Ceramic Tiles on Floor Boards

[petergft]

Hi Guy's,
This is my first post on your great site. I'm laying 333mm Ceramic Tiles on to bathroom floorboards, approx 4.5 sqm. I heard people say with a flexible adhesive you can tile directly onto floorboards,if secure!
If i "Ply-out" it will produce a step up to the bathroom and I wondered what the minimum ply gauge I could use would be? is 9mm aceptable?
The materials I have purchased are; Bal Single Part Flexible Adhesive, Bal Bond, Tilemaster Flexible Wide Joint Grout for Ceramic Tiles.
Can anyone assure me before I commence, just repairing some boards and removing Bidet and Toilet.
Thanks,
Pete

If the floor boards are in good condition and screwed down at 300mm centres then you can tile straight onto them using something like FastFlex or Dunlop tile on wood rapid.

If plying out you need to be using 18mm ply. I've used 12mm in my own house with no problems but you need to be aware that that is thinner than british standards.

[petergft]

McP77,
Thanks for the reply. Is it not better to tile onto any gauge plywood than straight onto floorboards?
thanks,
Pete

It depends on the adhesive you are using. Fastflex is designed to go straight onto floorboards. It will work without plywood.

Something like your single part flexible is designed to go onto a plywood overlay of 15mm, 18mm in practice.

With your 6mm and 12mm plywood situation you are in between the two - overkill for Fastflex, not really enough for single part flexible. Even when using something like gold star with flexible additive (more flexible than single part) the data sheet still specifies 15mm ply.

[petergft]

It would be much better if I could go straight onto floorboards, I could change the adhesive as you suggest. I've removed by Bidet and Toilet and, I'm replacing them onto the new tiles which are 8mm gauge, would they be stable enough mounted like this?

You'll have no problems with FastFlex's strength. As with all floors make sure you have a solid adhesive bed.

As a tip, if you do use fastflex make sure you wear gloves and work very clean. The stuff doesn't move when it's started to set. Keep your joints clean too. Unlike a cement based adhesive when you can get the grout rake in, the fastflex is more rubbery, so not easy to clean after.

[beattsmjk]

Hi

I can concur with Mcp77, fastflex is a particularly nasty adhesive too work with in my opinion. Its a nightnmare to get off your skin, so gloves are indeed essential, plus as MCP77 states keep the grout joints clean (i didnt and spent two hours scraping before grouting !!!


plus work fast, in this heat it skins over pretty quickly.

[petergft]

Thanks for your reply's,
I'm in a quandry now can't decide if to use fastflex. Not being a professional tiler, like you guys, is fastflex the product for me ? McP77 you advise ensure a good solid bed of adhesive, is this not determined by the Trowel? I'm using a 12mm square notched. What area of adhesive should be laid, by someone like me, to ensure time to lay Tile correctly and clean out joints is acheived?
Thanks,
Pete

[enduro]

What i do on a small area like this, is to lay the tiles out dry, do all the cuts, and number them, then start laying, you will find this alot easier if using fastflex.

[Dave]

well said enduro mate was just about to post that...you beat me too it..lol lol ......dave....

take enduro's advise pete.... dry cut all tiles will be much easier and quicker once fastflex has been mixed, and your choice of trowel will be fine to achieve solid bed fix..........dave...

Would also mix up half a bag/bottle or even a third at a time rather than the whole lot.

[petergft]

I'm beginning to grow in confidence! is it also necessary to screw the floorboards down and, if so at what centre's ? Should spacers be used on cut tiles against the walls? What impliment is best for for cleaning out gaps?