Porcelain tiles on plywood what kind of glue. Laying tiles on plywood yourself. Tile laying methods

When working with tiles, many specialists refuse to use a concrete screed, which acts as a rough covering. An interesting alternative is styling ceramic tiles on plywood. In this case, you can eliminate rather labor-intensive dirty work, as well as reduce time costs, since you do not need to wait for hardening concrete mortar, and immediately, as soon as the plywood sheets are laid, work with the tiles.

Laying on plywood - great choice for wooden and frame houses, as well as situations where there is no time or opportunity to perform screeding. Using plywood sheets, you can qualitatively level the surface by laying it on the logs. They are also recommended to be laid on top of a finished concrete floor to improve heat and soundproofing properties floor.

In terms of labor intensity and complexity of work, there are no differences with laying on concrete, the main point is right choice plywood sheets and preparation of the base.

What plywood to use

The range of plywood sheets available for purchase is quite extensive. It is important to choose the right material on which ceramic tiles will subsequently be laid. Here are the main recommendations:

1. The sheet thickness should be from 28 mm. IN in some cases it is possible to choose thinner 22 mm plywood (provided that the tiles are not too heavy). If plywood sheets are laid on logs, then the minimum thickness of the material increases to 30 mm. These are the requirements that will allow the plywood to support the weight of the tiles and not deform.
2. The grade of plywood does not have special significance. Since the material in in this case is rough, then it is permissible to choose low-grade sheets (3 or 4). But it is better to refuse rejection with an abundance of defects and obvious manifestations of unevenness.
3. It is better to give preference to the FC brand. It's environmentally friendly pure material, which does not highlight harmful substances and is suitable for residential use. The choice in favor of FSF is acceptable when it comes to cladding industrial facilities or premises with high level humidity (provided there is good ventilation, this option of plywood is acceptable).
4. The linear dimensions of the sheet are not particularly important, since it is usually divided into smaller squares.

How to lay tiles on plywood correctly

Before you start tiling work, you need to choose the right one adhesive for laying tiles on plywood. The traditional composition is not suitable for concrete foundations. It is better to choose silicone or two-component adhesives that are designed for moving bases. Parquet adhesive is also suitable for these purposes.

• To prepare plywood sheets for tiling work, its surfaces are cleaned and leveled. The best option- grinding;
• To fix the plywood, either nails or self-tapping screws are used;
• then a primer is applied to the resulting base, and if the room is damp, then additional waterproofing is performed;
• The process of laying tiles is practically no different from classic version with a concrete base. First, the solution is applied in an even layer to the plywood, then the first tile is laid - ideally from the corner. For better fixation, you can lightly tap the ceramics in the corners or press down with your hand. The work uses traditional crosses, allowing you to maintain the required jointing distance;
• The grout can be applied immediately after the glue has hardened (optimally 3-4 days after installation).

Select suitable plywood for subsequent tiling work you can in the Plywood Monolit online store.

Publication date: 09/15/2015

Ceramic tiles have been one of the most popular flooring solutions for residential and commercial spaces for many years. It has many advantages, including attractive appearance, the ability to choose a pattern and color, strength, reliability, durability, resistance to many types of mechanical loads and impacts. Ceramic tiles can be laid not only in bathrooms, kitchens and corridors, but also in living rooms.

Tiles laid on plywood

Floor tiles vary not only in color and pattern, but also in the material used. Today, such tiles are made from ceramics (tiles familiar to many), porcelain stoneware (especially durable, but also expensive tiles), vinyl, and natural stone.

Before you start renovation work When installing such a floor covering, you must immediately decide on what base it can be laid, what conditions must be observed and how complex the complex of preparatory work is.

Now we will try to answer a question that is very relevant for apartments in old multi-storey buildings, where the base is most often leveled using ordinary plywood sheets. But the question is: is it possible to put tile covering directly onto the plywood layer?

Tile laying options: which base is suitable?

