Prep work for floor tiling over floorboards

helping_hubby

I've read so much advice and even got some from tilers, but everyone has different opinions.

I've read to use no less than 12mm exterior ply. I think my leaflets from wickes/B&Q say something similar. Screwed down at 15cm intervals. This will mean a step of over 2cm I would have thought?

A tiler who came to give a quote said he'd use 9mm ply.

Another tiler this week said 3mm ply!

Googling around, it seems the preference is to remove the floorboards and replace with 18mm ply.

I don't really want a silly step, but I don't want my tiles to break either. Any opinions?

I've already ordered 12mm exterior ply, but if it's no good, it won't go to waste as we've plenty of boxing in to do around the house.

webwalker

The method I have always used is to use hardboard, cut and fit it loose then take it outside and soak it thoroughly, refit while wet and nail it down with annular nails, leave it to dry then you have a pre shrunk surface to fix to. Never had any problems using this method. Please note before you start that the original floor is in good condition and the boards are securely fixed with no movement. If it squeaks its moving.

payless

Can you lay directly on to the flooring panels ( around 600mm wide)

webwalker

You can lay them on anything, the reason for using a base board is its larger, therefore fewer joints and less disturbance.