18140 0

The most optimal base for laying ceramic tiles is a concrete surface or a base made of sand-cement screed. But unfortunately, this condition is not always feasible, so in houses of old construction, or, conversely, in buildings made according to modern technologies using SIP panels, the floors, and sometimes the walls, are made of wood or wood-containing materials.

With this installation, you cannot use “warm floor” systems.

So this factor puts inexperienced home craftsmen in confusion when carrying out repairs in their home, because at first glance, gluing ceramic tiles onto materials containing wood is extremely unreasonable, due to the too obvious difference in their physical properties and characteristics. So, after all, is it possible to lay tiles on plywood or other wood-containing materials, in the absence of the possibility of installing a traditional base, or refuse to use tiles when decorating a bathroom or kitchen?

Distinctive feature of wood-containing materials

Materials containing wood in the form of shavings or chips and various resins as a binder, subject to certain technological requirements, can be successfully used as a base for covering the surface with ceramics. The most common ones are plywood, particle board (chipboard) and oriented strand board (OSB).

Before applying the adhesive composition to plywood, it is recommended to learn more about its composition

To obtain a high-quality result and prevent premature destruction of the surface being tiled, laying ceramic tiles on these materials must take into account two important factors:

1. Since the main component of plywood, chipboard and OSB is wood, these materials will have the same properties as source material. In particular, under the influence of excess moisture, wood swells and, conversely, in the absence of moisture, it dries out. That is, the surface being coated lacks dynamic stability, and constant movement of the base can negatively affect the condition of the coating and even lead to its destruction.
2. The resin contained in plywood as a binder worsens the adhesive characteristics of the material, and therefore it is not possible to glue tiles to plywood in the traditional way.

Cladding wood-containing surfaces with ceramic tiles differs from laying them on concrete bases and sand-cement screeds and has its own subtleties and features.

Advantages and disadvantages of using plywood as a base for cladding

To fully understand the situation and get an idea of ​​the problems that may be encountered when using wood-containing materials for ceramic finishing, we will outline the main advantages and disadvantages of this solution.

Advantages

• high speed of work;
• no need to carry out labor-intensive and costly work on installing a concrete or sand-cement base;
• the relatively small weight of the structure allows for cladding in wooden structures or buildings with a foundation not designed for additional load;
• the ability to glue tiles even in damp conditions of the bathroom or kitchen.

Flaws

• the thickness of the plywood used for the base must be at least 22 mm;
• the need to take measures for additional waterproofing of the room if it is used in wet conditions;
• it is impossible to install a “warm” floor system if the cladding is carried out on plywood, chipboard or OSB.

It is noteworthy that the quality of plywood depends less on the veneer, and more on the glue with which it is glued together

Selection of material and preparation of the base

Before laying tiles on plywood, you need to go through two stages of preliminary work, namely:

1. Selection, calculation of the required quantity, acquisition and delivery of the necessary materials to the work site.
2. Inspection of the surface for cladding and its preparation for installation of ceramics.

The main thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a material is the correct selection of adhesive for installing tiles.

The main criterion that should be followed in this case should be the ability of the adhesive mixture to adapt to the possible movement of the surface being coated. Therefore, such an adhesive necessarily contains components with high elasticity: microfiber, fiberglass, silicone and other polymer additives.

You can, of course, glue ceramic tiles with alternative compounds used by some craftsmen, such as liquid nails, liquid glass or even a complex mixture of varnish and foam shavings treated with acetone. But given the importance and responsibility of the work being carried out, as well as the high cost of the facing material, it is better not to take risks and give preference to specialized compounds intended for use on wood-containing substrates. A good option would be to use a two-component polyurethane adhesive or an adhesive mixture containing silane.

The required quantity of tiles is calculated taking into account the following factors:

• area of ​​the surface to be coated;
• geometric dimensions of elements;
• type of installation;
• the presence of a pattern that requires a certain adjustment of elements.

The amount of glue is taken based on the rate of its consumption per square meter; this value is indicated in the instructions for using the adhesive.

When examining the base, you need to make sure that the plywood is thick enough and that it is securely fixed to the floor structures to prevent shifts and sagging. If there are no comments, you can proceed directly to preparing the base. Plywood sheets are carefully sanded, the seams between them are sealed, and after cleaning from dust and debris, they are treated with antiseptic compounds. Then the plywood is impregnated with waterproofing mixtures; this must be done even if moisture-resistant plywood is used.

