I’m going to tile a bathroom floor for a client. Her and her husband tried to rip out the vinyl floor that was there, but it’s a disaster. Big patches they couldn’t get up etc.. I’m just going to put down a layer of underlayment there mess, before I tile. My question is can I use 1/8″ luan? I’ve always used 1/4″ on the few tile jobs I’ve done before, but 1/8″ would almost match the floor height in the hallway exactly. Is 1/8″ ok or do I need 1/4″? Thank for the help guys. (sorry…and girls.)
I don’t understand! I cut it twice and it’s still too short!
Replies
I'm thinking you're going to create even more problems with a rollercoaster of an underlayment and unevenness. Can the HO use puttyknives and scrapers to get it up more completely? Otherwise, you may want to use leveling compound to smooth it out first before proceeding.
~Sal
Sal,
It's not really that the floor is uneven. Looks like when they tried to rip it up the vinyl 'delaminated' if thats the right word to use. There are patches all over the floor. She said they used scrappers and a sander! It's more like a residue, or the very back layer of the old vinyl, when you rub them, they 'peel' away. like rubbing wet paper...you get small rolls of fiber. I'm just afraid the thinset won't adhere to it, and tiles will be popping loose after a while.
I've done a few tile floors before, but I'm not sure how to proceed with this job. I was thinking of 1/4" luan to cover over these areas, and give me a fresh surface to adhere to, but 1/8" would allow me to match the hallway floor height almost perfectly. The only reason I say that is that they don't want a threshold if possible. Any help suggestions would be greatly appreciatted, I've been trying to get out of this house for a week now, the HO's keep adding things, (like the tile floor!)
I don't understand! I cut it twice and it's still too short!
Edited 8/9/2004 12:55 pm ET by Manroot
Take your circular saw, set the depth a fuzz deeper (than the thickness of the orig underlay/vinyl) and score the underlaymt that was under the old vinyl and rip it out. Then underlay with cement bd, thickness of your choosing. I have laid ceramic many times over wood underlay(never qtr luan), but the talk here and in the TCA handbook has me convinced, for pay.........do it the right way.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
TCA says no to luan. Directions on all thinset bags have lists of approved underlayment and luan can't be found. Hardibacker comes in 1/4 inch.
There's nothing stuck to a floor that can't be taken up somehow, and since tile is used because it's thought to be permanent why not apply it like it's going to be there forever. Get rid of the residual schmutz and put down CBU.
I've got a bathroom now, where some fool layed 1/2" Ply over resilient, then, ceramic. Water penetrated the grout, then had nowhere else to go. Of course he did a real good job of nailing the plywood down.
Hi Guys.
Wood should never be used for ceramic floor underlayment.
The only time that plywood is suitable (DF-exterior grade only and 1/2" min.) is when you do a mud job.And you still have to use tar paper and metal lath.
When you have to go over linoleum with a mud job you don't have to use the tar paper.
If you go with hardi or cement board always leave the linoleum.
In this case you have no choice but to remove the underlayment. If the height is not a problem (next time) then you can set the cement board over the uneven floor with quick drying thin set and screw the cement board every 12".
YCF Dino
Thanks for the info guys, I guess I don't have a choice but to rip out the old underlayment, and thanks for the quick responses.I don't understand! I cut it twice and it's still too short!