Is it possible to lay gypsum tiles on plywood? Is it possible to lay tiles on plywood - preparing the base and laying tiles

Having started do-it-yourself repair, it is not always possible to foresee all its nuances. Sometimes this process becomes unpredictable due to various circumstances and presents us with surprises. It happens that sometimes a particular type of work cannot be carried out in strict accordance with the requirements of the technology. And then home handyman you have to think about how to combine 2 materials that are considered incompatible with each other.

Today we will talk about ceramic tiles and plywood. Some will say that it is stupid to even try to lay ceramic floor tiles on plywood surface, but I would like to point out that this is not entirely true real way, which we will consider below. Laying tiles on plywood can be done by both professionals and on our own. Which method to choose is a personal matter for everyone. However, in the second case you can save a lot. Decide for yourself what is more acceptable!

Laying ceramic tiles on plywood: technological features

In what case would this method be most appropriate? Of course, if the house is built of wood, or using technology frame construction. This design option is quite light in weight, and if there is also a wooden floor (high-quality logs), then flooring from boards can be made quite quickly, without incurring large financial and labor costs.

Now about. This material, as a type of finishing, is very widespread. It is used for both walls and floors, indoors for various purposes, starting from the bathroom and ending with the living room. Ideal surface for its installation, of course, a concrete screed is considered. But in the absence of one, lay ceramic tiles on a plywood sheet is also possible. Laying floor tiles on plywood or wall cladding: all this is done using almost the same technology.

Even professionals in this matter take advantage of this opportunity and do not neglect laying tiles on a plywood surface. True, the complexity in this case increases slightly. And the process itself is practically no different from installing tiles on any other type of surface. What is the difference between this method and others? Everything is very simple: preparing the base for laying ceramic tiles.

Return to contents

Nuances of preparing the base

So, let's start with the fact that the plywood base must have a thickness of at least 22 mm, and when it is laid on logs, it increases to 30 mm. This is necessary to give good rigidity to the base; it is this that will ensure the quality of the entire further procedure and will not allow the tile to move and crack.

1. To reduce the so-called surface stress, in this case it is a plywood sheet, it must be divided into 4 square parts.
2. Only after this can you begin to secure it to the joists or wooden floor. This is done in a checkerboard pattern. A floor made of planks or parquet is also suitable for attaching plywood to it.
3. Please note: if pinning plywood sheet made on logs, they should have gaps of no more than 40 cm. This is important! This plywood floor will be of high quality.
4. And also, when fastening plywood using self-tapping screws, do not skimp on their quantity. Since their more frequent arrangement will make the plywood floor more rigid and help it not to sag.
5. And this, in turn, will reduce the degree of possible vibration of the base sheet. If you secure the sheets in this way, then in the future you will not expect surprises in the form of cracked slabs.

Return to contents

When laying a plywood base, it is necessary to control its strictly horizontal position using a building level. Only in this way will the plywood floor fully meet the requirements for the surface intended for laying tiles. And if we talk about tools, you may also need:

• screwdriver;
• roulette;
• marker;
• hammer;
• jigsaw;
• putty knife;
• tile cutter

If you have sheets of thinner plywood than recommended above, you can use them, but in 2 layers. When performing this type of base preparation, make sure that the seams of these 2 plywood layers do not coincide with each other.

To give a greater degree of rigidity to such a two-layer plywood base, use adhesive composition, gluing the sheets together, and in addition top sheet The plywood also needs to be secured with self-tapping screws.

Due to the fact that plywood is susceptible to the effects temperature conditions and humidity, experts recommend not fastening it end to end. It would be most correct to leave small gaps of approximately 0.5 cm between the sheets of plywood.

The distance from the wall to the plywood should be at least 1 cm.

This gap can be filled using polyurethane foam or fix the baseboard.

Before proceeding to the direct installation of floor tiles, the plywood surface must be thoroughly cleaned of dust and other contaminants, and then leveled. For this purpose, a procedure such as grinding is used.

At the moment when you fasten the plywood using self-tapping screws, do not forget that their caps need to be recessed a little into the base, only in this form they will not interfere with the subsequent sanding process.

After finishing sanding, clean the surface again, this time using a vacuum cleaner and a damp sponge. At the next stage, the surface is primed: this procedure will be especially high-quality if it is performed twice. This option will help you provide additional waterproofing and enhance the protection of the wood base.

