Underlayment For Tile On Concrete Slab

Exterior plywood is an acceptable underlayment for tile and is preferred to interior grade plywoods because the bonding adhesives used are waterproof.

Underlayment for tile on concrete slab.

What is an underlayment and why use it. Ditra is an underlayment that allows for movement and expansion contraction while preventing the transfer of stress that commonly cracks grout and tile. A concrete slab makes a good underlayment for ceramic tiles since it s similar to the solid mortar bases that used to be the standard for ceramic tile installation. It s perfectly acceptable to put tile directly on concrete with a couple of caveats.

Installing tile directly on concrete. Underlayment is any product that can be installed under a. Specially formulated as a powerful soundproofing material for placement under stone tile and hardwood floors proflex 90 is composed of a rubberized membrane laminated to a strong reinforcing fabric on one side and a silicone based release sheet on its adhesive side. Ceramic and porcelain tile are so frequently installed at or above grade level on a cement board underlayment or directly on plywood that it almost seems novel to install tile directly on concrete.

Here s why underlayment matters to a tile installation project toa. First it is important to determine if there is moisture coming up from the slab. You can test for moisture. Most tile installation experts consider that underlayment is like an insurance policy underlayment can also matter to an installation with lvt.

This polyethylene membrane is an excellent moisture and vapor barrier too and it can be installed over wood or concrete including floors with radiant heat. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material. For glue down and floating floors you may need to use a pourable self leveling underlayment to correct minor imperfections in the concrete slab surface. If water seeps through the tile installation to the underlayment it will not cause the wood to swell as happens with interior grade plywood.

For floating wood floors manufacturers sometimes recommend padded underlayment. The smooth surface allows the planks to move when seasonal humidity changes cause them to expand and contract. Backer board this is the industry standard most preferred by construction pros when installing ceramic or porcelain. Cement backer board is the best underlayment for tiles.

Underlayment in a tile project can mean the difference between a project that lasts for years and one you have to redo because an unexpected crack develops in your concrete slab.