Underlayment For Tile On Concrete Slab

For floating wood floors manufacturers sometimes recommend padded underlayment.

Underlayment for tile on concrete slab.

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. 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. 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.

Here s why underlayment matters to a tile installation project toa. The smooth surface allows the planks to move when seasonal humidity changes cause them to expand and contract. What is an underlayment and why use it. You can test for moisture.

A waterproof underlayment membrane like ditra from schluter systemscan be substituted for backer board. However the slab must be flat perfectly level and not at risk of settling or heaving. 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. Most tile installation experts consider that underlayment is like an insurance policy underlayment can also matter to an installation with lvt.

Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material. Backer board this is the industry standard most preferred by construction pros when installing ceramic or porcelain. Since it isn t porous porcelain tile is more water resistant and harder than ceramic but it is harder to cut. 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.

Trowel able and pourable underlayment a number of trowel able and pourable tile underlayment options are available. Underlayment is any product that can be installed under a. It s perfectly acceptable to put tile directly on concrete with a couple of caveats. 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.