If you plan to lay ceramic floor tiles in a room with a high degree of humidity, such as a kitchen, bathroom, etc., then it is best to purchase sheets of plywood with moisture resistance characteristics for arranging the base.

Regardless of whether you are finishing the walls with ceramic tiles or the floor, you will need to apply a waterproofing layer, and only then lay out the tiles. For these purposes, you can use ready-made waterproofing composition. It can be liquid or it can have the qualities of a powder.

Only after the primer and waterproofing layer have completely dried does it become possible styling ceramic tiles.

When working with walls in a log house or frame house Often you have to deal with complications, because... The wood shrinks considerably and also becomes slightly deformed with the seasons. Because of this, it is necessary to use a plywood base. Every master should know how to glue tiles to plywood, because... this situation could be waiting for anyone.

Correctly selected tiles for installation on plywood are practically not subject to deformation.

Features of base preparation

Tools and materials:

1. Plywood.
2. Roulette.
3. Marker.
4. Jigsaw.
5. Screwdriver.
6. Wooden bars.
7. Polyurethane foam.
8. Level.
9. Sander.
10. Rag with water.
11. Primer and wide brush.
12. Bitumen waterproofing and round brush.

Working with plywood is best option among all analogues, because a correctly selected slab is almost not subject to deformation, does not bend and almost does not “play” when the temperature changes. There are 3 minimum indicator, which are taken into account - CIS (22 mm), Europe (28 mm) and when laid out on logs (30 mm). Optimally use the most high rate, because Although this is an obvious cost overrun, there is no need to fear complications later.

Scheme of step-by-step laying of tiles on plywood.

When plywood is mounted on joists, you need to mandatory take a step between them of 0.3-0.4 m, and you cannot spare the screws. If the plywood does not have enough attachment points, the surface stress will increase, and along with it the chances of cracking will increase. To make sure it's perfect horizontal position, you need 2 tools - a square and a level. The square allows you to organize a right angle to the floor and ceiling, and the level allows you to ideally carry out the work process.

Plywood is used not only for walls, but also for floors, because... the problems may be similar. Here you can purchase sheets 2 times thinner if this will save money. Such sheets are laid 1 by 1, which ultimately gives the same thickness and strength indicators, and they are sewn together with the same self-tapping screws.

It is not always possible to make a durable concrete screed, therefore apply alternative ways, one of which is leveling the base with plywood.

You can lay linoleum on such a floor or cover it with a laminate, but the question remains open: is it possible to lay tiles on plywood, because this is a wooden base that will never compare in strength to concrete.

Experiences of professionals and modern technologies allow you to lay tiles on plywood, being confident that it will adhere firmly to such a base.

Advantages and disadvantages of a plywood base

Before you start doing the work, you need to know about the advantages and disadvantages of this technology.

pros

1. The work is completed in a short time frame.
2. There is no need to bring concrete, reinforcement, or laying into the room film waterproofing, and then worry that the neighbors below don’t get their ceiling wet.
3. In houses old building low load bearing capacity the structure does not allow pouring a heavy concrete screed, so laying tiles on plywood on the floor is almost the only acceptable way to level and strengthen the existing base.
4. You can lay tiles in rooms with high humidity(bathroom, kitchen).

Flaws

1. It is necessary to use plywood with a thickness of at least 22 mm, and when installing it on joists, then 30 mm.
2. In rooms with high humidity, it is necessary to take care of reliable waterproofing.
3. It is impossible to make a warm floor.
4. If water gets on the base under the tiles, the plywood will delaminate.

Having weighed the pros and cons, and made the final decision in favor of this technology, let’s look at how to lay tiles on plywood.

Preparation

When you decide to glue tiles onto plywood, you need to take care of the base, making it durable. Depending on the type of floor you have, the approach to leveling it varies.

Smooth wooden floor

Very rarely, an old wooden floor is level, with differences of no more than 5 mm per 1 m2. In this case, it is still recommended to check the condition of the joists and boards.

Most often, the problem is observed in the corners of the building, so it is necessary to dismantle the end board and look under the floor - if the board is intact and not corroded by bugs, then, having installed the board in place, you can continue working.

