How to keep tile floor level with laminate?

farang

I am redoing the floor in my living room / kitchen with laminate wood.

My foundation is just a slab on grade with 2x4" sleeper joists and then 3/4" plywood T&G subfloor, on which I will lay an underpad for the laminate wood floor and then the wood floor itself.

In front of my main entry door in that same room I want to do tile. I am planning on doing a simple 3'x5' area so I can use a single sheet of Backerboard.

How do I keep the finished top level of the tile flush with the top level of the wood? The backerboard is 1/2" and the tiles are 10.5mm thick. Add in the two layers of thinset and I am about 3/4" above the level of the laminate wood floor.

I was thinking I could cut away the 2"x4" sleeper joists in this 5'x3' area, and instead use 1"x4" which will give me the 3/4" back.

Is this the right way to go about this?

joecaption

1/4 tile board is used on floors not 1/2"

DannyT

is that 3/4 plywood subfloor or boards 4-6 inches wide?

farang

3/4" plywood

DannyT

when i tiled my kitchen i was butting up to 3/4 inch hardwood and i used ditra under the tile and it came out within a 1/16 of an inch level with the hardwood. the ditra is 1/8 thick and they also make one 5/16 thick i believe if you need a little more height. which one you use would depend on how thick your laminate is. here is the link to the ditra. you would not need the cement board if you use the ditra. the ditra gets attatched with thinset the same as the tile.


http://www.schluter.com/2080.aspx

Duckweather

I don't think 1/4" will support the tile without cracks. Best would be cut out tile area replace 2x sleepers with 3/4" pt boards and 3/4" plywood gives you back the 3/4" and standard installation.

JetSwet

Cement board is not for support but for bond/ filler, your support is the plywood which shouldn't be PT inside the home nor only 3/4" ya need more ply since there only sleepers 16" apart.

farang

Thanks for the info.

I already have the sheet of backerboard in 1/2" so I think I will just make it work instead of driving 45 minutes to the store.

oh'mike

Your choice----45 minutes is a long time to achieve a level surface

__________________
New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--

farang

It will still be level