laying tile on plywood?

[Nel frattempo]

Can you lay tile direct onto plywood or do you have to put one of those cement type backer boards? I want to set an old sink (with back splash) into something and then lay tile on it (not on the sink but on a counter around the sink). I have some treated plywood and the stuff you glue the tile down with. I am hoping I can just glue the tile onto the treated plywood and then grout it? Or would the tile pop off later? Thank you

[Bearfootfarm]

I wouldnt do it right on the wood. It wont bond like it will to cement board

[jrscuba]

I have done this and I have not had a problem, remember that you need to make sure that u have good support for the top.

jeff

[The Paw]

I have done this too, on a kitchen counter and island. I used the thinset mortar on plywood where you work it with a notched trowel. (instead of the latex adhesive stuff) I think that gives it a more solid base. It's not hard to do.

If you get any slight shifting in the floor that affects the counter, you may get a thin crack in a tile, but none have popped off so far (8 years later).

[retire2$]

Check out John Bridge Ceramic Tile forums.

[pheasantplucker]

Backerboard isn't that expensive. I've done two big tile jobs in the last three years, and I wouldn't skimp on it...after all you've probably got quite a bit more invested in your tiles. I wouldn't "cut corners" if it were up to me. Good luck.

[Liese]

Another good site for lots of projects is DoItYourself.com . There is a specific section for many topics, including tiling.

[Scrounger]

Done it lots of times and never had a problem. On a counter top you should be ok. The main problem with it on a floor is the imperfections in plywood/OSB. Backer board is FLAT. I have some in our old house right out of the shower and one the top of the Jaccuzzi, that is on OSB. It's been there for 11 years and no problems. The tile in our current home is on OSB (going on 5 years), with no problems. It's actually a common practice.

[Cabin Fever]

I have put ceramic floor tile directly onto plywood in a bathroom with fine results....and it's still there after 25 years and a bazillion baths and showers.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

I used to teach tiling for Home Depot. While tile may do well on plywood it is best on cement board because the cement board doesn't FLEX. Tile and grout are RIGID and plywood tends to bend. IF the surface flexes then the tile will come off. 90% of laying tile is labor. Why not do it right and save the labor of having to redo it later??

[Beeman]

Also remember they make backer board in different thickness, you could probably use the thin one.

[Scrounger]

Dunno - try it some time - backer board DOES flex. It moves with the subfloor and joists under it. Also - not all grout is non-flexible.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

Backer board over plywood doesn't flex enough to break out tile, in fact the backer board companies guarantee your tile job if properly put down over their board.

[RachAnn in NW Okla]

I have experience only in laying the peel-n-stick tiles on plywood sub-floors.....I use Kilz to prime/seal the plywood and the tiles just stick down to the Kilz

Rachel

[Nel frattempo]

Thank you everyone. After reading here and online, I figured out that my treated plywood is only 1/2 inch thick and it needs to be thicker so we are going to buy the backer cement board. I am also going to build the base first and have the whole thing in place before I set the tile on it. Thank you.

[Scrounger]

Originally Posted by YuccaFlatsRanch

Backer board over plywood doesn't flex enough to break out tile, in fact the backer board companies guarantee your tile job if properly put down over their board.

Well - yeah - they want you to spend the money!

[The Paw]

Originally Posted by Nel frattempo

Thank you everyone. After reading here and online, I figured out that my treated plywood is only 1/2 inch thick and it needs to be thicker so we are going to buy the backer cement board. I am also going to build the base first and have the whole thing in place before I set the tile on it. Thank you.

Good call. Every time I have done it right onto plywood, it has been at least 3/4 inch. I would be a little nervous about half inch...

[Nel frattempo]

Thanks -- we are going to use the treated 1/2 inch plywood and put the cement board on top of that . I have not designed the bottom yet but we are going to build the whole thing, put it in place and then do the tile so I don't have to move it in place later. Thank you everyone

[WisJim]

I have done numerous entries, mudrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, etc., puting ceramic tile on plywood. I always use at leat 2 layers of plywood, and one is at least 3/4 inch and the other minimum of 1/2 inch, and both 3/4 if possible. Also additional blocking or maybe closer joist spacing if needed to make it really ridgid. I would want a total thickness of plywood plus backer board of at least an inch or 1 1/4 min.
How thick is the backer board that you are planning to use?

[minnikin1]

There is a new product they are selling in Home Depot now that claims will work in place of backer board.
it's a thin foamy, waffled material that comes on roll. It's supposed to prevent cracking, and looks way easier to install than durock.

I'm gonna try it on our next project. It looks like it will act as a vapor barrier also.