tiles on floorboards

[deanibusmaximus]

Hi all! I have been asked to tile an upstairs bathroom. Is onto old floorboards. I have concerns about this so suggested ripping up floorboards and replacing with 18mm wbp ply, then use rapid flex powdered adh, so there would be a good base without raising the level. However, the client went to the builders merchant who said that it is ok to tile on floorboards as long as the correct adhesive is used. Is he right? Would i be over engineering things by re boarding? I am a fusspot and want to get it right. Any advice appreciated.

Dean[/i]

 

[HERTS P&D]

Who is correct the tradesman or the customer? Are you a tiler???

The floor needs to be lined with ply.

Andy

 

[tictic]

the...floor....what condition is it in??...

thickness/joist span/area...?

 

[Richard C]

Tiling directly over floorboards (assuming they are timber) is extremely risky even with high quality (& expensive) tiling materials. I wouldn’t do it & advise you don’t either, not without a written client disclaimer with regard to any warranty on the work.

I would advise at least over-boarding either with WBP or a decent tile backer board but if the raised threshold is a problem, replace with 18-25mm WBP ply, at least you will know where you stand with it. In most cases 18mm is sufficient in a low use/load area such as a bathroom but the actual thickness will depend on joist size/pitch/span; as stated, more info needed.

 

[tpt]

i've seen lots of misinformation like this just lately, mostly since the new breed so super flexible adhesives have come out. Yes the adhesive will certainly stick to floorboards\chipboard etc and it will stay stuck due to how flexible it is - problem is the tiles aren't flexible so they will crack. Customer will then be left with a nicely stuck cracked floor.