How to lay tiles on wooden floor?

Previously, the floors of many residential houses were made of wood. Such coatings are environmentally friendly, but not always comfortable. Therefore, sometimes the owners decide to use a wooden base as a frame for ceramic tiles.

Is it possible to lay on a tree?

Ceramic tile is one of the most durable and quality materials suitable for creating flooring. It easily withstands high humidity and temperature extremes. Therefore, it is used in almost any home where you need to create comfortable conditions of stay.

Sometimes tiles are laid on wooden bases. But it should be understood that these materials are not compatible.

This is due to several technical characteristics.

  • Wood absorbs moisture quickly and gives it away. This leads to constant changes in the dimensions of the structure. The tiled surface should be static, since fragile material does not tolerate dynamic vibrations. Therefore, cracks and other defects may appear on the floor surface over time. This effect can be minimized by laying an additional layer of GVL, PVC or DSP.
  • Wooden structures have minimal resistance to external influences. The material quickly rots under the influence of high humidity, and can also be destroyed by various microorganisms. Therefore, such structures should be covered with protective paints that eliminate the negative impact. Ceramics are durable, but if the wood flooring breaks down or subsides, cracks may also appear on the tile surface. Will spoil the appearance of the coating and significant elevation changes.
  • The wooden floor is of low strength. Such surfaces are combined only with relatively light varieties of tile (vinyl and others). If you plan on using porcelain stoneware, it is best to form a concrete screed that can support the weight of this material.

Technically, it is possible to lay tiles on wooden floors, but this is not always a rational solution. To extend the life of such a connection, it is important to follow the exact installation technology and recommendations of experienced professionals.

Process features

The technology of installing tiles on a wooden floor is quite complicated. Here it is important not only to fix the material reliably on the base, but also to preserve the durability of the timber frame.

To put a tile correctly, you should follow a few simple rules.

  • The wooden base must have access to oxygen. If the floor is insulated on both sides with tiles, then it will quickly become unusable and begin to rot. Therefore, it is important that the wood is ventilated from below. The wooden frame should be placed on the logs, which will provide the necessary floor ventilation.
  • The load must be distributed evenly. This also applies to the base of the wooden floor. All lags under it should be at a distance of 50 cm from each other. This will allow to take all the loads with high quality, without causing the plane curvature. Often this problem is solved with the help of plywood plates, which are evenly distributed over the entire floor area.
  • Lay tile should be only on a fixed base.If the structure bends or moves when the person is walking, these defects should be eliminated. This approach will eliminate the formation of cracks in the future, as well as extend the service life of the entire monolithic system.

    To get a solid construction, it is important to follow all the advice of experts. Therefore, before laying tiles on a wooden floor, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the technology in detail, and also choose the right materials for your work.

    How to evaluate the condition of the surface?

    The quality of the floor base is one of the factors on which the service life of tiles laid on top of wood depends. Therefore, almost all experts recommend starting installation work with an inspection of the condition of the wooden floor.

    In order to analyze the condition of the existing structure, it should be completely dismantled.

    The inspection algorithm can be divided into several successive steps.

    • Assessment of the state of the support boards. To do this, they are dismantled and inspected for any damage. If such have been identified, it is desirable to completely change the item on the product from fresh wood.
    • Inspection of support lags. Here you should be especially careful, since it is these structures that perceive the entire load. Lags should be strong and well protected from rotting.
    • Replacing insulation. If there is another layer of additional material under the floor that affects the thermal insulation characteristics, it is also important to check it and find out if there are molds, rodents, etc., inside.

      Special attention when inspecting wooden floors should be given two main factors.

      • Rotting If the wood begins to rot, it should be replaced immediately. You can check the level of damage with an ordinary awl. It should be stuck into the structure of the tree and observe whether it has become soft. It is possible to identify rot and visually, as spots on the surface appear in this case. Damaged parts are completely replaced. If this place docked with another wood product, the structure should be treated with a special antifungal compound. Although experts advise to cover with such a solution the entire floor before laying tiles.
      • The presence of bark beetles. These pests start in the very structure of the tree, violating its integrity and reducing strength.Bark beetles form peculiar passages in the boards, which can spread over large areas. Parts damaged by them should be removed, and clean areas should be treated with a special protective compound.

      Technology assessment of the state of the floor in most cases involves the complete dismantling of flooring and their subsequent installation.

      Therefore, if there is a possibility, it is better to replace them with a concrete tie, which will withstand almost any type of tile.

      Glue selection

      Installation of tiles is carried out with the help of special compositions. However, often on wooden floors form an additional layer of screed, which can be made from special products.

      • Cement mortars. Such tools are the cheapest and most popular. You can prepare them yourself from pre-prepared components.
      • Polymer blends. Screeds of such substances are relatively rare, since their cost is quite high. The advantage of such bases is that they are highly plastic, allowing to level the vibrations of the tree without transferring them to the tile layer.

        As for mixtures for ceramics,Then you can glue it on wooden bases with the help of different products. Many of them also contain cement and additional polymer additives. Specialized mixtures for wood does not exist, since the tile is in most cases mounted on rigid concrete foundations.

        Before you glue the product to the surface, it is important to clarify the type of composition that is suitable for the available materials. It is possible to glue a tile to a plasterboard base, for example, using mixtures that are designed to work with gypsum. Therefore, many experts recommend to consult with the sellers who can suggest the best option, suitable for solving the problem.

        Training

        The quality of the preparation of the wooden base is the key to a long and reliable service flooring. Today, experts use several methods to prepare the surface of a wooden floor.

