Hey everybody,
I’ve looked around in the forum but haven’t seen much on using self leveler as a backer for tile. Would this approach be sufficient? — Self level over plywood subfloor (possibly with wire mesh in the self leveler) and then thinset right onto that?
Would I need anything in between the self leveler and the mortar?
Is there a reason almost everyone seems to be using some sort of backer board instead of this approach?
Replies
Self Leveling cement is expensive and has no compressive strength. It's not made to have mesh embedded. Backer board is used because it works.
( I edited my comment because I let my fingers get ahead of my brain and typed "Thin Set" instead of "Self Leveling Cement")
He was saying that he was going to use self leveller, and then thinset on top. Doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with that approach, tile guys around here tile on self leveller all the time. Custom Building Products instructions state that self leveler is a suitable underlayment for ceramic tile.
https://www.custombuildingproducts.com/TDS/TDS-107.pdf
That's helpful, thanks!
Why do you need the self lever? Are there humps and bumps in your subfloor? The reason backer board is used is to decouple the tile from the subfloor so that you dont get cracks telegraphing trough the tile. You could use a membrane (such as Schluter) to do the same thing.
I love self leveling if a floor needs to be leveled. You can thinset right to it in the right application. But I wouldn't substitute self leveling for crack suppression.
I have mostly used tile backer - it's easier and cheaper. However, when I have done a heated floor (electric mat), I install that, then embed it in self-leveler. It's designed to flow and still maintain strength, where other mortars would take too much water to flow well and loose strength - then maybe crumble over time. If possible, mud in and screw down backer.