Situations arise in which it is necessary to lay tiles on plywood. This process is necessary when replacing flooring or adding walls. The physical characteristics of a plywood basecoat vary significantly from concrete base. Therefore, the laying of tiles will be different.
Advantages and disadvantages of the procedure for installing a tiled covering on plywood
Beginners are wondering: is it possible to lay tiles on plywood? For experienced professionals this is not a difficult task. But the procedure as a whole is relatively complex and intricate. The tiling technique is the same, but there are differences in the preparatory stage.
Laying tiles on a plywood covering has the following advantages:
- speed of work;
- low mass characteristics of the base, which is well suited for wooden houses on foundations with low strength parameters;
- there is no need to carry out labor-intensive and expensive work on laying a concrete or cement-sand base for the coating;
- It is possible to lay tiles on plywood floors in rooms with wet operating conditions (baths, toilets).
Despite positive sides plywood flooring under a tiled covering, you need to take into account its disadvantages:
- You cannot install a “warm” floor system on a plywood base;
- there is a need for additional waterproofing measures for rooms with high humidity conditions;
- The thickness of the plywood sheet must be at least 22 mm.
Preparing the surface for a plywood base
Before laying plywood, you need to perform the following preparatory measures:
- remove old finishing putty from the surface;
- clean the base from debris and dust;
- seal cracks and joints between the floor and walls using cement-sand mortar;
- in the case of a rough wooden floor, additional antiseptic measures must be taken;
- install necessary beacons using a building level.
You can replace the level with a line drawn on the wall along the entire perimeter of the room. It will indicate the level at which the plywood sheets should be laid.
Preparing the base for plywood flooring
Fastening plywood onto joists with a thickness of 30 mm. With this value of the thickness of the base, the required rigidity is ensured, at which the mounted tile cannot crack or vibrate.
To eliminate stress on a single sheet of plywood, it is divided into several parts. They are then fixed to plank floor or a checkerboard lag system. If it is necessary to lay the substrate on the joists, the gaps between them should be within 30–40 cm.
When laying plywood flooring, there is no need to limit the number of screws, since their more frequent spacing minimizes the deflection of the plywood and reduces its vibration. The screws must be screwed in so that their heads are recessed into the plywood. This should be done to prepare the base for floor and wall tiling.
During the installation of a plywood base, you need to regularly check its horizontalness using a building level.
Situations often arise when it is necessary to use plywood with a smaller thickness. What to do in this case? You can use thin material, but in several layers. You need to lay out the squares so that the seams of the bottom layer do not coincide with the top ones. To obtain the required hardness of the plywood base, the sheets are fastened together and secured with self-tapping screws.
The process of laying plywood base
The base slabs must be placed with certain gaps between each other and distances from the walls:
- the gap between the sheets must be at least 5 mm;
- distance from the edge of the plywood to the walls - 10 mm;
- The gaps then foam.
Before laying tiles on a plywood base, it must be leveled with a sander and cleared of debris.
The sanded surface is dust free, because laying tiles on plywood without prior preparation is almost impossible. This procedure is performed using a vacuum cleaner, damp rag or sponge.
Then measures are taken for additional protection of the plywood base (priming):
- the primer should be applied in two layers;
- in the case of premises operated in conditions of high humidity, the slab must be moisture resistant;
- but before attaching the tiles to plywood on the floor or walls, the base is still subject to additional waterproofing measures;
- In this case, a special composition is used as a waterproofing material.
After the primer or special waterproofing composition has completely dried, the preparation stage of the plywood base is considered complete. Next, the stage of installing tiles on plywood begins.
Installation tiles on plywood
How to lay tiles on plywood? This is possible by following the following procedure:
- mark the base;
- prepare the adhesive composition;
- lay in even rows using special delimiters.
Marking
It is necessary to apply the required markings to the surface of the plywood. It is performed in accordance with the previously selected pattern (in a checkerboard pattern or diagonally).