Using the rule, you need to check the condition of the floor. The illustration below shows what kind of floor there is and how to navigate the existing one. wooden base when selecting the thickness of plywood.

note

A wavy floor cannot be leveled with thin plywood, as it will subsequently sag and the tiles will fall off.

Wooden floor with significant differences

Very uneven floors will need to be leveled using wooden sheathing(like under drywall when leveling walls).

The design of the sheathing should be such that the plywood sheet is located in the middle of the board. For example, if a board with a width of 50 mm is used, and the sheet has dimensions of 1525 × 1525 mm, then the cell should have internal dimensions of 1500 × 1500 mm, and external dimensions of 1550 × 1550 mm (you need to add 5 mm (or a little more) for the gap between the sheets, otherwise you will have to trim the edges of the plywood later).

The internal parts of the sheathing, which act as stiffeners, are located at a distance of no more than 500 mm from each other. If tiles are laid on plywood in the bathroom, then under the sheathing should be laid polyethylene film, serving as a waterproofing material.

The laser level marks the horizon along which the sheathing is leveled. Pieces of plywood can serve as stands different thicknesses. Having finished leveling the sheathing, you should securely attach it to the floor with self-tapping screws, screwing them through the paved supports. Then a sheet of plywood is laid and secured to the sheathing with self-tapping screws.

Installation of plywood on joists

The most unpleasant, but, unfortunately, the most common situation is that the floor has rotted and needs to be dismantled, and concrete base can't do it. This is not a death sentence, because laying tiles on plywood can be done if the plywood is attached to the joists. The principle is similar to installation on the lathing, only the technology is different.

We bring to your attention a video demonstrating the process of installing joists and attaching plywood to them.

When attaching sheets of plywood, it is important to take into account possible thermal expansion, so they need to be placed at some distance:

• from each other – 5 mm;
• from the walls - 1 cm.

The voids near the walls can be covered with plinths. The seams between the sheets are sealed with polymer elastic putty.

Which glue to buy

How to glue tiles to plywood? This issue deserves detailed consideration, because you will have to glue the tiles to a base made of wood material characterized by its instability.

Therefore, when choosing an adhesive composition, it is necessary to take into account some nuances:

• The plywood sheet consists of thin layers fragile veneer, and if the bond is broken, the plywood will delaminate and will no longer be strong. This feature of the material is a good reason to choose an adhesive that does not penetrate deeply into the structure of the material.
• No matter how strong the base is, it can still bend slightly under load. In this case, the glue on cement based will not hold the tile, and it will easily move away from the plywood. Therefore, only elastic adhesive mixtures should be used.

The composition of such mixtures includes highly elastic components:

• microfiber;
• fiberglass;
• silicone;
• silane and other modifying additives.

Laying tiles

Having made a solid base, let's look at how to glue ceramic tiles to plywood.

Regardless of the technology used to level the base, the work is performed in the following order:

• If you are not sure that each screw is recessed into the plywood, you should check again and, if necessary, tighten them with a screwdriver.
• The existing base must be sanded and dusted with a vacuum cleaner, and then wiped with a damp cloth.
• No matter, plain plywood used or moisture resistant, the surface is primed twice. The primer is applied a second time only after the previously applied glue has completely dried.
• Before gluing tiles to plywood in a kitchen or bathroom, an additional layer of waterproofing is applied to the base.

Upon completion of these steps (only after complete drying wooden base) tiles can be laid on a plywood floor.

How to lay tiles on plywood step by step video instructions

The process of laying tiles on plywood

An example of laying tiles on a plywood floor - video

We hope that you have found the answer to the question of how to glue tiles to plywood, and now you can do this work yourself.

During renovation flooring often replaced with tiled ones. It is practical and meets all operating requirements. The tiles are attractive, durable, and resistant to numerous negative operational influences, including abrasion and mechanical stress.

But its installation requires a strong, rigid and smooth base. Suitable for this concrete pouring and even plywood. How to lay tiles on plywood, is this possible? This issue is not as difficult to solve as it might seem, but there are features that need to be taken into account.