First, let's decide on what kind of base floor tiles can be laid and what conditions must be met for this. Experts recommend laying floor tiles only on a carefully leveled and solid base. Most often, such work is performed on a concrete floor, but it happens that you have to lay tiles on a plywood base.

1. Laying on concrete is considered the most the best option, since here you can quite easily level the surface cement screed in a relatively small layer. But there are also disadvantages here: the base must be waterproofed and a layer of primer applied. More often than not, it is recommended to build a deck made of adjustable plywood.
2. The tiles are laid on the old tiled flooring. This option is possible, although not recommended by experts, due to the fact that the load on old tiles may cause it to crack. Therefore, new flooring will stand on an unstable foundation and will soon also be badly damaged.
3. You can lay tiles on wooden floor which may be the most various designs, but it’s smarter to do it on plywood. That is, as we see, laying on a plywood base is not only possible, but in some cases it is desirable.

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Conditions for laying on a plywood base

So, the tiles can be laid on a plywood base. But for this you need to follow some prerequisites so that the quality of the work performed is high and the coating itself is reliable.

The main problem with laying tiles on plywood is that such flooring is heavy, so the base must be designed to support such a load. The thickness of the plywood must be at least 18 millimeters, the sheets must not be fragile or have defects.

The fastening of the sheets under the tiles must be reliable, otherwise vibrations will occur during operation, and in places where there are constant deflections, the tiles will simply begin to crack. As a result, in a couple of years you will have to redo everything again, and it is unlikely that you want to get a similar result.

When laying on plywood, one more important condition must be observed: it is recommended to divide large sheets into separate fragments, which are best fixed with self-tapping screws. Such fragments can be placed with slight offsets so that the seams are staggered. You should not skimp on self-tapping screws: each sheet should have at least nine pieces, and they must be fastened not only at the edges, but also in the middle of the sheet to ensure proper load distribution.

If you plan to lay tiles on joists, you must remember that the thickness of one plywood sheet should be from thirty millimeters with a step between lags of forty centimeters. Only such conditions will ensure proper rigidity and strength.

If the floor begins to “walk” during use, the tiles will begin to peel off very quickly.

After the plywood has been laid on the base in the proper way, its surface should be sanded and cleaned of debris, and covered with a special waterproofing compound.

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Laying stages

Let's now look at how you can lay tiles using two-component adhesive on a prepared and cleaned base. Modern adhesive composition, created on the basis of polyurethane, eliminates any deformation and cracking.

It is recommended to start laying tiles on a plywood base from the second row, so that you can then trim the edges as accurately as possible and lay the first rows. This coating will look neat and beautiful. This method is suitable for almost any installation option. We begin installing the tiles from the far corner, moving towards the exit of the room.

Each row is checked for evenness using building level. The glue must be applied first to the floor surface (no more than one square meter), and then to the underside of the tile using a small notched trowel. The glue layer should be uniform and not very thick.

The tile is pressed against the surface for a few seconds, after which you can begin laying the next one. While the glue has not dried, the position of each tile can be adjusted, but it is best to first apply markings to the floor surface, according to which the installation will be carried out.

Adjacent tiles should be separated from each other using special crosses, which ensure the evenness of the masonry and connecting seams. The tiles can be laid with seams of any thickness, but it is better if they are up to three millimeters in size - this will provide greater aesthetics.

After installation, a day later, the crosses are removed and the joints are filled with grout, the excess of which can be removed with a clean napkin.

Having started do-it-yourself repair, it is not always possible to foresee all its nuances. Sometimes this process becomes unpredictable due to various circumstances and presents us with surprises. It happens that sometimes a particular type of work cannot be carried out in strict accordance with the requirements of the technology. And then home handyman you have to think about how to combine 2 materials that are considered incompatible with each other.

