your opinion on these three tile options?

[Tealeaf72]

Hi,

I really appreciate everyone's advice so far. I got three quotes for a tile job for my kitchen, halls, and baths.

The First tile company- They would use cement board, seemed very knowledgeable and concerned with quality (my perception). Will use fiberglass mesh in foyer over plywood in that area though.. i think because they are removing tile here and there might be a height issue.. .not sure? Everywhere else would be cement board. Have had a water issue in bathroom once so i liked this option, I felt it would be more resistant than plywood.

2nd quote . This company would be using 1/4 inch AC plywood. They tried to explain why plywood was better than cement board.... but after reading posts here I didn't feel this was the way to go. The sales guy felt a little slick to me... but his father was very nice but tried to tell me the other company was only using cement board to jack up their prices. Ironically this company with the plywood was coming in with a higher quote than the company using cement board!

3rd one - uses 1/4 hardiboard. seemed knowledgeable. Significantly more expensive quote... 2 k more than the other two! Didn't seem interested in negotiating either.

I ended up going with number 1. I trusted them the most and liked the idea of using cement board. What do you guys think?

I also heard hardi backerboard was good ....but since number three was astronomically more expensive I went with number 1....we are on a budget, but I want a quality job.

For number 2, I wasn't happy with them using 1/4 inch plywood. Does everyone agree that is not the best way to go?

is hardi backerboard that much better than cement board?

Thanks so much!!!

[Tileman]

Hardie is a cementboard, all depends on how he's installing it and over what.

Stay AWAY from the 2nd guy, he's has NO clue, NEVER use 1/4" ply anywhere where tile is going,

[Tealeaf72]

Hi,

Thanks for your advice.

I currently have vinyl on my floors in one big sheet and I want to take it all off before they do the install. They are saying we can keep it on in the areas that it is not coming up, because they are just pouring cement over it.

Do they install cement board by pouring a thin layer of cement down first and then putting the cement board on top?

If my floors are 3/4 inch plywood is that sufficient? I am not sure if that is what they are. The house is 10 years old.. so hopefully my subfloor is sufficient quality.

Thanks

[Red]

A bit off topic here but why is it that in the U.S. Tiling over plywood seems to be such a big taboo? It's done up here in Canada everyday with great success if it's done properly. As long as the subfloor is stable enough and there is no deflection (I won't tile over plywood unless the subfloor is at least 1 1/8" over 16" centers on the joists), then using proper type mortar to adhere to the wood and it's never been a problem. It is very rare to see any floor tile job done up here over cement board or hardibacker, at least in the west. I know of a lot of installs that I've done over plywood that have been down for over 15 years and are still just fine to this day.

[kwfloors]

Originally Posted by Red A bit off topic here but why is it that in the U.S. Tiling over plywood seems to be such a big taboo? It's done up here in Canada everyday with great success if it's done properly. As long as the subfloor is stable enough and there is no deflection (I won't tile over plywood unless the subfloor is at least 1 1/8" over 16" centers on the joists), then using proper type mortar to adhere to the wood and it's never been a problem. It is very rare to see any floor tile job done up here over cement board or hardibacker, at least in the west. I know of a lot of installs that I've done over plywood that have been down for over 15 years and are still just fine to this day.

Mortar adheres to concrete products better than wood so the pros tell me. I know there are adhesives out now that you can do tile over wood tho.

[Jerry Thomas]

Red, it's just a personal preference with me to use a CBU or Ditra over plywood. Seen too many problems where i live... probably because the wrong type of thinset was used.

[Tealeaf72]

one other questions..... Ihave asked them to use the smallest grout line possible and they will be using an eighth of an inch.

Is there more likelihood of a tile cracking with thin grout lines....because there is less give if any movement occurs?

Thanks!!

[Bud Cline]

The size of the grout line has nothing to do with the potential for a tile to crack. The grout is basically (most times) cement anyway and it won't absorb a lot of "give". If something moves too much somethings going to "give" though. Most likely the grout will go first by cracking and crumbling but that isn't to say tile couldn't crack just as easily.

Plywood of 1/4" has been tested by the industry and found to be unsuitable for a ceramic tile installation. Plywood that is 3/8" passes while 1/4" does not.

Do they install cement board by pouring a thin layer of cement down first and then putting the cement board on top?

Basically YES.

I currently have vinyl on my floors in one big sheet and I want to take it all off before they do the install.

Excellent idea.

They are saying we can keep it on in the areas that it is not coming up, because they are just pouring cement over it.

NONSENSE! The vinyl isn't necessarily the main issue - it's what is under the vinyl that could cause problems.

[Tealeaf72]

Hi Bud, thank you for your input once again... I really appreciate it.

When you say that it is what is below the vinyl that is the problem... what do you mean by that? The only thing below our vinyl is a wood subfloor... the original subfloor. The house is 10 years old so we don't have layers of other flooring. I wasn't sure what you meant by that.

If we take up the vinyl is it really necessary to get rid of all the glue if they are going to be putting down mortar and cement board?

Thank you again!!!

[Bud Cline]

A house ten years old is one that a closer look should be taken at the layers that may exist. Typically a vinyl floor is installed over 1/4" plywood underlayment, therein lies the problem. A little invasive exploration may be in order.

Check this out:

http://www.thefloorpro.com/articles/...l_flooring.php

[Bill Vincent]

A bit off topic here but why is it that in the U.S. Tiling over plywood seems to be such a big taboo? It's done up here in Canada everyday with great success if it's done properly.

That's the problem. I also prefer to install over plywood. However, there's alot more to it than going over CBU, which is why it's so frowned upon. All it takes is one oversight or shortuct, and the floor fails. For this reason, I always recommend that DIYers, and even pros not familiar with proper methods of installing over plywood, shouldn't try it. It's too easy to screw up.