Priming plywood increases the resistance of wood to the destructive effects of moisture

The plywood needs to be primed in two layers at intervals of several hours to allow the primer composition to dry completely. If finishing takes place in a room with high humidity, for example, in a bathroom, then you need to additionally protect the base from water getting on it using a waterproofing device made of film. To improve the adhesive properties and better adhesion of the ceramics to the surface, it would be useful to fix it on plywood before using a primer reinforcing the serpyanka mesh.

Laying technology

Once the base is completely ready, you can begin laying ceramic tiles. It is better to do this from the corner of the room by placing the whole element there without trimming. The glue is spread evenly and in an equal layer over the back surface of the fragment and the surface to be coated using a notched trowel. Then the ceramic tiles need to be pressed to the surface and fixed for a while for better adhesion.

In this case, there is no need to tap the elements with a rubber mallet, since the glue used for laying ceramics containing materials on wood has a fairly liquid consistency, which allows you to reliably glue the fragment without using additional effort to tap the tiles with a mallet.

Actually, in the future, the process of laying tiles on plywood is no different from installing tiles on traditional bases made of concrete or sand-cement screed and consists of the actual installation of ceramics, processing and jointing.

When undertaking an independent repair, it is not always possible to foresee all its nuances. Sometimes this process becomes unpredictable due to various circumstances and presents us with surprises. It happens that sometimes a particular type of work cannot be carried out in strict accordance with the requirements of the technology. And then the home craftsman has to think about how to combine 2 materials that are considered incompatible with each other.

Today we will talk about ceramic tiles and plywood. Some will say that it is stupid to even try to lay ceramic floor tiles on a plywood surface, but I would like to note that this is not entirely true and there is a real way, which we will consider below. Laying tiles on plywood can be done either by professionals or by yourself. Which method to choose is a personal matter for everyone. However, in the second case you can save a lot. Decide for yourself what is more acceptable!

Laying ceramic tiles on plywood: technological features

In what case would this method be most appropriate? Of course, if the house is built of wood, or using technology frame construction. This design option is quite light in weight, and if there is also a wooden floor (high-quality logs), then flooring from boards can be made quite quickly, without incurring large financial and labor costs.

Now about. This material, as a type of finishing, is very widespread. It is used for both walls and floors, indoors for various purposes, starting from the bathroom and ending with the living room. The ideal surface for laying it is, of course, a concrete screed. But in the absence of such, laying ceramic tiles on a plywood sheet is also possible. Laying floor tiles on plywood or wall cladding: all this is done using almost the same technology.

Even professionals in this matter take advantage of this opportunity and do not neglect laying tiles on a plywood surface. True, the complexity in this case increases slightly. And the process itself is practically no different from installing tiles on any other type of surface. What is the difference between this method and others? Everything is very simple: preparing the base for laying ceramic tiles.

Return to contents

Nuances of preparing the base

So, let's start with the fact that the plywood base must have a thickness of at least 22 mm, and when it is laid on logs, it increases to 30 mm. This is necessary to give good rigidity to the base; it is this that will ensure the quality of the entire further procedure and will not allow the tile to move and crack.

1. To reduce the so-called surface stress, in this case it is a plywood sheet, it must be divided into 4 square parts.
2. Only after this can you begin to secure it to the joists or wooden floor. This is done in a checkerboard pattern. A floor made of planks or parquet is also suitable for attaching plywood to it.
3. Please note: if the plywood sheet is fastened to joists, then they should have gaps of no more than 40 cm. This is important! This plywood floor will be of high quality.
4. And also, when fastening plywood using self-tapping screws, do not skimp on their quantity. Since their more frequent arrangement will make the plywood floor more rigid and help it not to sag.
5. And this, in turn, will reduce the degree of possible vibration of the base sheet. If you secure the sheets in this way, then in the future you will not expect surprises in the form of cracked slabs.

Return to contents

When laying a plywood base, it is necessary to control its strictly horizontal position using a building level. Only in this way will the plywood floor fully meet the requirements for the surface intended for laying tiles. And if we talk about tools, you may also need:

• screwdriver;
• roulette;
• marker;
• hammer;
• jigsaw;
• putty knife;
• tile cutter

If you have sheets of thinner plywood than recommended above, you can use them, but in 2 layers. When performing this type of base preparation, make sure that the seams of these 2 plywood layers do not coincide with each other.