        One of the simplest approaches is express technology, which involves the implementation of several successive steps.

        • First of all, the wooden floor is tested for strength and leveled in a horizontal plane.
        • Then on top of the wooden frame 2 layers of gypsum sheets are laid successively. For these purposes, apply only moisture-resistant types of material. When installing the joints of the upper and lower layers should not coincide. Therefore, experts recommend stacking them in a staggered manner. Between the sheets and the wall must leave a small technological gap. It is desirable to fill the joints with a special sealant, and primer the entire surface of the sheets with primers.

          The described method of preparation is simple and fast. At the same time, this technology does not require serious financial costs. However, it is important to pay attention to the fact that the installation of plasterboard sheets should not be carried out in the bathroom or other rooms with a high level of humidity. This is due to the fact that gypsum very quickly absorbs moisture, because of which it subsequently loses its original properties.

          An alternative to the first option is the formation of a wet screed. This process also involves several specific actions.

          • The first thing to do is examine the floor for durability. It must withstand high loads.It is desirable that the lags under the boards are located at a distance of no more than 50 cm from each other.
          • When the frame is prepared, an additional layer of boards is laid on top of it. It will be used as a subfloor. The thickness of this board can reach 4 cm. It is desirable to leave small gaps between adjacent elements.
          • Sheets of moisture-resistant plywood with a thickness of at least 12 mm are placed on top of the subfloor. The material is attached to the base with screws. Please note that the joints of both layers should not be the same. Plywood sheets are recommended to be staggered.
          • When the base is ready, waterproofing films are spread over it. For this purpose, suitable various types of such materials presented on the construction market in a wide range. Sheets are laid with a small overlap to prevent solution leakage.
          • The procedure ends with the formation of a cement layer. The thickness of the screed should not exceed 3 cm. If you need a thicker layer, then the wooden floor should be further strengthened. The technology of casting assumes a uniform distribution of the mixture around the perimeter of the room.It is advisable to install damper tapes near the walls, which level the expansion of the composition as it dries.

          Please note that cement screeds are one of the most reliable ways to prepare the floor. Such a surface will not be noticeably deformed and will create a solid foundation for any floor covering.

            There is also a “dry” way of preparing a subfloor. This approach is also carried out according to the established algorithm.

            • At first, the draft foundation is strengthened. It is advisable to align it as much as possible in order to minimize possible drops.
            • Sheets of moisture-resistant plywood are placed on top of the wooden frame. The thickness of this material must be at least 22 mm. It is desirable to use small elements that must also be placed in a checkerboard pattern. Each element is attached to the tree with the maximum number of screws. This is due to the need to create a strong and durable grip. When laying plywood should constantly check the horizontal. If there are significant differences, they should be leveled.
            • Before direct installation of ceramic tiles, the plywood base is ground and cleaned frommud.

            Virtually all technologies involve removing the paint layer by laying the upper protective layers. This will allow you to eliminate swelling or flaking.

            Another prerequisite for the preparation is the treatment of wood with protective compounds.

            They are needed to prevent rotting or the development of harmful insects in the structure of the tree.

            Laying technology

              The technology of laying ceramic tiles on a wooden base is practically no different from the classical method.

              The process itself is quite simple, which allows you to perform all the actions with your own hands, even without a lot of experience.

              • First you should do the layout of the room. This item of the plan cannot be ignored if you want to get a beautiful and smooth drawing. You can start laying both from the center and from the far corner of the room from the door. It is only necessary to choose the right direction to minimize the amount of waste.
              • Installation begins with the application of the solution on the floor. For its uniform distribution using special serrated spatulas. This method is the most reliable, since the tile falls flat and optimally distributes its weight over the surface.Please note that it is desirable to cover with a solution only the area that one tile will occupy.
              • Tile lay on the mixture and align with the guide lines. It uses a laser level, which simplifies the task.
              • All the following ceramic elements are mounted on a similar principle. In this case, they should be aligned with respect to the first element. The easiest way to do this is with the help of special plastic crosses. An alternative to them are special clips, allowing to align the tile and in the horizontal plane.
              • After the glue dries, all seams are filled with a special grout matched to the color of the tile. To place the composition in the slot use special pistols. You can use the manual method.

                When laying tile it is often necessary to carry out its trimming. It is important to plan the location of all ceramic elements so that the cut ends are located only in one side.

                For the formation of holes it is better to use diamond ballerinas, allowing you to get beautiful and neat holes.

                Tips masters

                Laying floor tiles on wooden floor is not very difficult.However, it is much more difficult to create optimal conditions for its long-term operation. Correctly perform all stages of work, including training and prevention, can only professionals. This is a long process that requires a lot of effort and attention. However, if you follow all the recommendations and take into account the smallest nuances of the technology, you will be able to do all the work yourself and eventually get a design that does not yield to even monolithic frames.

                If you want to get a beautiful and reliable coverage that will delight you for many years, you should follow a few simple rules.

                • For the formation of flooring in the bath, use cement screed as the base. Wood, on top of which the tile is located, will not withstand high humidity and will quickly begin to rot. In this case, you will not be able to analyze the state of the tree, since it will be hidden.
                • Use only high quality tile adhesive. It is important that it matches not only the material of the product, but also the base itself.
                • When laying on plywood, you should lay a special net on it, nailing it to the wood. Such a structure will improve the adhesion of all elements of the system.
                • In the house, use the laying of tiles on the tree only in cases where there is no technical possibility to form concrete floors.

                How to lay the tile on the wooden floor, see the following video.

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                Information provided for reference purposes. For construction issues, always consult a specialist.

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