Today we will talk about ceramic tiles and plywood. Some will say that it is stupid to even try to lay ceramic floor tiles on a plywood surface, but I would like to point out that this is not entirely true and exists real way, which we will consider below. Laying tiles on plywood can be done by both professionals and on our own. Which method to choose is a personal matter for everyone. However, in the second case you can save a lot. Decide for yourself what is more acceptable!

Laying ceramic tiles on plywood: technological features

In what case would this method be most appropriate? Of course, if the house is built of wood, or using technology frame construction. This design option is quite lightweight, and if there is also a wooden floor (high-quality logs), then flooring from boards can be made quite quickly, without incurring large financial and labor costs.

Now about. This material, as a type of finishing, is very widespread. It is used for both walls and floors in rooms for various purposes, from the bathroom to the living room. The ideal surface for its installation is, of course, concrete screed. But in the absence of such, laying ceramic tiles on a plywood sheet is also possible. Laying floor tiles on plywood or wall cladding: all this is done using almost the same technology.

Even professionals in this matter take advantage of this opportunity and do not neglect laying tiles on a plywood surface. True, the complexity in this case increases slightly. And the process itself is practically no different from installing tiles on any other type of surface. What is the difference between this method and others? Everything is very simple: preparing the base for laying ceramic tiles.

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Nuances of preparing the base

So, let's start with the fact that the plywood base must have a thickness of at least 22 mm, and when it is laid on logs, it increases to 30 mm. This is necessary to give good rigidity to the base; it is this that will ensure the quality of the entire further procedure and will not allow the tile to move and crack.

1. To reduce the so-called surface stress, in this case it is a plywood sheet, it must be divided into 4 square parts.
2. Only after this can you begin to secure it to the joists or wooden floor. This is done in a checkerboard pattern. A floor made of planks or parquet is also suitable for attaching plywood to it.
3. Please note: if the plywood sheet is fastened to joists, then they should have gaps of no more than 40 cm. This is important! This plywood floor will be of high quality.
4. And also, when fastening plywood using self-tapping screws, do not skimp on their quantity. Since their more frequent arrangement will make the plywood floor more rigid and help it not to sag.
5. And this, in turn, will reduce the degree of possible vibration of the base sheet. If you secure the sheets in this way, then in the future you will not expect surprises in the form of cracked slabs.

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When laying a plywood base, it is necessary to control its strictly horizontal position using a building level. Only in this way will the plywood floor fully meet the requirements for the surface intended for laying tiles. And if we talk about tools, you may also need:

• screwdriver;
• roulette;
• marker;
• hammer;
• jigsaw;
• spatula;
• tile cutter

If you have sheets of thinner plywood than recommended above, you can use them, but in 2 layers. When performing this type of base preparation, make sure that the seams of these 2 plywood layers do not coincide with each other.

To give a greater degree of rigidity to such a two-layer plywood base, an adhesive composition is used, gluing the sheets together, and in addition, the top sheet of plywood must also be fixed using self-tapping screws.

Due to the fact that plywood is susceptible to the effects temperature conditions and humidity, experts recommend not fastening it end to end. It would be most correct to leave small gaps of approximately 0.5 cm between the sheets of plywood.

The distance from the wall to the plywood should be at least 1 cm.

This gap can be filled using polyurethane foam or fix the baseboard.

Before proceeding to the direct installation of floor tiles, the plywood surface must be thoroughly cleaned of dust and other contaminants, and then leveled. For this purpose, a procedure such as grinding is used.

At the moment when you fasten the plywood using self-tapping screws, do not forget that their caps need to be slightly recessed into the base, only in this form they will not interfere with the subsequent sanding process.

After finishing sanding, clean the surface again, this time using a vacuum cleaner and a damp sponge. At the next stage, the surface is primed: this procedure will be especially high-quality if it is performed twice. This option will help you provide additional waterproofing and enhance the protection of the wood base.

If you plan to lay ceramic floor tiles in a room with a high degree of humidity, such as a kitchen, bathroom, etc., then it is best to purchase sheets of plywood with moisture resistance characteristics for arranging the base.

