Can I Lay Ceramic Tile On Wood Floor

While most floor tile these days is installed onto a layer of cement board or similar backerboard it is possible to lay tile directly over plywood.

Can i lay ceramic tile on wood floor. Yes you can install hardwood floors over ceramic tile but with a few exceptions. Tiling directly onto wood is not recommended because it can swell and shrink during humidity which can cause the tiles to crack or come loose. Wood in any form serves as a poor subfloor for ceramic or stone tile. If so make sure the floor is solid and well sealed.

1 lay down 1 2 inch thick cement backerboard over. For flooring use intervening sheets of plywood. Whenever you install hardwood flooring over any type of subfloor you must ensure that it is completely level. Continue this process to lay the rest of your backer board panels leaving a 1 4 inch gap at the walls.

Backer board panels typically measure 3 feet by 5 feet and can be trimmed as needed. Concrete board typically comes in 3 5 foot sheets and it can be attached to the wood subfloor to provide extra strength. If your ceramic tile has grout lines that give it texture you will need to fill those in to make your flooring completely level. This movement can cause any tiles.

Wood naturally warps twists swells and shrinks due to change in temperature or humidity. But a number of precautions must be taken to ensure a successful installation. Always be sure the existing surface has been cleaned and leveled. Floor tiles usually should be laid over a strong underlayment of cement board or treated plywood.

Use 16d common nails to create a gap of 1 8 inch between the sheets. To install the tile you must first install concrete board. Still you may need to tile directly over an existing hardwood floor for instance to avoid raising the floor level significantly relative to an adjacent floor. Tile cannot be installed directly to a wood subfloor.