OK, newbie here and I have a few questions to ask from the pros. I happend on this site and there seems to be lots of great info and advice so I thought I would see what I could find out about my particular issues.
I am in the middle of a complete bathroom redo and we are seriously looking at putting in tile for both a tub surround and tile on the floor, so here are my questions:
1. I have Durock on the walls for the tub surround, installed correctly, with fibreglass mesh and mud on all joints and corners but not between the tub and the durock, am going to silicone that before the tile goes on. Should I put some sort of waterproof membrane or coating on before I tile or should I simply tile, grout and seal the whole thing?
2. The subfloor is currently one layer of 7/16" ply (the top layer was removed with the old lino). It seems quite solid with a few squeaks but I am sure there are issues with the flatness. The hallway currently has an extra layer of 3/8" sub and then carpet (which will get removed soon) so I dont want to raise my floor too much.
My thought is to push up on the current sub a little from underneath to squeeze in some bonding between the sub and the joists (I have some access from underneath), then screw that layer down tight trying to get the floor as flat as I can. Then add some floor leveling compound, let it dry and then add another layer of probably 1/2" ply and secure it to the current sub only and not the joists. Then, I am debating on putting down a waterproof membrane or an isolation membrane (not both) and then tiling. By my calculations this should raise the floor about 1" - 1-1/4".
Does this make sense? Am I overthinking/overbuilding this? Or am I missing something? It isnt a large floor area, only about 5' x 5' less the cupboard area so I am not sure about my process. Please tell me what you think.
Thanks for your time and expertise!
3. Forgot to add this, we havent decided on tile yet, what would be best to use ceramic or porcelain, I have heard that ceramic is better in the bathroom and porcelain is more liable to crack.
I am in the middle of a complete bathroom redo and we are seriously looking at putting in tile for both a tub surround and tile on the floor, so here are my questions:
1. I have Durock on the walls for the tub surround, installed correctly, with fibreglass mesh and mud on all joints and corners but not between the tub and the durock, am going to silicone that before the tile goes on. Should I put some sort of waterproof membrane or coating on before I tile or should I simply tile, grout and seal the whole thing?
2. The subfloor is currently one layer of 7/16" ply (the top layer was removed with the old lino). It seems quite solid with a few squeaks but I am sure there are issues with the flatness. The hallway currently has an extra layer of 3/8" sub and then carpet (which will get removed soon) so I dont want to raise my floor too much.
My thought is to push up on the current sub a little from underneath to squeeze in some bonding between the sub and the joists (I have some access from underneath), then screw that layer down tight trying to get the floor as flat as I can. Then add some floor leveling compound, let it dry and then add another layer of probably 1/2" ply and secure it to the current sub only and not the joists. Then, I am debating on putting down a waterproof membrane or an isolation membrane (not both) and then tiling. By my calculations this should raise the floor about 1" - 1-1/4".
Does this make sense? Am I overthinking/overbuilding this? Or am I missing something? It isnt a large floor area, only about 5' x 5' less the cupboard area so I am not sure about my process. Please tell me what you think.
Thanks for your time and expertise!
3. Forgot to add this, we havent decided on tile yet, what would be best to use ceramic or porcelain, I have heard that ceramic is better in the bathroom and porcelain is more liable to crack.
