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Subfloor for basement slab for tile?

1799 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  Bob Mariani
I am going to tile my little 5x6 bathroom in the basement which is new construction and ahd some questions. What kind of sub floor should I use or do I need one? The basement is dry and has been for the past 10 years I have owned it. There is a slope to the floor as all do going towards the drain. I have read about many options but wanted everyone option. I was thinking that I could just screw 2 sheets of concrete board to the floor and mortor away again I would have to use smaller tiles beacuse of the pitch. I have seen some rubber 1/8 stick mat stuff at the local HD but at $56 bucks for some squishy stuff seems a little high. Thanks for any responce.
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The squishy stuff is Ditra. It is the way to go. It will act as an isolation membrane to separate the movement in the concrete from the tile job. And it will act as a moisture barrier. both are needed for a floor over a concrete floor. And neither are provided with your CBU method.
Gotcha that is what I thought. I'll go with the membrane. It just seemed that you would want a more solid surface for tile. I was really looking for a rubber membrane but they all thought that i was loony when I went to the local HD. Thanks for confirming my thoughts. They suggested the zipping the CBU to the floor and not use the adhesive backed roll of subfloor. I thought they were crazy. Thanks.
Gotcha that is what I thought. I'll go with the membrane. It just seemed that you would want a more solid surface for tile. I was really looking for a rubber membrane but they all thought that i was loony when I went to the local HD. Thanks for confirming my thoughts. They suggested the zipping the CBU to the floor and not use the adhesive backed roll of subfloor. I thought they were crazy. Thanks.
They just wanted company. These guys have no clue. Read the directions on using this stuff.
Jeeper,

Listen to Bob. You can NOT install a CBU to concrete. Even if you could, why would you? The only reason to use any CBU on floors is to give you a cementitious surface to install tile to. You already have a cementitious substrate.

Although it may not be an absolute must, I too recommend Ditra....I use it all the time.

You are obviously new to tile forums! Otherwise you'd know that you DO NOT ask technical tile questions of the nice people that wear vests....regardless of the color.

Once installed, Ditra is very solid, yet allows lateral movement so that the tile work is not damaged. You gotta watch the video.

Jaz
hi, all i;m a newbie to the site and some what of a diy type of guy but , i am a machinist trade so i should be able to tackle this. i have a room that is an exstention of the house which would make a very nice room but the floor is concrete . i was just going to get some plywood and a nail and nail the plywood to the floor then tile the floor and call it a job well done. any advice would be most helpful. and thanks.
hi, all i;m a newbie to the site and some what of a diy type of guy but , i am a machinist trade so i should be able to tackle this. i have a room that is an exstention of the house which would make a very nice room but the floor is concrete . i was just going to get some plywood and a nail and nail the plywood to the floor then tile the floor and call it a job well done. any advice would be most helpful. and thanks.
There is no need to place plywood over concrete to install tile. Now you have to install Cement Backer Board (CBU) over the plywood and you are back to concrete like surface. Just do as posted above and use Ditra and not the plywood. Be sure your concrete floor is flat and has no sealer or paint on it.
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