I am planning on laying tile over bare wood in my bathroom. I wanted to know if there is any special thinset that I need to use when applying tile directly onto wood.

Although installing ceramic tiles direct over plywood floors isn't a very good idea or method, it can work... but it is never recommended for bathrooms. Only dry floors.

You should install a tile backer board or a membrane such as Ditra. Start with how the framing in built and with what, be specific. Joists type and size, spacing, unsupported span, species and grade of the joists if possible. The type, thickness and number of layers that makes the subfloor.

Jaz

I was not referring to the floor. I am laying the ditra for the floor before applying the tile.

I am referring to a half wall beside the vanity that is constructed with 2 x 4's. The top and front are bare 2 x 4 and I wanted to lay the tile directly on it instead of first putting gyp

Heck John, all I have is the info you supplied. I haven't perfected internet mind reading yet. ;)

And, NO you can not install tile direct on to lumber. You need either wallboard, if it's a dry area, or you can use tile backer on either dry or damp walls.

Jaz

What if I were to apply a thin coat of plaster to the wood and then lay my tile ontop of that?

Is there something else I can coat the wood with so I would be able to lie the tile directly onto it without putting gyp or backer board?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pare_john

What if i were to apply a thin coat of plaster to the wood and then lay my tile ontop of that?

Is there something else i can coat the wood with so I would be able to lie the tile directly onto it without putting gyp or backer board?

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What is ''wood''? 2x4 studs or plywood or other?

Chuck

The basic answer is NO. Tell us more details so we can help you better.

2x4 studs. The reason I do not want to put backer board or gyp is for space savings as these areas jet out into the middle of the room.

The one surface to be tiled is 3 feet high by 4" wide/verticle so it will be a small section of tile.

The other surface is 7 1/2 feet high by 8" wide.

The total area lost because of s/r or wonderboard will be 1''. If area is so small 1'' makes a difference, then area is to small for that wall.

U can not install tile directly onto 2x4's

Chuck

So there is no product that can be applied to the bare wood that can allow me to tile directly onto wood. I know in the old days tile used to be applied directly onto plywood so I don't see why I can not apply the tile directly yo lumber

Ok guys I found a suitable answer on what I am doing. Thanks for your help though

Plywood is very stable and dimensional lumber is not, it swells and moves too much for thinset and grout.

Lrt us in on your secret

Chuck

Why do I have the feeling that he walked into a big box type place and they sold him a bucket of liquid AFM? Not going to work once the framing bows or twists.

Maybe an epoxy, like latapoxy 210, followed by spectralock grout? If so, your tile will never lose it's bond, however, once the framing undergoes it's expected seasonal movement, the bond will be so strong to the tile that the tile will crack whereas with a thinset application, the thinset and grout would fail.

From the description, it's just a knee wall and a partition wall. Why can't you just cut back the framing? Doesn't make sense to me. It's just going to bite you in the arse. I'd love to know the solution to successful tile over dimensional lumber as well. WHat a trade secrete to have. :rolleyes:

Funny when ego pop.

I guess my wording was deceiving. By solution I meant that I was going to go with what you all suggested and just put some backer board on the exposed lumber and then put my tile.

Now for my partition wall I wanted to lay a solid piece of granite on the top of it. Can I leave that part bare and use a construction adhesive or do I have to follow the same principal as the tile and use backer board.

Thanks for all you help

Having nailed top plate every 16'', u shoud be OK to mount granite on it.

Chuck

I am laying the Ditra system on the floor using a non modified thin set with a 3/16 V-Notched trwel. The tile will be laid also using non modified thin set. My question is what size trowel should I use for laying the tile? The tile is a 13 x 13 Porcelain tile.

Thank you,

John,

You will use a 1/4x3/8x1/4 trowel for your 13" porcelain tiles. A good quality unmodified thinset is what Schluter recommends irrespective of what it says on the bag and what anyone may tell you.

I don't think you ever mentioned what type of floor you have. Makes a big difference. If it's a slab, you can also use unmod, but not if it's plywood. If it is wood, we need to know all the details and also how the framing is built and with what, be specific.

Jaz

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JazMan

John,

You will use a 1/4x3/8x1/4 trowel for your 13" porcelain tiles. A good quality unmodified thinset is what Schluter recommends irrespective of what it says on the bag and what anyone may tell you.

I don't think you ever mentioned what type of floor you have. Makes a big difference. If it's a slab, you can also use unmod, but not if it's plywood. If it is wood, we need to know all the details and also how the framing is built and with what, be specific.

Jaz

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My floor is 5/8 plywood. Lated on top of a 2x4 framing laid on its sides with a spacing of 12 OC. So there is only a 8" gap between 2x4's. The plywood is glued and screwed.

Schluter says that I have to use an unmodified thinset regardless of subfloor.

I am using premiumplus unmodified thinset for the laying of the Ditra.

Also the 2x4 framing is laid on concrete, and is screwed into the concrete ever 12" with 3 1/2" tapcons