With a conventional arrangement, the position of the first and next row should be noted. This is necessary so that after completion of the work it is possible to carefully trim the rows to make connections directly to the walls. Laying should be done from the far wall to the entrance to the room, this will make it possible not to walk on previously laid tiles.
Preparation of the adhesive composition
A special glue is used for the work; surface preparation usually does not cause problems.
The glue is prepared in small volumes, but sufficient to cover one square meter of surface. The composition is applied directly to the prepared plywood surface, preferably in a thin layer, because the strength of the future cladding depends on it. The tile is pressed against the base and holds for several seconds.
To maintain neat laying of tiles, you need to constantly check the evenness of each row using a level and apply rubber hammer to correct installation. Such measures are necessary to ensure that the tile covering is even.
Panel laying process
When laying tiles, it is best to use special dividing crosses, with the help of which the thickness of the seams is adjusted.
The tiles laid using these tools have an aesthetic appearance and are easy to use and maintain.
The result of work done correctly should please you throughout for long years operation of the coating. The question of how to lay tiles on plywood is not difficult if you follow simple rules tiling devices.
Usage ceramic tiles very popular for floor finishing. This material is durable, practical and attractive. appearance. True, to lay tiles, it is advisable to have a perfect level base. To achieve this, plywood is often used. The result is a flat surface, the tiles lay neatly and easily, however, if you know all the nuances of such work. Laying tiles on plywood on the floor has its own characteristics. These are the ones that will be discussed in this article.
Why choose plywood
Some of the experts in the field finishing works plywood is rarely used. This material, in their opinion, does not have the same strength as concrete screed. But plywood has one thing undeniable advantage– this is simplicity and speed of installation. There is no need to mix the solution, pour it and wait almost a month for the screed to harden. Just lay down the sheet and you can continue working.
It is very important to choose the right material. To lay tiles, you must use moisture-resistant plywood. Most often this turns out to be the veneered variety. It costs a little more than usual. It should also be remembered that the sheet thickness should be within 20–30 mm. But otherwise, provided all the rules are followed, using plywood as a base for laying tiles is quite acceptable.
Preparing the base for the tiles
Before you start laying plywood sheets, you should do some preparatory work. Namely:
- delete old one finishing gender;
- clean the base from dirt and dust;
- seal cracks and joints between the floor and walls. This is done using sand-cement mortar;
- if the subfloor is wooden, then you need to cover it with an antiseptic;
- Install beacons using a building level. As an alternative, a line can be used that is drawn on the wall around the entire perimeter of the room. It will indicate the level at which the plywood sheets should be installed.
Glue is used to install plywood. Using a notched trowel, the adhesive mass is applied to the base in the place where the first sheet will be laid. The plywood itself must be degreased and free of contaminants before installation. After placing the sheet in place, tap it with a mallet and move it slightly from side to side. Such “maneuvers” will allow the glue to adhere better.
The sheet must be leveled horizontally, checking the position with a building level. The position of the sheets can be adjusted using the thickness of the adhesive mass. If the unevenness is too large, you can use wooden blocks or pieces of plywood. But they must be firmly fixed to the subfloor.
After laying the first sheet, move on to the next. In this case, it is necessary to leave a gap between them.
Note! If installation is carried out in a warm room, then the width of the seam should be within 1–2 mm.
After gluing the sheet, holes are made in it for additional fastening using dowels to concrete floor. The number of holes will depend on the size of the plywood, but there should be at least four of them. On wooden base plywood can be secured with self-tapping screws.
Sometimes it is difficult to find plywood of suitable thickness. In this case, you can glue two sheets together. Such a base will be more reliable and will eliminate possible peeling of the tiles.
The next step will be sanding and removing dust. Then the primer should be applied. There must be at least two such layers. If work is carried out in a room with high humidity(for example, in a bathroom), then you need to apply a layer of waterproofing. After this, you can begin laying the tiles, of course, allowing the primer to dry.
