How much subfloor 'dip' is acceptable?

9216 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by RDS, May 1, 2009

RDS

Discussion Starter · Apr 30, 2009 (Edited)

Sorry if this has been covered in other threads -- I can't find it.

In my bathroom, currently under DIY remodel, I've got new 3/4" plywood on top of 16" o.c. 2x10 joists, with the longest unsupported joist span only 5 feet. (Not sure if any of that is relevant to my question but I thought I'd throw it in there.)

Running a long level over the finished subfloor I see there are a couple of spots where it dips 1/8". I'm wondering if that's enough to worry about. I'm planning to put in 12x12 ceramic tile.

My plumber has offered to do the tile floor and said he'd do a 'mud job', which I gather would obviate any need to worry about the dips.

But I'm also thinking of trying it myself, with 1/2" Durock as underlayment. (I know, everyone likes Kerdi, but I need the height and I've used it before, though only on walls.) If I go that route, are 1/8" dips enough of a problem that I'd have to get out the self-leveling compound and fix it before putting in the underlayment, or would the mortar in which I (gather I'm supposed to) embed the underlayment deal with that amount of 'dip' adequately?

I'm probably being exessively anal but I want to make sure. After all this work I'll kill myself if the tile cracks because of voids under the underlayment.

Thanks for help.

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RDS

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 1, 2009

Thank you both, that's helpful.

I think my joists are fine. The wood is hard as rocks. The old mud floor that I removed only had one crack, between joists, where the old subfloor had been compromised from below. Otherwise pristine after 68 years. That suggests to me that the joists are solid.

You're right, JazMan, I will fix those dips with SLC.

I will give some more thought to the underlayment. If I were to put down more ply, as you suggest, am I correct to think I should avoid having seams in the same places as the seams of the 3/4"? Should my fasteners for the second layer penetrate all the way to the joists, or only through the existing layer of plywood?

Honestly I think I would go the Ditra route if I could find someone around here who'd install it. Maybe I'm asking the wrong people but it doesn't seem to be widely used around here.

Thank you again.

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