I am about the have my bathroom floor tiled. The property is a new build ( 1yr old) and the bathroom floor is a type of chipboard.. the tilers I have spoken to so far have all given different answers regarding the floor base required to provide the best job... I have been told that is essential that the floor has a concrete screed laid or that it should be boarded out with 5-10mm ply. I asked about using plastic ply and been told is NOT needed ( exact words... " Don't be daft, a board out will do it - it's obvious why you need us to do the work" - maybe I should speak to you husband !!) I was hoping to find out which option I should be seriously considering/ are really required especially as the costs have varied massively - I don't mind paying the going rate for the job but I just want to ensure that the method used will provide the best long term results?
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
You can’t screed on chipboard, but you can use ply before tiling. You can use the 12mm plywood
Answered13 September 2019
1
Anonymous user
Hi if it was me I would put Down 9mm ply wood screwed every 4/6 inch squares. If you put down a screed it will crack with movement in the chipboard floor.
Or you could use weedie board that you get from any tile shop.
Thamks
there are many different opinions on this but the issue is the fact that you are trying to put an inflexible product (the ceramic tiles ) onto a flexible substrate (the joists and flooring affixed thereon) as presumably the room is on the first floor, and given the age of the property there will be sheet flooring rather than the older floorboard arrangement which by there very nature are flexible.
so the answer is that there is no perfect solution but as has been already mentioned if you lay a ply lining of sufficient thickness and fixed at sufficient spacing and and also use a flexible tile adhesive and flexible grout you will end up with a very nice finish that will give years of satisfaction.
the trouble i fear is that tradesmen, and I have been one for over 30 years try to make the job seems as inexpensive as possible to get the work and this is achieved by cutting corners on the proper materials.
do your research and remember you get what you pay for.
Good luck with your project
Screed is definitely not suitable in this scenario - Fixing ply down, as has previously been suggested would be acceptable and was often used in the past, or preferably a tiling membrane such as BAL Rapid-Mat is an innovative fast-track uncoupling system to accommodate lateral movement for tile installations on floors with limited movement - ensure a flexible adhesive and grout is used.
https://www.bal-adhesives.com/products/rapid-mat/