To give a greater degree of rigidity to such a two-layer plywood base, an adhesive composition is used, gluing the sheets together, and in addition, the top sheet of plywood must also be fixed using self-tapping screws.

Due to the fact that plywood is susceptible to the effects temperature conditions and humidity, experts recommend not fastening it end to end. It would be most correct to leave small gaps of approximately 0.5 cm between the sheets of plywood.

The distance from the wall to the plywood should be at least 1 cm.

This gap can be filled using polyurethane foam or by attaching the baseboard.

Before proceeding to the direct installation of floor tiles, the plywood surface must be thoroughly cleaned of dust and other contaminants, and then leveled. For this purpose, a procedure such as grinding is used.

At the moment when you fasten the plywood using self-tapping screws, do not forget that their caps need to be recessed a little into the base, only in this form they will not interfere with the subsequent sanding process.

After finishing sanding, clean the surface again, this time using a vacuum cleaner and a damp sponge. At the next stage, the surface is primed: this procedure will be especially high-quality if it is performed twice. This option will help you provide additional waterproofing and enhance the protection of the wood base.

If you plan to lay ceramic floor tiles in a room with a high degree of humidity, such as a kitchen, bathroom, etc., then it is best to purchase sheets of plywood with moisture resistance characteristics for arranging the base.

Regardless of whether you are finishing the walls with ceramic tiles or the floor, you will need to apply a waterproofing layer, and only then lay out the tiles. For these purposes, you can use a ready-made waterproofing composition. It can be liquid or it can have the qualities of a powder.

Only after the primer and waterproofing layer have completely dried does it become possible to lay ceramic tiles.

When working with walls in a log house or frame house Often you have to deal with complications, because... The wood shrinks considerably and also becomes slightly deformed with the seasons. Because of this, it is necessary to use a plywood base. Every master should know how to glue tiles to plywood, because... this situation could be waiting for anyone.

Correctly selected tiles for installation on plywood are practically not subject to deformation.

Features of base preparation

Tools and materials:

1. Plywood.
2. Roulette.
3. Marker.
4. Jigsaw.
5. Screwdriver.
6. Wooden bars.
7. Polyurethane foam.
8. Level.
9. Sander.
10. Rag with water.
11. Primer and wide brush.
12. Bitumen waterproofing and round brush.

Working with plywood is the best option among all analogues, because... a correctly selected slab is almost not subject to deformation, does not bend and almost does not “play” when the temperature changes. There are 3 minimum indicators that are taken into account - CIS (22 mm), Europe (28 mm) and when laid out on logs (30 mm). It is optimal to use the highest indicator, because Although this is an obvious cost overrun, there is no need to fear complications later.

Scheme of step-by-step laying of tiles on plywood.

When plywood is mounted on joists, you need to mandatory take a step between them of 0.3-0.4 m, and you cannot spare the screws. If the plywood does not have enough attachment points, the surface stress will increase, and along with it the chances of cracking will increase. To make sure it's perfect horizontal position, you need 2 tools - a square and a level. The square allows you to organize a right angle to the floor and ceiling, and the level allows you to ideally carry out the work process.

Plywood is used not only for walls, but also for floors, because... the problems may be similar. Here you can purchase sheets 2 times thinner if this will save money. Such sheets are laid 1 by 1, which ultimately gives the same thickness and strength indicators, and they are sewn together with the same self-tapping screws.

Modern market finishing materials offers a lot of options for floor finishing. Most often they contain tiles and plywood, which raises the question: is it possible to glue tiles to plywood?

As for floor installation specialists, the technology that explains how to glue tiles on plywood is relatively new. For a long time, tile materials were laid directly on the concrete floor - they fit perfectly together and form an excellent adhesion. Therefore, the question of whether it is possible to glue ceramic tiles to plywood becomes reasonable and you are faced with the task of deciding on the technology.

In this article we will also find out what kind of glue to use to glue tiles to plywood in order to ensure excellent adhesion and a durable result of laying the flooring.