How to style
Now let's talk about how to lay tiles on plywood on the floor. In principle, there are no special differences here from installation on a conventional concrete screed. First, the adhesive solution is mixed; it can be two-component or silicone-based. The volume of each portion should be enough for 1–1.5 m2 of laid tiles. It's not worth doing anymore. The glue hardens in an hour, and during this time it will be possible to lay no more than one and a half square meters tiles
Work can be started either from the far corner of the room or from the middle. Everything will depend on your skills and room configuration. But in any case, you should first lay it out dry. Thanks to this, you can avoid large quantity pruning
Note! During installation, ensure horizontal positioning. For this, a building level of at least one meter in length is used. This will be more accurate. To level the tiles, you can change the thickness of the adhesive layer.
When laying, use plastic crosses that are inserted between the tiles. With their help, they achieve the same width of seams.
After all the tiles have been laid, you need to wait until the adhesive mass has completely hardened. Typically, one or two days will be enough. Only after this can you start grouting the joints.
Video
This video clearly shows how tiles are laid on plywood:
Ideally flat floor (wall) surface – necessary condition for their quality repairs. One of optimal solutions is the so-called “dry” leveling using plywood or chipboard sheets.
Chipboard – sheet material from pressed wood. The advantages of chipboard is its affordable price and ease of installation, the disadvantages are insufficient strength, flammability, and water permeability. Before laying tiles on chipboard, it is necessary to pre-treat the material with a moisture-resistant compound. But a carelessly performed procedure can reduce its strength.
Plywood– a board made of several layers of wood veneer. The strength of the material is ensured by the technology of gluing sheets with the fiber direction perpendicular to the previous layer. Other properties are: moisture resistance and ease of installation. According to its characteristics, plywood is more good choice as a material for leveling the working surface than chipboard.
One of the most popular finishing materials is tile. Thanks to its unique consumer and operational properties: durable, resistant to negative mechanical influences and pollution, long-term and easy to use; offers a wide selection of designs, colors and materials. The latter is used: porcelain stoneware, ceramics, a natural stone, vinyl The most common type of finishing material is ceramic tiles and tiles.
Tile- one of the types of ceramic tiles, characterized by a glossy top layer, obtained as a result of applying a special coating - glaze. It is aesthetic, has many color solutions, easy to use, lightweight compared to other types of tiles. Can be used for finishing floors and walls living rooms and public areas.
Is it possible to lay tiles on plywood? If so, what technology will ensure high finishing results?
Features of laying tiles on plywood
Finishing method - laying tiles on plywood is especially relevant for wooden buildings With frame structure. Has his own specific features and requires a certain skill. You can use the services of a qualified professional or try to do it yourself.
First of all, you should prepare all the necessary tools:
- Grinder machine;
- Waterproofing material;
- Primer;
- Elastic adhesive based on polyurethane;
- Yardstick;
- Tile stops;
- Building level;
- Polyurethane foam;
- Grout for seams.
Tile laying tools How to lay tiles on plywood? It is necessary to use the following technology to achieve the desired high result:
Preparatory stage— laying plywood sheets on the floor to level its surface. Required condition is to choose a durable material that can withstand the considerable weight of the next layer. You should choose plywood with a moisture-resistant coating, a thickness of 22-28 mm, without defects. Too much large sheets need to be cut (into 4 parts). To properly distribute the load, the seams of the sheets should be placed on a wooden base in a checkerboard pattern and fastened at the edges and in the center with self-tapping screws (nine pieces for each fragment with the cap “recessed”). The length of the screw must be at least 15 mm greater than the thickness of the sheet. Done properly this work In the future, it will allow you to avoid such an unpleasant moment as cracking of the tiles.
When laying plywood sheets, it is recommended to leave a distance of 0.5 mm between them and 1 cm from the plywood to the wall. The resulting gaps must be filled with polyurethane foam (covered with plinth). This procedure will allow you to avoid in the future the trouble of one sheet overlapping another during their deformation under the influence of moisture.
