We're in the middle of a complete bathroom refurb. Walls, ceiling and floor all ripped out. Floor is becoming a problem due to conflicting advice and we've ground to a halt till we get this settled.
House is around 30/40 years old, stud and plasterboard walls, 18mm chipboard flooring throughout, joists are 400mm centres.
The bathroom flooring has been ripped up but we don't know what to put down in it's place.
My 'better' half has been asking for advice on the net and has been told:
a) lay 18mm ply direct onto joists and tile on top
b) lay 25mm ply direct onto joists and tile on top
c) lay 18mm ply plus a 6mm tile backer board such as Hardibacker because you need the ply for strength but the Hardibacker for moisture protection and good base for tiling on.
d) don't bother....lay vinyl instead!
I would prefer to use a tile backer board, I think they make sense. I dont know what ply to use though. The 25mm would be stronger but would the extra weight be a problem for the joists, especially if we put 6mm Hardibacker over the top? Would the 18mm be strong enough? I've often thought our 18mm chipboard wasn't as rigid as I'd have liked but I don't know what 18mm ply would be like.
We're going round in circles and our work is being held up because of the uncertainty so we could use some advice?
House is around 30/40 years old, stud and plasterboard walls, 18mm chipboard flooring throughout, joists are 400mm centres.
The bathroom flooring has been ripped up but we don't know what to put down in it's place.
My 'better' half has been asking for advice on the net and has been told:
a) lay 18mm ply direct onto joists and tile on top
b) lay 25mm ply direct onto joists and tile on top
c) lay 18mm ply plus a 6mm tile backer board such as Hardibacker because you need the ply for strength but the Hardibacker for moisture protection and good base for tiling on.
d) don't bother....lay vinyl instead!
I would prefer to use a tile backer board, I think they make sense. I dont know what ply to use though. The 25mm would be stronger but would the extra weight be a problem for the joists, especially if we put 6mm Hardibacker over the top? Would the 18mm be strong enough? I've often thought our 18mm chipboard wasn't as rigid as I'd have liked but I don't know what 18mm ply would be like.
We're going round in circles and our work is being held up because of the uncertainty so we could use some advice?