Tile Floor Underlayment Plywood

Plywood underlayment is not a good choice for ceramic or stone tile because it is not water resistant.

Tile floor underlayment plywood. A subfloor is the bottom most structural level of your floor. For more information download our pdf about types of subfloors. If a floor is solid it. A stable firm subfloor.

Settle the plywood vs cement backerboard underlayment debate in favor of completing your job successfully by using cement backerboard every time. Tile can be installed over a plywood substrate and it is actually a fantastic way to make sure you don t have deflection in your floor. Some professionals however will use plywood as thin as 1 4 inch for resilient flooring if the subfloor is in particularly good condition. To simplify your decision consider plywood underlayment if it is recommended by the flooring manufacturer.

Cement backerboard plywood subflooring the materials that lie hidden beneath tile determine whether the tile will last for centuries or only a few years. This tile is composed of sand which is fired at high temperature and pressure. Approved for use as an underlayment for carpeting hardwood and vinyl floor coverings. A final mark to check is the thickness of the plywood.

Exterior plywood is an acceptable underlayment for tile and is preferred to interior grade plywoods because the bonding adhesives used are waterproof. The subfloor the underlayment and the surface tile you walk on. A tile floor consists of three individual layers. Installation instructions must be followed.

While plywood has many uses and was once the only material to install tile on it can t compare to the smooth even surface of cement backerboard or the stability that cement can bring to the job. If water seeps through the tile installation to the underlayment it will not cause the wood to swell as happens with interior grade plywood. Flat and even underlayment. It supports your decorative floor finish whether it s carpet hardwood vinyl laminate or tile.

Adhesive that grabs hard. 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. Since it isn t porous porcelain tile is more water resistant and harder than ceramic but it is harder to cut. Try laying tile over 1 2 durock or hardie and see what happens when the joists are 19 2 or 24 on center.

Hope you didn t like your beautiful new tile floor. There are various types of tile underlayment but all serve to smooth out uneven. Cuts easily with a utility knife while strong enough to withstand extreme bending without breaking. And long lasting grout all contribute to a durable tile job.