Scheme for gluing tiles Next stage– processing of the preparatory layer using abrasive and grinding tools. The result should be a flat, smooth surface, without roughness.
A primer is applied to the sanded surface in two layers. Each one should take at least five hours to dry. If tiles are laid on plywood in the bathroom, then an additional waterproofing layer is required.
Specifications tiles Before laying, mark the working area. To do this, mark the central points of the opposite walls and connect them to each other at right angles. For additional control of the correctness of the calculations, it is necessary to lay out the longitudinal and transverse rows in the center on a dry basis.
The tiles are laid from the far corner of the second row, leveling is done using a building level. Special glue is applied in a thin layer using a spatula on small area work surface and on the back side of the tile. The tile sections are laid at the same distance from each other of 2-5 mm (dividing crosses will be required to maintain the indentation). The largest value should be used if subsequent heat treatment between the seams (relevant for rooms with sudden temperature changes). The glue drying time is 3 days. A guarantee of durable fastening of the tiles to the floor is high-quality adhesive specifically designed for a particular type of flooring.
First, the finishing is done using solid sections of tiles, and at the end, the remaining area (usually near the walls) is covered with fragments of material of suitable size.
And finally, the seams are treated with a special grout: a small amount of the mixture is gradually applied to a small working area of 1 sq.m., with the cross separators previously removed from it. Excess amount of grout mixture is removed with a damp sponge. The initial drying time of the solution is 30 minutes, after which the tile is wiped again until it is completely clear of traces of grout. The final consolidation of the grouting composition occurs in a day or three.
Advice: glue is applied only to the dry surface of the tile (tile), pre-wetting it is strictly prohibited. Otherwise, the finishing material will begin to lag behind the surface over time.
Wall cladding using tiles on plywood is performed using a similar technology.
There are the following nuances:
- Finishing starts from the bottom from the second row, the bottom row is the last;
- To prevent the tiles from sliding at the level of the second row, it is recommended to attach a wooden strip;
- The top row is made only from solid tiles;
Proper preparation of the working surface, use quality material and following all recommended steps in the process of laying tiles on plywood flooring will ensure long-term excellent finishing results.
Plywood is quite often used when performing a variety of finishing works. With its help, ceilings, floors and interior partitions. The versatility of the material has made it very popular.
Plywood is versatile finishing material, which is mainly used for leveling surfaces.
And in order for all work to be completed on top level, you need to understand the features of working with this material, in particular, know how to lay tiles on plywood yourself.
Possible problems
Before you understand the procedure for laying tiles on plywood, you need to study the problems that may arise during the work.
Firstly, veneered plywood can delaminate, so it is best to use adhesives that will not penetrate deeply into the material.
Secondly, if you are laying tiles on a large partition, keep in mind that plywood is quite flexible material and under heavy loads it can deform. Everything must be done so that the tile does not come off when deflected or accidentally hit. Therefore, most optimal composition Elastic adhesives are used for gluing tiles to plywood. However, other compositions can be used. Check out brief description each of them and choose the most suitable option.
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Material selection
Simple tile adhesive for gluing tiles to plywood will not work. The moisture contained in it will cause the surface of the material to swell and accidental deflection or impact will cause the tile to peel off. There are several options to solve this problem.
First of all, you can use drywall as an intermediate coating. You need to do the following:
- Cut drywall into required pieces.
- Attach it to the frame using self-tapping screws or directly through the plywood.
- Place the tiles on drywall using regular tile adhesive.
However, this technique has its drawbacks. First, the cutting plasterboard sheets– the operation is quite dusty. Secondly, to work with tile adhesive certain skills are required. Besides, this technique not suitable for the kitchen and cases with small boxes.
When looking for a solution for gluing tiles to plywood, one should not forget about such a thing as liquid nails. This is a thick, all-purpose adhesive that can be used to lay tiles on plywood. It must be applied in several points in the center and in the corners, or in a continuous line along the perimeter of the tile. While the composition is setting, the tile must be fixed. For grouting, compositions based on epoxy based. You should avoid using cement ones, because... When the plywood vibrates, such putties quickly crumble.
