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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Painting, Decorating & Tiling Questions >> tiling wooden floors https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1164638092 Message started by senor_j on Nov 27^th, 2006, 2:34pm

Title: tiling wooden floors
Post by senor_j on Nov 27^th, 2006, 2:34pm

hello all.
can i have some advice on tiling wooden floors please?
I plan to tile throughout a hallway to a kitchen,
over a combination of patched up floor boards and 18mm board.
What is the ideal depth for the board i will tile on to? 6mm?
Hardboard or ply?
Also,can anyone recommend a flexible tile adhesive?one that goes off quick - if there is such a thing!
Any other advice greatly appreciated .
Thanks.
J.

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by Simes on Nov 27^th, 2006, 5:33pm

Hi
I use a product called 'Hardibacker' to really good effect. It's designed specifically for the task.
Comes in 6mm for floors and 12 mm for shower walls etc. Sheet size is 900 x 1500 for about £15.
Info: http://www.pureadhesion.co.uk/product/172/hardibacker%20250%20(6mm%20floors)

For the adhesive, just ask the tile shop for "flexible rapid" in 10 or 20 kg bags, drymix.

It's worth using flexible grout too, or put a flex additive in to your chosen grout. Any good tile shop will give you advice on the products they sell.
Good luck!

Cheers, Simes.

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by jasonB on Nov 27^th, 2006, 5:36pm

Make sure all the existing boards are screwed down firmly to the joists. Then overboard with a minimum of 12mm WBP ply screwed to the old boards at 200mm centers (25mm screws into pre countersunk holes)

Something like BAL Rapidset Flexible will do the job and can take light foor traffic after about 3hrs. Use a flexible grout as well, BAL Superflex wide joint grout is what I usually go for. You should be able to get these from a decent tile shop or your local Topps Tiles will have them.

Jason

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by senor_j on Nov 28^th, 2006, 3:04pm

thanks very much for the advice.
i think I will board it with the ply, as it's quite a large area it could be very costly with the hardibacker,
though i may give it a whirl in the bathroom!
cheers.
J.

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by Simes on Nov 28^th, 2006, 11:43pm

I'd give the ply a couple of coats of pva before you lay the tiles.

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by jasonB on Nov 29^th, 2006, 8:02am

DO NOT use PVA unless the adhesive maker specifically advises it. Read this

Jason

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by senor_j on Nov 29^th, 2006, 2:11pm

Thanks for that Jason.
will deffo check with BAL.
J.

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by WOLF on Nov 29^th, 2006, 10:28pm

a very good pointer there JasonB, and a small bit of Hedumakashun too!!!!

interesting ...thanks!!!

having had this arguement before with someone, and NOT being able to stated why i never pva ply!!!

now i can give substance to my arguement!

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by jasonB on Nov 30^th, 2006, 4:11pm

It's a hands link to send people to.

Can't take the credit for it, Alan at AT Stone is our occasional visitor "Mudster"

Jason

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by CWatters on Dec 11^th, 2006, 5:58pm

My carp has been fitting Hardibacker to ort bathroom/shower.. He's found it blunts jigsaw blades real fast. Used about 20 so far!

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by WOLF on Dec 11^th, 2006, 7:28pm

tell him to stop buying the CHEAP Screwfux ones then dude!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

heard they are made from tinfoil! :o

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by jasonB on Dec 12^th, 2006, 4:20pm

Tell him to use aquapanel as it cuts like plasterboard and stanley knife blades are a lot cheaper than jiggy ones.

BTW Hardibacker make a spacial tool for cutting their boards.

Jason

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by Gammy_leg on May 25^th, 2007, 9:18am

Chaps,

Following on from the original question, I am tiling in my kitchen / diner at the moment. The kitchen end was quarry tiled originally and I have just tiled straight over them - no problem. At the dining room end, I have wooden floorboards which are at a slightly lower level so I have made up the difference with 3mm hardboard sheets. From previous experience trying to tile onto the shiny side of these is a no-no because the adhesive won't stick, would I be safe tiling onto the rough unfinished side?, do I need to prime first. I am using Wickes dry mix tile adhesive.

Thanks

Gammy

Title: Re: tiling wooden floors
Post by jasonB on May 26^th, 2007, 7:41am

DO NOT tile onto hardboard, it will expand with the moisture from the adhesive and when it dries out will crack the adhesive.

Ideally you either need to overboard with 12-15mm plywood or replace the existing floorboards with 25mm WBP ply then tile with a flexible adhesive and flexible grout.

Some will say you can tile straight onto floorboards with the right adhesive I don't take the risk, if you want to go that route then use a two part flexible adhesive with a large format trowel, this will give a thicker bed of adhesive and allow you to loose the 3mm height difference.

Jason