7 Best Practices to Install Tiles on Plywood Subfloor Board

Plywood is a very common subfloor material. Though, the plywood boards used for subfloor preparation are different from boards used for furniture designing. They are engineered to be tougher, more durable and better at resisting water and moisture.

So, if you are planning to commence a ceramic-porcelain tile floor project, plywood boards should be your choice for subfloor. And if this is your first project, here are a few best practices you should follow whiling installing tiles on a plywood subfloor –

1. Select the right brand or grade of plywood. When you buy tiles, people at the tile shop recommend which materials will work well with their tile. So, maybe you could seek suggestion from tile shop reps on this. Just for your information, you should use plywood boards labeled for outdoors.
2. Use latex mixed thin set for improved waterproofing and moisture resistance. You have to apply a base of thin set on the plywood. Latex-based tile adhesive or thin set provides a better bonding on plywood and wood surfaces.
3. Nail or screw down the edge of plywood every 8 inches and center and other areas every six inches. Make sure that screw heads are not above the level of plywood.
4. Leave a gap of 1/6 inches between two plywood boards. This is done to allow the boards to expand and contract.
5. Although you can, do not apply tiles directly on the plywood surface. To increase the performance of your subfloor, use an intervening layer between the subfloor and tile. This middle layer can be a thin sheet of plywood. It will help protect the subfloor from moisture and many other related and common factors.
6. If you want, you can use an uncoupling membrane between plywood and the layer of tiles.
7. Work with the right tools to ease your job and save your time.

There you have it. This is how you should prepare plywood subfloor for tile installation.

This article has been brought to you by WallAndTile.com, one of the largest tile shops in US.