Installation of tile covering on a plywood base

How to lay tiles on a plywood base? A number of conditions must be met to perform such work:

1. When fastening sheets, it is important to ensure maximum rigidity, since deflections and other movements simply cause the floor to creak and crack the coating during use.
2. Large solid slabs cannot be laid on the surface, as this will damage the coating. It is necessary to cut a large slab into several individual fragments. This ensures maximum rigidity. The sheets are laid on the base in such a way that there are no cross connections; each fragment is fastened with 9 self-tapping screws to ensure proper distribution of loads.
3. If plywood boards are attached to joists, then the thickness of the sheathing increases to 30 mm, otherwise the tiles simply cannot be laid. The step is taken to be 40 cm. If the base does not correspond to this parameter, then you will have to choose a different floor covering.

Return to contents

How to lay tiles on a plywood base?

To lay tiles on a plywood base in an apartment, you need to fulfill several simple conditions that will ensure quality and reliability:

1. To lay the base, you need to take moisture-resistant plywood; the thickness of the sheet should be from 20 mm, since the floor must withstand not the smallest weight of the tiles. Some experts say that you can take several sheets smaller thickness instead of one, but in reality this practice is not entirely justified. There is no particular benefit from laying a multi-layer base, but financial costs increase several times.
2. When laying, you need to check that all sheets of sheathing fit tightly against one another and there are no gaps. The plywood is additionally secured with self-tapping screws, the heads of which are recessed into the material. This ensures that there is no squeaking during use, the tile itself is laid as correctly as possible, and does not crack during use. Plywood is also checked during installation; it should not have cracks or defects; you cannot use ordinary plywood for such work; only a moisture-resistant type of coating is suitable.
3. Before starting installation, top part the sheets must be sanded, otherwise there will be differences in height, which usually happens due to delamination. The tile covering will turn out uneven, and this should not be allowed.
4. If you lay tiles on moisture-resistant plywood, it is necessary to additionally provide treatment with a primer and waterproofing mixtures. This is especially important for bathrooms, toilets, kitchens, and corridors. After treatment, you must wait until the coating is completely dry, only then can you begin further work on installation.
5. Tiles for work can be taken in various formats. The main thing is to choose the right glue and prepare the floor for laying the covering.

To get the job done quickly, you need to prepare the following tools and materials:

• tile;
• polyurethane-based tile adhesive;
• metal notched tile trowel;
• rubber spatula for grouting;
• grout of the selected color;
• tile cutter;
• building level;
• ruler, simple pencil for marking the surface.

Return to contents

Step-by-step instructions for laying ceramic tiles

Laying ceramic tiles is not that difficult, especially if the base is pre-leveled. For this, a two-component polyurethane-based adhesive is used, which provides maximum suitable conditions for work. The problem is that when laid on a smooth plywood base, the tile covering can move horizontally until the glue dries.

And polyurethane mixtures make it possible to reduce this disadvantage to a minimum; There will be no deformation of the coating or damage during operation.

How to lay tiles on plywood? It is enough to follow the sequence of work:

1. First, you need to apply markings to the surface; this is done in accordance with the selected scheme. This can be a regular straight laying, checkerboard, diagonal. For simple installation, you should immediately note the position of the first and second rows, but gluing the tiles itself begins only from the corner of the second row. This is necessary so that after finishing the work you can carefully trim the remains and lay rows that will adjoin directly to the walls. It is necessary to advance the installation towards the entrance to the room, this allows you to avoid walking on already laid tiles.
2. The glue is mixed in small quantity, sufficient to cover square meter surfaces. The composition is applied to the plywood base with a notched metal spatula; the layer should not be thick, since the strength of the future coating depends on this. The tile is pressed against the base with the back surface and held for a couple of seconds. After this, you can carefully adjust its position with a rubber hammer if necessary. Each row must be checked building level. This is required to ensure that the coating is neat and even; individual tiles should not protrude above the surface until the glue has dried.
3. The tiles are laid using special cross-separators, which allow you to conveniently adjust the thickness of the seams. In this case, the surface turns out beautiful, and after installation the seams are simply filled with a special grout of the selected color. The width of such joints can be different, it all depends on what format of tiles is used. Typically 3mm is recommended for standard tiles to make the coating attractive and aesthetically pleasing.

• Date: 08/23/2015
• Views: 235
• Comments:
• Rating: 45

Modern a wide range of tiles make it possible to use it not only in the decoration of bathrooms and kitchens, but also in other rooms. Those who are planning to renovate their apartment are often interested in whether it is possible to lay tiles on plywood, because sometimes it is not possible to make a different base for a tiled floor for a variety of reasons. Despite the apparent incompatibility of these materials, it is possible to lay tiles on plywood. Following the recommendations will help you create a smooth, durable floor that will last for many years.

