Darrin Baxter
Active member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2010
- Posts
- 31
Can you install tile direct to the wood floor
One more tile question
- Thread starter Darrin Baxter
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
robatthelake
Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2006
- Posts
- 12
Sometimes Yes. However in an RV You will want to be sure that the base is very solid and the Adhesive that You use is an Elastic Type that offers some degree of Flex. The Grout must also be an Elastic type!
ROUTE 66 RV
Active member
NO!!!
You shouldn't consider installing Ceramic or Porcelain tile over a wood subfloor without first installing "Hardibacker" - a cement backerboard. This product is designed for residential usage on raised, wood foundations. In a motorhome, the same rules apply as they do here in earthquake ridden Southern California. Wood flexes and with that unstable shaking, the tiles will eventually buckle, chip, crack, etc. The hardibacker provides you with a solid surface, capable of sustaining a stable base for your floor.
An alternative would be Luxury Vinyl Tile. Unlike tile which is extremely heavy and susceptible to all kinds of problems in a moving coach, Luxury Vinyl Tile won't crack or buckle when installed properly. This hard surface material is made to expand and contract mildly, and it is much less weight than any other hard surface option.
The styling offered in Luxury Vinyl products comes in both hardwood plank forms or stone-like tiles, and best of all, this low-profile floor gets glued directly to the subfloor. As a result, you get the look you want in a durable, "softer hard surface" composed with vinyl that is low-profile enough to be installed under any slideout. If durability is a fear - don't worry about it, as this floor is being installed now in supermarkets, malls, and other high traffic areas due to its ability to stand up to the elements. Unlike laminate though, which rests above the surface of the floors, the only complex part about luxury vinyl is the floor prep it takes to smooth out your staple-ridden and uneven subfloor before gluing this new floor in place. The biggest upside to this option is that unlike tile, hardwood, or laminate, this floor can easily be installed under your slideouts without having to alter the height of the slide.
Armstrong, Karndean, and Earthworks are popular Luxury Vinyl product lines, all offered with very durable surfaces. These floors have dominated our customer's selections for the past couple years, and for good reason - they are a bit more cost effective, less weight, and not prone to water damage. Take a mop to this floor without fear - a prospect you wouldn't consider with laminate.
Best of luck on your project and check out this page for more information - http://www.getyourkicksrv.com/products/flooring/flooring.htm.
You shouldn't consider installing Ceramic or Porcelain tile over a wood subfloor without first installing "Hardibacker" - a cement backerboard. This product is designed for residential usage on raised, wood foundations. In a motorhome, the same rules apply as they do here in earthquake ridden Southern California. Wood flexes and with that unstable shaking, the tiles will eventually buckle, chip, crack, etc. The hardibacker provides you with a solid surface, capable of sustaining a stable base for your floor.
An alternative would be Luxury Vinyl Tile. Unlike tile which is extremely heavy and susceptible to all kinds of problems in a moving coach, Luxury Vinyl Tile won't crack or buckle when installed properly. This hard surface material is made to expand and contract mildly, and it is much less weight than any other hard surface option.
The styling offered in Luxury Vinyl products comes in both hardwood plank forms or stone-like tiles, and best of all, this low-profile floor gets glued directly to the subfloor. As a result, you get the look you want in a durable, "softer hard surface" composed with vinyl that is low-profile enough to be installed under any slideout. If durability is a fear - don't worry about it, as this floor is being installed now in supermarkets, malls, and other high traffic areas due to its ability to stand up to the elements. Unlike laminate though, which rests above the surface of the floors, the only complex part about luxury vinyl is the floor prep it takes to smooth out your staple-ridden and uneven subfloor before gluing this new floor in place. The biggest upside to this option is that unlike tile, hardwood, or laminate, this floor can easily be installed under your slideouts without having to alter the height of the slide.
Armstrong, Karndean, and Earthworks are popular Luxury Vinyl product lines, all offered with very durable surfaces. These floors have dominated our customer's selections for the past couple years, and for good reason - they are a bit more cost effective, less weight, and not prone to water damage. Take a mop to this floor without fear - a prospect you wouldn't consider with laminate.
Best of luck on your project and check out this page for more information - http://www.getyourkicksrv.com/products/flooring/flooring.htm.
