Tile question - DIY Chatroom

EZ Rider · 07-03-2008, 06:23 PM

We bought a 20 yr. old rancher and everthing is still original and shows a lot of wear. I want to start updating/remodeling one room at a time. I would like to lay ceramic tile in the entryway and in the bathrooms. My question is this. My wife has severe arthritis and doesn't get around very well at age 51, so I want to do everything with the thought that she may some day be in a wheel chair. She is pretty heavy and since the combined weight of her and the chair would be concentrated on a very small area (sq. inches) compared to someone walking upright, would I be likely to get cracked tiles or grout cracks after an extended period of time? Let's assume that the joists and subfloor are sufficient for normal installation/usage.

Thanks,

Dave

clasact · 07-03-2008, 07:47 PM

you will not have any problem I have had 900 + lbs sitting on an area about the size of a wheel chair on crematic tile for 2 years now and no cracking what so ever just make sure your sub floor is soild

HomeDepot23 · 07-03-2008, 08:56 PM

as long as the mortar used is quality. Each mortar or thinset has a rating of how much pressure it can tolerate.

EZ Rider · 07-05-2008, 11:56 AM

Thanks guys. It wasn't the total weight that worried me as much as the constant rolling effect.......kind of like rolling a small refrigerator back and forth.

26yrsinflooring · 07-05-2008, 05:50 PM

Ditra is an underlayment that is use on the floors of Mercedes benz Showrooms in Germany.

It is user friendly and it will take less than half as long to install than normal CBUs. It will also not add the extra wieght to the floor area.