No matter how firm the subfloor.
Installing vinyl tile on plywood subfloor.
The plywood will expand and contract at a different rate as the tile causing cracks to develop in the grout lines or tiles over time.
When you install your vinyl on a wood subfloor the top plywood should be a minimum of 1 4 thick.
A subfloor is the bottom most structural level of your floor.
A plywood layer is not necessary if you are putting down wood laminate.
Our plywood is really old and cracked so i was concerned that it would be too absorbent so i chose not to mop the plywood but we always mop the concrete.
Installing ceramic floor tile to a plywood sub floor has unique challenges beyond that of installation on a concrete floor.
While you can lay tile directly over a concrete slab using thin set adhesive don t make the mistake of applying tile directly to a plywood subfloor.
Preparation for installing floor tile depends on the type of subfloor in the room you are tiling.
To level a subfloor for installing laminate follow the directions above to remove high and low spots.
Do not line up the second layer with joints in the first layer.
Buy the product recommended by the tile manufacturer.
If your wooden subfloor is in really rough shape install 1 4 in.
Step 3 prepare the subfloor.
The basic premise for any surface is the same.
Because you can install sheet vinyl over existing vinyl it offers the option of changing design without breaking the bank.
For most subfloors you will need to add an extra layer of wood.
In most cases 4 by 8 foot sheets of particle board or plywood must be installed in preparation for the vinyl floor install.
This will allow you to lay lvt over all sorts of surfaces.
After vacuuming or sweeping the subfloor to clean it add a plywood layer if the subfloor is in very bad shape but do not overlap the sheets.
Arrange the plywood on the first layer of wood.
Plywood underlayment over it.
Another option is to install a vinyl underlayment.
Vinyl flooring is usually not installed directly over the subfloor in residential applications.
Simply nail the sheets of underlayment to the wood sub floor and make sure everything is covered.
To do this measure and cut the plywood to fit your room.
It supports your decorative floor finish whether it s carpet hardwood vinyl laminate or tile.
If the subfloor is perfectly smooth plywood then you could install the vinyl directly to it.
How to lay self stick vinyl floor tiles.
The goal is to have a wooden subfloor consisting of two.
This will cause either the tile itself to crack and even come loose or cause the grout to crack inside the joints.
Assess the condition of the wood.
For more information download our pdf about types of subfloors.
Plywood or osb flakeboard can expand and contract at too high a rate to be a stable foundation for tile.
