How To Fix Ceramic Tile To Plywood

The safest most prudent course is to install tile on top of a cement backerboard such as durock wonderboard or hardiebacker.

How to fix ceramic tile to plywood.

Laying tile over a plywood subfloor can be tricky but if you prepare the sub floor properly your tile floor will last for a lifetime. It is the only plywood that is rated for use with tile installations in areas where condensation or other moisture is going to be present. Plywood will expand and deform if subjected to moisture or humidity. Cement backerboard is made for tiling.

Glue called mastic is the least expensive method for installing tiles. Mastic adheres the tile directly to a wooden sub floor to a wooden back splash or onto a piece of plywood. There are thin set dry set mortars design specifically for adhering ceramic tile to plywood that is designated as an ansi a118 11 thin set mortar. It is also suitable for fixing ceramic wall and floor tiles metal or glass tiles marble terrazzo and natural stone in interior and exterior locations suitable for use in swimming pools.

For the best results when tiling onto plywood floors follow these instructions. The glues and resins inside of exterior grade plywood are of a higher quality and are designed to deal with moisture above and beyond what interior types are designed for. Clean and heavily score area to where tiles are to be fixed it sounds like the adhesive does not have a rough surface in which to secure itself to. Plywood substrate alternatives.

A bright white non slip water and frost resistant cementitious wall and floor tile adhesive specially formulated for fixing mosaic tiles including glass mosaics. Backerboard does not shrink or expand when it comes into contact with water mortar and grout both contain water.