[wixman]

Hey guys,

I'm very new here (this is my 2nd post) and about to begin my first project - I'm going to be tiling our back porch in our house.

We're actually renting right now but we plan on staying a few more years and we have the landlords permission to tile the back area. The porch is actually a wooden structure that comes out of the main building with wooden steps coming down from it. It's an old house (around 1907) and the porch is very sturdy.

It's carpeted right now, so I'm going to rip up the carpet this weekend and see what's under it...

My plans are to use cement backer board, terracotta tiles and some kind of flexible adhesive & grout. Would this be enough for tiling on wood? Can anyone recommend any products? There's a home depot not too far from us.

Thanks!

 

[fabrk8r]

I'm not going to give you tiling advice, and take my suggestion for what it's worth, but if I were you I would live with the place the way it is and save your money towards the down payment on a home, unless the landlord is going to pay for materials and take the labor off the rent.

You'd be surprised how fast "a few" years will pass.

 

[wixman]

Thanks,

I guess the reasons for wanting to do this are mostly because the porch leads straight outside and there's not really room for a floor mat so the carpet is filthy especially with our dogs coming in and out.

The room is only about 10ft square if that, so I was thinking it would only cost a couple of hundred bucks to tile

 

[oh'mike]

Tiling over wood --outside is usually a problem---however,as a freebie for the landlord and only 10 square feet or so---why not---

Post a picture if you could---tell us where you live (freezing?)-- describe the structure under the floor--

You will get some help----I've made sample boards that big----if the work doesn't last forever it can be replaced.---Mike---

 

[wixman]

We're in Southern California, so no great risk of freezing

Rains pretty hard every now and then. I'll get some photos up of how it looks now - not exactly sure what's directly under the carpet - will find that out at the weekend.

Thanks for the help

 

[Leah Frances]

I don't think tile will help with the dirty dog problem. I would install some closely placed slats/decking that would allow the dirt to sift underneath. Also, outdoor floor-mats help.

- owner of four dirty dogs.

 

[Bud Cline]

oh' mike: "Tiling over wood --outside is usually a problem---however,as a freebie for the landlord and only 10 square feet or so---why not---"

oh' mike,
A room that is "10ft square" is not a ten square foot room,:no: it is a one hundred square foot room. :yes:

wixman, check this out first then we'll wait for the photos.
http://www.diychatroom.com/f84/tiling-steps-102562/

 

[wixman]

it's ten square foot then!

 

[Bud Cline]

So the area is around 3 feet by 3 feet?

 

[wixman]

10 by 10!

and I saw that 'tiling steps' thread earlier. I hope to avoid similar problems!

I'm hoping that cbb and flexible grout/adhesive will be enough.

I'll have to see what's under the carpet...

 

[oh'mike]

oh' mike,
A room that is "10ft square" is not a ten square foot room,:no: it is a one hundred square foot room. :yes:
.
http://www.diychatroom.com/f84/tiling-steps-102562/

Well--------------------I'm a bit dull witted today.

Still,I think with all of our brain power and cleverness--we can come up with a solution that will satisfy the OPs needs and the landlords free gift.

At least Long Beach California doesn't have freezing to worry about.

Wixman---Need pictures of the structure---With Bud on board and maybe Jazz our combined 100 years or so of tiling experience , we might figure something out for you.---Mike---

 

[Bud Cline]

With Bud on board and maybe Jazz our combined 100 years or so of tiling experience , we might figure something out for you.---Mike---

I'm sure we can "git 'r' done" but it appears the math may be a stumbling block for some.

wixman: "10 by 10!"

Oh-o-o-o-kh-a-a-a-a-yh, So now we are back to 100 square feet again.

 

[wixman]

You know, after some thought I think it's probably more like 6x6 (36 square foot) - i'm not sure if I can lie down in there so it can't be 10x10. I'll measure it up tonight, and take some photos of the structure - then this saturday I'll get the carpet up

 

[Bud Cline]

You know, after some thought I think it's probably more like 6x6

Ah-h-h-h-h! The plot thickens.

I'll measure it up tonight, and take some photos of the structure - then this saturday I'll get the carpet up

We'll be waiting!

 

[wixman]

Ok... it's 7ft x 6ft so I wasn't too far off with my 2nd guess...

this is the room itself (also, meet Watson and Greta):

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5268/5659581389_e5d79bf603_z.jpg

and here it is from the outside:

this is the underside:

this is the step leading into the rest of the appartment:

also here are a few problem areas that will require some extra tile cutting:

 

[Blondesense]

Do all three doors swing into that porch area?
Keep in mind this could possibly be another complication as the CBU and tile will most likely raise the height of the floor.

Sheet vinyl is another alternative you might consider. With such a small area, remnants are very reasonable.

 

[wixman]

yes! all 3 doors do swing in. 2 of the doors are definitely raised off the ground, but the main outside door isn't.

This is actually something I was thinking about a little, and the main reason we didn't just get an indoor floor mat.

Is there any way to work this out? I kinda had my heart set on tile

 

[Blondesense]

I've taken down interior doors with a circular saw, but with the threshold and weather proofing an exterior door is a lot more challenging. I've never messed with one.
I'm gonna pass on this and hope one of the guys can help you.

 

[oh'mike]

The framing under that floor looks like 2x6 to me---I think you are a little light to be able to tile without fear of early failure----Let's see what Bud and Jazz have to say----Mike----

 

[Bud Cline]

Great pictures and great detail, thank you.

Now we need to know the size of those floor joists and the length of the (floor joists) span that is unsupported.

And here is the first bad news:
You are going to also need some plywood on that dimensional lumber before any cement board is put down. Probably not less than 5/8" but 3/4" would be better.:thumbsup:

Doors can be cut off if need be.