![]() Modified thinset is often used for tiling walls, over plywood for better adhesion, high-traffic areas and spaces that will get wet (like a shower). If that hadn’t been the case, they would have shifted the layout (perhaps centering a grout line in the doorway).įor this install, Rick and his crew are using a modified thinset mortar which has a latex additive that makes it stickier and stronger. Steve maps out the floor and finds that a staggered layout works well because it avoids thin, small tiles around the perimeter. ![]() Pro-Tip: Shower heads are roughly 82″ off the shower pan, and most layouts avoid running decorative tile at that height.įor the floor, installers often center a tile in the doorway. Pro-Talk: A listello is a narrow, decorative tile that add visual interest to a wall. With that input, Steve can approximate the location of features like the shower shelves and glass listello. Plan Layoutīefore starting, Steve spoke with the homeowner about various tile layouts. Steve’s crew achieved that by installing the Fir plywood which is an acceptable underlayment even though Rick prefers concrete board. He also targets at least a 1-1/8″ thick subfloor. When possible, Rick likes to verify the subfloor framing, and for joists spaced more than 16″ oc, he suggests using Schluter Ditra which is a waterproof, uncoupling membrane. For soft-stone tile, such as limestone or light marble, the L-720 formula applies (cutting the maximum allowable deflection in half). This formula is useful for most ceramic, porcelain, and hard stone. ft., plus any long-term deflection due to the weight of the floor.įor example, the maximum deflection for a joist span of 15′ is / 360 = 1/2″. For the rest of us, the Tile Council of America offers a standard formula called L/360.ĭivide the total span of the floor joists (in inches) by 360 for the maximum amount the floor can give in the middle under a live load of 40 lb./sq. Many professional tilers (like Rick) can judge a floor’s deflection by feel alone. You can reduce deflection by adding extra layers of underlayment like plywood or installing additional supports under the floor. The goal is to provide a flat surface with minimal deflection (bounciness). It’s very important to have a properly prepared subfloor because otherwise, the tile will crack and come loose in no time. Check out our Project Guides to see all the completed how-tos. Every Pro-Follow comes to you from a real job site, chock full of real pro tips. If you enjoy our Pro-Follows and learning how professional contractors complete home improvement jobs, subscribe to our email or RSS feeds and never miss an update. Rick brings over 30 years of experience, and coincidentally Rick is the contractor that tiled my master bathroom several years ago. At this point, the bathroom is ready for tile, and Steve called in Rick Smith and his crew to tile the shower and bathroom floor. Last time we left off, Steve Wartman and his crew had finished installing the bathroom fan, and the previous day they had hung concrete board in the shower and Fir plywood over the subfloor. Welcome back to our latest Pro-Follow update.
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