Tiling chipboard floors

[Matthew77]

Hi All

Just thought I'd see what the tilers forum members think about Tiling onto 22mm moisture resistant t&g chip board flooring as more and more jobs that I go to price these days seem to be prepared by the chippy using chipboard instead of ply.

I've been using an adhesive from tilemaster called ultimate which is guaranteed for use on chipboard & floating floors and after speaking with their tech guys on the phone was informed that alot of it is used on boats & ships where there is alot of movement & vibration. I've only been brave enough to use this on small floors so far.

here is the link to the website with the tech info:

http://www.tilemasteradhesive.co.uk/...teTechData.pdf

I know most of you on here like me are not keen on tiling onto chipboard or floating floors but I thought I'd throw this out and see what everyone thinks?

[Dave]

IMO Chipboard isn't stable enough to tile directly to, it isn't so much the deflection but the integrity of the boards.. Use a 6mm Hardi backer over board..

[Stewart]

As above for me, regardless of what the adhesive manufacturer is claiming. Guaranteed they blame you for fixer error when and if floor fails!

[Matthew77]

So even with the adhesive stating on the tech data that it is made for this type of substrate its still no good with out over boarding with a cement board?

This conflict of information & views is always a bit confusing to me.

I wonder if the same was said about the use of 6mm cement boards when they were first starting to be used.

This is from the tech data sheet:

Chipboard: Chipboard must be a minimum of 18mm and must be
screwed (not nailed) every 6 inches/150mm centres to the substrate.
Ensure there is enough ventilation beneath substrate and that the
chipboard has been fitted competently and will take the weight of tiles
and adhesive. Make sure surface is free of loose dirt or dust. Apply an
undiluted coat of Primeplus to all exposed edges and joints and then
prime the remainder of the surface with Primeplus diluted 2 parts water
to 1 part Primeplus. The set time of the adhesive will increase

[Matthew77]

But if you follow their fixing info they are responsible if the floor fails?

Is it usual for adhesive company's to shy away from responsibility of the guarantee they provide with their products then?

[whitebeam]

6mm hardie for me also..

[Alan.P]

I tried a search for a thread I posted in before about this, not my favourite or my choice of substrate, but, on several large sites where I was a subbie I was given no choice, we used Dural onto the chipboard and then fixed. Not saying yea or nay, this was for a few main building companies, that doesn't make it right................................

[Phil Hobson]

I would not tile directly onto any type of chipboard, as has been said above, and many times on this forum. It is not a suitable surface for tiles, imo. I have ripped up more of these installations than I care to remember

[Matthew77]

Hi Alan. Were they large or small areas you tiled, how long ago, and to your knowledge are they still ok.Sites I've worked on have done the same CI matting straight onto OSboard or chipboard, as far as I know they have been fine, but only been fixed for 6 months so far.

[Gall.B]

Would never fix directly on to chipboard either m8, just sooks the moisture right out the adhesive to soon, tends to crumble & all of the reasons above.

[Mudduckk]

Not sure if chip board is the same as what we call OSB in the US but it sounds like the same thing as 3/4 inch T&G OSB underlayment (only 22mm is like 7/8" - beefy!). Assuming it is, here's what I propose. First check the spacing of the joists. Should be no more than 16 inches (40cm) on center. If spacing is like 19" on center or 24" on center, add 6mm cement board underlayment on thinset plus nailed in place and you are good to go.

If you have the proper joist spacing at around 40cm, use a new generation trowelable waterproofing anti-fracture membrane like Custom's Redguard or TEC Specialty's Hydroflex. Or equal from your trusted setting product manufacturer. These will save you time and money, are about 50% of the installed price of 6mm cement board on thinset and take almost no time at all to put down.

[Alan.P]

Hi Alan. Were they large or small areas you tiled, how long ago, and to your knowledge are they still ok.Sites I've worked on have done the same CI matting straight onto OSboard or chipboard, as far as I know they have been fine, but only been fixed for 6 months so far.

The floors varied in size, none of them massive, the biggest was probably around 6 m2, and no, no failures to date.

[Dave]

But if you follow their fixing info they are responsible if the floor fails?

Is it usual for adhesive company's to shy away from responsibility of the guarantee they provide with their products then?

You try claiming..