern.
Float a mud bed.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
What kind of wood flooring? Strip? What about finished floor height in adjacent room/hall?
it was common for old time tile setters to strip the whole bathroom floor to just floor joist. 2X blocking between the joists was installed flat. Then the backer board or cement was installed directly on top of the joist.
One never nails the CBU's directly to the joists. One wants to isolate them from the framing so movement does not transfer to the tile and crack the installation. Indeed, even when I am installing CBU over plywood, I nail into the decking, never the joists.Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934