Note! If you intend to install a heated floor system in your home, then you should avoid working with plywood, since the installation of this equipment is carried out exclusively on top of a concrete screed and involves the use of materials that are resistant to moisture or temperature.

Preparatory stage of work

On preparatory stage you must take care to select necessary tools and materials, and provide a good base for installation.

The list of necessities includes:

• tile;
• primer;
• plywood;
• level;
• mixer;
• glue;
• building level;
• rags;
• grout.

The first thing you have to do is prepare the foundation for work. Make sure the floor is level and free of dirt and dust. To clean the surface of the base, you can use not only chemicals, but also Appliances that will allow you to achieve high-quality results. A vacuum cleaner is also suitable for removing dust, but to deal with dirt you will definitely have to use special detergents. Before gluing tiles, make sure that the floor surface is perfectly flat.

After this, you can start installing the plywood on the base. Its sheets must first be glued together to obtain double strength. As a result, installation will be done on a hard and very rigid surface.

Note! When installing plywood sheets, it is very important to perform really high-quality fasteners. You can use self-tapping screws, which should be placed in increments of 20 cm.

At the final stage of preparatory work, the final finishing of the floor surface is carried out. To do this, you need to apply a special primer. It is better if you apply several layers of this composition. Allow the surface to dry a little before applying each new layer. The complete drying time for the primer is about five hours.

Laying technology

Before installing the tiles, you need to lay waterproofing material on the floor, and the installation of the tiles should begin from the second row. The first strip should be left untouched, since it is intended for subsequent installation of tiles with cut dimensions.

You should start laying the material from the far corner of the room. During the installation process, do not forget to monitor the levelness of the surface using a water-type building level. The installation result can be adjusted until the adhesive on which the tile sits has completely hardened.

To ensure even tile seams, you can use special devices. Corners or crosses are suitable for such purposes. As a result, you will receive seams with identical geometry. The approximate distance in this case will be two to three millimeters. In rare cases, this figure can be increased to five millimeters. It is better to apply the adhesive composition to the surface in small quantities, since it dries quite quickly.

A device such as a mixer will allow you to stir the adhesive until smooth. The area for applying glue to plywood is 1 m². It is this area that is most comfortable so that you have time to carry out high-quality installation and adjust the result before the glue completely hardens and dries.

If you don’t know how to glue tiles to plywood on the floor, the answer is simple - with a specialized adhesive composition designed for working with ceramic tiles. You should not save on purchasing this material; it is best to give preference to high-quality global manufacturers with a well-known name, whose products have already proven themselves. This is the only way you will achieve reliable and durable adhesion of the two surfaces.

Note! Each glue comes with its own instructions, which can be completely different. Before you start using it, be sure to read the recommendations indicated in it.

In some cases, a specialized two-component polyurethane-based adhesive is used. It is able to provide such high-quality adhesion of materials that there is no need to apply a primer.

Carrying out finishing work

At the final stage of laying tiles on plywood, the joints are grouted, thanks to which the floor takes on a neat and beautiful appearance.

Note! The grouting process should not begin immediately after installation is completed. The glue must dry completely to provide the necessary fixing effect. This will take several days.

Some instructions state that the adhesive composition immediately sets to surfaces, but it is better to play it safe once again so as not to spoil the results of your labors. This does not mean at all that you should not trust the manufacturer’s recommendations, but it should be borne in mind that the glue is placed between two dense materials that do not allow moisture and air to pass through, and this increases the drying time. It is enough to wait three to five days to be sure.

The material used is a special grout, which must be rubbed into the seams located between the tiles. Armed with a rubber spatula, you can easily cope with this task. Such a tool can be purchased at any hardware store.

As you work, you may notice excess material remaining on the tiles. They are removed with a soft rag. It is highly undesirable to use any hard material for this, as it can cause damage to the surface. The rag must be moistened before use. And after treating the surface, you need to give it time to dry.

There is a wide range of grouts on the market, which can be dry or need to be diluted with water. Never use to remove grout residue. chemicals, because they can provoke a chemical reaction.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to lay ceramic tiles on plywood rather than on a cement base. This happens when finishing is done in wooden house, or when plywood was used to level the surface of the floor or walls. But in order to combine such incompatible materials you need to know some of the subtleties of the process.

