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I am a homeowner. Our contractor is installing a new bath, and we are trying to match the existing elevation, so we can get away without a huge (1″) elevation gain between the tile and the finish floor in the adjacent room. It would be nice not to have a clunky threshold.
To accomplish this, my contractor wants to remove the existing finish floor and subfloor in the new bath during the rough out and put 2×4 blocking between the floor joists, and put a 3/4 or thicker subfloor on the blocking so the top of the subfloor will be even with the floor joists, and lay wonder board over that. Although the mortar base would be thicker than I would like, I could be talked into a mortar base if it would be better. He will charge me extra for the mortar base. The tile will be 1″ hex tile in 12″x24 sheets.
He claims that this subloor system will work. I’d love a floor that is even with the adjacent finish floor, but do want to avoid stress cracks.
My specific questions are:
1. Will that type of “sunken” subfloor work? If so, what thickness should the plywood be?
2. If that sunken subfloor is OK, would you guys recommend wonder board with that application or a mortar bed?
Thanks in advance for all who respond.
Replies
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Tom, is the subfloor in the bath already above that of the adjacent floor? Even if you went with 1/2" wonderboard and 1/4" tile, you'd still be only 3/4" above the subfloor in the adjacent floor. Even with vinyl as the adjacent finish floor, you'd be +/- 1/4" elevation at the threshold. This is assuming that the subfloor in both rooms are the same in elevation.
If this is the case, using 1/4" hardibacker would solve the problem.
If this is not the case, I'd suggest you talk to an architect.
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Tom, About year ago I had a similar situation for a customer. Taking a cue from an old FHB article, I removed all layers of flooring down to the joists. Then I installed 2x4 ledgers along both edges of each joist 3/4" below the top edge. 3/4"Export=
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I am a homeowner. Our contractor is installing a new bath, and we are trying to match the existing elevation, so we can get away without a huge (1") elevation gain between the tile and the finish floor in the adjacent room. It would be nice not to have a clunky threshold.
To accomplish this, my contractor wants to remove the existing finish floor and subfloor in the new bath during the rough out and put 2x4 blocking between the floor joists, and put a 3/4 or thicker subfloor on the blocking so the top of the subfloor will be even with the floor joists, and lay wonder board over that. Although the mortar base would be thicker than I would like, I could be talked into a mortar base if it would be better. He will charge me extra for the mortar base. The tile will be 1" hex tile in 12"x24 sheets.
He claims that this subloor system will work. I'd love a floor that is even with the adjacent finish floor, but do want to avoid stress cracks.
My specific questions are:
1. Will that type of "sunken" subfloor work? If so, what thickness should the plywood be?
2. If that sunken subfloor is OK, would you guys recommend wonder board with that application or a mortar bed?
Thanks in advance for all who respond.