Use this home depot guide how to install a tile floor for more information.
Cement sheet subfloor.
To prepare a wood subfloor for installing tile install a cement based backerboard following the manufacturer s instructions.
For the last 40 years cdx tongue and grooved plywood has been the most commonly used exterior structural subfloor material used in homes.
Cement backerboard is a thin layer of concrete with fiberglass mesh on both sides.
This plywood is made from thin sheets of usually southern pine veneer that are cross laminated and glued together forming 4 x 8 sheets that are either 5 8 or 3 4 thick.
Don t use regular drywall or wood screws which corrode in cement board.
To prepare a concrete subfloor for installing tile you ll need to do a different kind of preparation.
The subfloor is the foundation beneath finish flooring materials.
On wood frame floors the subflooring provides a continuous structural surface over the floor joists.
In basements and in homes with slab on grade foundations the subfloor may simply be a concrete slab.
Plywood panels should be set down with 1 8 inch gaps between sheets.
Do not fasten and leave 3 4 of an inch of space between the wall and plywood.
Buying a large roll of vinyl gets you a new floor for a very affordable price.
Pourable self leveling products help to flatten and level a wood subfloor or a concrete slab before the tile is installed.
Installing a vinyl tile or vinyl plank floor is easier than installing sheet vinyl and any damage to the floor can be repaired easily simply by replacing a tile or two.
Most types can be installed over concrete or over a subfloor.
Fasten the cement board sheet to the subfloor with 1 1 4 inch cement board screws.
Building paper between layers of flooring.
Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage.
The paper comes in rolls typically 3 feet wide.
Building paper is a catchall term for single ply sheathing paper manufactured in various thicknesses.
The dry product is mixed with water to a liquid consistency and poured on.
To begin you ll need two layers of 3 8 inch minimum cd exposure 1 plywood subfloor panels cdx 4 foot by 8 foot sheets.