Underlayment For Tile Over Concrete

Do i need to put any type of underlayment or vapor barrier underneath it.

Underlayment for tile over concrete.

Tile floors remain a popular choice especially for bathrooms entryways and other places a water resistant surface is desired. Concrete backer board has a solid concrete core and both sides are faced with fiberglass. The following backer boards are commonly used for tile flooring in wet or dry areas over wood subfloors. 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.

A waterproof underlayment membrane like ditra from schluter systems can be substituted for backer board. I m putting ceramic tile flooring in my kitchen and live on a 10 year old ground level concrete slab. However you still need an underlayment to isolate the tiles from the concrete subfloor and prevent cracks from telescoping through. Now largely regarded as the very best underlayment for ceramic tile in any application floors walls and countertops cement based backer board goes by many names.

Most tile installation experts consider that underlayment is like an insurance policy. 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. When installing a tile floor a layer of cement backer board is usually put down over a plywood subfloor to provide a firm stable surface. Installing tile directly on concrete.

Cement based backer board. The most popular underlay for this purpose is known by its brand name. Made of lightweight polyethylene the membrane is only 1 8 thick and can be cut easily with a. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material.

If you re installing tile over an existing concrete pad or on a traditional mortar bed cement board would be redundant. Tape over holes and cracks in the wood subfloor or slab before pouring on the self leveling tile underlayment to keep it from seeping through and leaving indentations. Concrete backer board durock and wonderboard which is the standard material for tile underlayment.