Plywood quickly absorbs moisture, so before laying the tiles it must be impregnated with sealant.

Alternative to screed

Plywood can be an excellent replacement for a leveling screed when it is not possible to fill it. For example, veneer material will definitely come in handy if you do not want to dismantle a wooden floor and decide to lay tiles on it. In this case, the plywood will serve as a kind of screed. You can also lay the tiles on plywood, which will be laid directly on the joists, but in this case it is necessary to fulfill certain conditions so that the coating lies on the veneer, almost like on concrete. You understand perfectly well that ceramics is a fairly heavy material, and therefore a durable surface must withstand it.

Return to contents

Requirements

The strength characteristics of plywood directly depend on the number of veneer layers, and the more layers there are, the thicker the sheet. The building material for the tiles must have the following data:

1. The thickness of the plywood sheet cannot be less than 22 mm.
2. The veneer must be High Quality. This condition does not require the plywood to be free of knots, but the sheets must be firmly glued together. Layering is unacceptable.
3. Plywood boards must be moisture resistant. It is worth adding to this that material of the FBA and BV brands is not suitable for the base under tiles, since it is absolutely incapable of resisting dampness. In any case, plywood of any brand must be treated with coating compounds before installation. This is especially true for FSF brand products, which can become a source of formaldehyde release into the atmosphere.

Perhaps some clarification needs to be made regarding the thickness of the base for the tiles. Perhaps some will decide that instead of a thick sheet, several thinner ones can be used, but this is not recommended, because a stack of plywood panels will not provide sufficient rigidity for the base, since in nature there are no 2 absolutely identical sheets. This means that there will definitely be gaps between them in one place or another, due to which the floor will unnoticeably, but will definitely spring back, which will lead to cracking of the tile covering.

Return to contents

Additional measures

Even a large sheet can spring, since there is absolutely no smooth surfaces. In addition, this can be facilitated by various deformations of the plywood or the layer under it during operation. Therefore, sheets of plywood must be cut into smaller pieces. Naturally, their dimensions must correspond to the lag pitch.

The thickness of the plywood should also depend on the space between the sheathing beams.

To avoid distortions, the surface of the plywood must be leveled - especially at the joints.

There is no point in taking a step less than 30 cm, but it should not exceed 50 cm. 30 mm sheets are laid on the beams spaced at such a distance.

Now about how to prepare a rigid plywood base. To make the tiles on plywood “comfortable” (they don’t peel off or crack), you need to:

• treat the veneer with moisture-repellent compounds;
• fasten the veneer sheets as much as possible big amount self-tapping screws, which must be screwed into the wooden base not only around the perimeter and in the center, but also, if possible, along the sheet area;
• make joints not on the same line (it is better if the plywood is staggered);
• clean and sand the surface of the base;
• coat it twice with primer.

After this, the tiles on plywood will stick much better, because the double primer layer will provide good adhesion for glue. It remains to be advised not to rush to apply the next layer of primer. Treatment can only be carried out after the previous coating has completely dried. Typically, this drying process for each layer lasts 5-6 hours.

Return to contents

Tools and materials

This time is enough to check how prepared the equipment, tools and equipment are for laying tiles on plywood. Consumables. To work you will need:

• 2-component polyurethane-based adhesive (it provides strength and elasticity of the connection, as well as additional waterproofing);
• grout for final processing of seams;
• crosses so that the gap between the tiles on the plywood is the same:
• starting rail on which the 1st row will be laid out;
• notched spatula for applying glue;
• soft spatula for grouting;
• tile cutter;
• level.

It would seem that it can no longer be used, but it is impossible to guarantee uniform application of glue over the entire surface of the base. Using a level, you can check the horizontal laying of a whole row or one tile and correct its position relative to others.

They begin laying tiles on plywood from the corner farthest from the entrance to the room. It is theoretically possible that a room can have ideal proportions and only whole tiles, but in practice, geometric flaws are inherent in the vast majority of rooms. In addition, it is impossible to ensure that the floors are covered with only whole products, so laying is carried out from a row in which there will be no fragments. It should be noted that laying fragments against the walls should be carried out only after finishing work with uncut slabs.