Among the advantages of this method are the following qualities:

• work can be done with maximum speed and without spreading excess dirt;
• there is no heavy load on the floor, which is wooden buildings is a significant moment;
• the facing material lasts long and reliably;
• You can install it even in rooms where there is humidity, because special glue acts as additional waterproofing.

But this method also has disadvantages, for example:

• tiles can only be laid on plywood, the minimum thickness of which is 22 mm;
• if the room being tiled is damp, you will need to spend money on additional waterproofing;
• If the tiles are laid on plywood, then heated floors cannot be installed.

Features of the process and preparatory stage

The process of laying ceramic tiles on plywood with your own hands is doable, but not easy. It has a lot of pitfalls, so you need to take the upcoming task with all seriousness and responsibility. Because The tile has quite an impressive weight, so the base under it must be strong. Therefore, the plywood to be coated must have a certain thickness. It also needs to be securely fixed to prevent the slightest movement and deflection.

If plywood sheets are laid on joists, then the gap between them should be up to 30 cm, and the plywood itself should be no thinner than 30 mm. If in your design the distance between the lags exceeds the specified norm, then it will have to be redone. Otherwise, movements and deflections will occur in the flooring, which will cause the tiles to peel off or crack over time.

Preparatory work includes calculation and purchase of material, as well as preparation of the required tools. The number of tiles depends on the following factors:

• room area;
• the size of each tile;
• installation method;
• the presence of a pattern that requires joining.

In addition, at least 10% must be added for cutting consumption. How much glue is needed should be decided based on the instructions in the instructions. The list of everything needed for work looks like this:

• plywood sander;
• special tile adhesive;
• waterproofing film;
• primer;
• wood screws;
• tape measure, pencil, ruler;
• crosses;
• grout.

The plywood base must be properly sanded and cleaned of debris and dust, and also ensure that there are not even the slightest gaps between the sheets. To securely fix it to the base, additional fasteners should be used.

Once you are sure that the surface is absolutely smooth and the joints of the sheets have no cracks or gaps, you can begin priming. The primer composition is applied in two layers, each of which is dried for at least 5 hours. If you are tiling in rooms with constant humidity, for example in a bathroom, then the plywood should be protected with a water-repellent film laid directly over it.

Laying ceramic tiles on plywood - technology

To fix the tiles, it is necessary to use a specially designed adhesive that is elastic, because plywood can transform and react to moisture and temperature changes. The best option is a two-component polyurethane adhesive. Its advantage is not only elasticity. In addition to its main function, it also plays the role of an additional moisture-proofing layer. In addition, this glue dries very quickly, and you can step on the tile floor in just half an hour.

Glue containing modified silane is also very effective. It hardens even when it comes into contact with moisture, but at the same time draws it out of the floor. Seams held with such glue will remain flexible and elastic.

When the base is properly prepared, cladding can begin. The adhesive composition is applied both to it and to the floor in an equal and even layer. You should start from the corner, laying the first whole tile in it. You need to apply glue to an area of ​​no more than 1 square meter at a time, otherwise while you are laying the tiles on one side, the other may set.

A metal spatula with teeth is used as a tool for applying glue. After the composition is applied to the surfaces to be glued, the tile must be pressed firmly and held there for a while for good adhesion. All the time while the laying process is underway, it is necessary to control the height of the tiles using a level, otherwise the tiles may not be at the same height. To achieve the same distance between them, you need to use special crosses. After all the cladding is glued, you need to wait for the glue to dry and start grouting the joints. It is diluted according to the instructions, and the excess is removed with a damp sponge or rag.

Tips that may be useful for beginners

• if for some reason you do not have the opportunity to purchase plywood for a base for tiles with a thickness of 22 mm or more, then connect two thinner sheets together, which in total will give the required thickness;
• plywood must be carefully fixed using fasteners. Even the slightest movement and deflection are unacceptable;
• Before the plywood is nailed, you need to carefully sand it and prime it, and if there is moisture in the room, also cover it with film;

• During installation, you need to constantly monitor the height of the cladding elements relative to each other and the floor. This can be done using a building level;
• work should begin from the most distant corner of the room;
• In order for all the seams to have a beautiful and neat appearance, you need to select a grout to match the tone of the tiles.

After reading these instructions, you can easily lay ceramic tiles on plywood. The video below will clearly illustrate this process.