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diddy · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 4 Location: nottingham

Is it o.k. to tile onto wooden floorboards.

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4659 Location: Bath

Never a good idea, the normal practice is to cover the floor with pre-shrunk hardboard.

What sort of tile had you in mind.

scruff.

diddy · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 4 Location: nottingham

It was ceramic tiles in the bathroom.

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4659 Location: Bath

For ceramic and marble tiles.

You should first skim the floor with a floor leveling compound, there is a plastic sheet material, semi rigid with holes all over it specially made for the purpose, which is excellant for your project, ask at your local tile specialist shop, they should have it in stock or be able to order it for you.

scruff

diddy · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 4 Location: nottingham

thanks

peterchamp · Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 5 Location: London

This is all a bit late but if someone is still interested...really the key is the floor should be made as rigid as possible.

Here's what worked best for us in our kitchen (we had to do it twice because the first time the tiles came loose):
- screw down all the floor boards firmly; just walk around feeling for movement (watch out for any pipes under your floor!)
- firmly screw down a sheet of water resistant plywood on top (the thicker the better but at least 6mm); try and keep the sheet size to a maximum i.e don't cut lots of little pieces because it just won't be rigid
- waterproof the surface with diluted PVA adhesive

For the tiling:
- use a flexible adhesive which takes more time to cure but will stop the tiles coming loose

A firm like ToppsTiles can give you advice as well as sell you what you need (no, I don't have shares in them).