When choosing a composition for gluing tiles to plywood, one cannot help but pay attention to silicone sealant. It allows you to ensure exceptionally reliable adhesion of the tiles to the surface, and minor bends and vibrations of the panels will not lead to the tiles coming off. Transparent silicone is suitable for grouting. Such a partition will look very presentable. If you plan to use this method in the bathroom or kitchen, then before use liquid nails and sealants, it is necessary to treat the plywood with drying oil and prime it with a hydrophobic primer.
In order to prepare an adhesive composition for tiles, you will need acetone and polystyrene foam.
Silicone sealant and liquid nails are excellent, but quite expensive compounds. If you are on a tight budget, you can use next method. You need to take polystyrene foam and acetone. The foam is crumbled, poured into a plastic container and filled with a certain amount of acetone. The resulting mass must be applied to plywood or tiles using an ordinary spoon or wooden stick.
Polyurethane foam can also be used as glue. You just need to apply a certain amount of material to the back of the tile and press the tile tightly against the plywood. About increasing the volume polyurethane foam you don't have to worry. Due to the fact that the tiles are laid without gaps, this effect will be absent.
There are also alternative substances. For example, you can use acrylic tile adhesive. It costs less than liquid nails, and if applied in a continuous layer, it is in no way inferior to them in strength. Instead of acrylic tile adhesive, you can use acrylic putty.
If you are working with fairly thick plywood, you can use PVA. However, it is important that the plywood has properties that would allow it not to deform if wet.
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Preparation Guide
Plywood must be laid in a double layer. This will reduce the risk of the tiles peeling off or lying unevenly. It is recommended to use plywood with a thickness of 22-28 mm. It is better if it is glued in 2 layers: this will increase the strength of the structure as a whole. The plywood must be secured as tightly as possible to the base to minimize the likelihood of deformation.
Before laying tiles, the plywood must be cleaned and primed.
After this, you need to prepare the base for the tiles. The plywood is carefully sanded and cleaned. It should be as smooth as possible. A smooth, flat surface is primed in 2 layers. The next layer can be applied only after the previous one has completely dried. If the tiles will be laid in the bathroom, then before priming the base must be treated with a waterproofing material.
Prepare tools and materials for work:
- Plywood. It is best to use sheets 2.5-3 cm thick.
- Primer.
- Waterproofing film.
- Self-tapping screws.
- Elastic glue.
- Crosses for seams.
- Spatulas.
- Building level.
Laying plywood on joists
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During repairs, sometimes it becomes necessary to combine materials of different structures. For example, such a situation may arise when leveling a wooden floor in a hallway using plywood and then covering it with ceramic tiles. This raises the problem of choosing adhesive for tiles on plywood.
Technologies
Polyurethane adhesive - application features
Polyurethane adhesives- These are synthetic adhesives that are obtained from substances used for the synthesis of polyurethanes. Polyurethanes are polymers that are film-forming substances that have increased resistance to gasoline, acids, oils and other aggressive substances
How to choose heat-resistant tile adhesive
Using heat-resistant tile adhesive, ceramic clinker tiles are laid, insulating materials, concrete blocks, natural stone, glass, mosaic panel, wooden panels
Frost-resistant tile adhesive for outdoor use. Description and Application
Frost-resistant tile adhesive is not afraid of temperature differences, does not deform, has high strength and high degree adhesion
Ready-made tile adhesive: application features
When working with ready-made adhesives, complex and messy work on diluting mixtures is not required; laying ready-made tiles on tile adhesive is easy and simple
Two-component tile adhesive. Features of use
Polyurethane two-component adhesives are used for gluing PVC tiles, ceramics, earthenware, concrete, metal, wood, polystyrene on absorbent and non-absorbent substrates, also on industrial and sports floors