Regardless of whether you are finishing the walls with ceramic tiles or the floor, you will need to apply a waterproofing layer, and only then lay out the tiles. For these purposes, you can use a ready-made waterproofing composition. It can be liquid or it can have the qualities of a powder.

Only after the primer and waterproofing layer have completely dried does it become possible styling ceramic tiles.

Situations arise in which it is necessary to lay tiles on plywood. This process is necessary when replacing flooring or adding walls. Physical characteristics Plywood base coverings differ significantly from those of a concrete base. Therefore, the laying of tiles will be different.

Advantages and disadvantages of the procedure for installing a tiled covering on plywood

Beginners are wondering: is it possible to lay tiles on plywood? For experienced professionals this is not challenging task. But the procedure as a whole is relatively complex and intricate. The tiling technique is the same, but there are differences in the preparatory stage.

Laying tiles on plywood covering has the following advantages:

• speed of work;
• low mass characteristics of the base, which is well suited for wooden houses on foundations with low strength parameters;
• no need to perform labor-intensive and expensive work on the installation of a concrete or cement-sand base for the coating;
• It is possible to lay tiles on plywood floors in rooms with wet operating conditions (baths, toilets).

Despite positive aspects plywood flooring under a tiled covering, you need to take into account its disadvantages:

• You cannot install a “warm” floor system on a plywood base;
• there is a need for additional waterproofing measures for rooms with conditions high humidity;
• The thickness of the plywood sheet must be at least 22 mm.

Preparing the surface for a plywood base

Before laying plywood, you need to perform the following preparatory measures:

• remove old finishing putty from the surface;
• clean the base from debris and dust;
• seal cracks and joints between the floor and walls using cement-sand mortar;
• in the case of a rough wooden floor, additional antiseptic measures must be taken;
• install the necessary beacons using a building level.

You can replace the level with a line drawn on the wall along the entire perimeter of the room. It will indicate the level at which the plywood sheets should be laid.

Preparing the base for plywood flooring

Fastening plywood onto joists with a thickness of 30 mm. With this value of the thickness of the base, the required rigidity is ensured, at which the mounted tile cannot crack or vibrate.

To eliminate stress on a single sheet of plywood, it is divided into several parts. They are then fixed to plank floor or a checkerboard lag system. If it is necessary to lay the substrate on the joists, the gaps between them should be within 30–40 cm.

When laying plywood flooring, there is no need to limit the number of screws, since their more frequent spacing minimizes the deflection of the plywood and reduces its vibration. The screws must be screwed in so that their heads are recessed into the plywood. This should be done to prepare the base for floor and wall tiling.

During installation plywood base, you need to regularly check its horizontalness using a building level.

Situations often arise when it is necessary to use plywood with a smaller thickness. What to do in this case? Use thin material It is possible, but in several layers. You need to lay out the squares so that the seams of the bottom layer do not coincide with the top ones. To obtain the required hardness of the plywood base, the sheets are fastened together and secured with self-tapping screws.

The process of laying plywood base

The base slabs must be placed with certain gaps between each other and distances from the walls:

• the gap between the sheets must be at least 5 mm;
• distance from the edge of the plywood to the walls - 10 mm;
• The gaps then foam.

Before laying tiles on a plywood base, it must be leveled with a sander and cleared of debris.

The sanded surface becomes dust free, because laying tiles on plywood without preliminary preparation practically impossible. This procedure is performed using a vacuum cleaner, damp rag or sponge.

Then activities are carried out to additional protection And plywood base(padding):

• the primer should be applied in two layers;
• in the case of premises operated in conditions of high humidity, the slab must be moisture resistant;
• but before attaching the tiles to plywood on the floor or walls, the base is still subjected to additional measures waterproofing;
• In this case, a special composition is used as a waterproofing material.

After the primer or special waterproofing composition has completely dried, the preparation stage of the plywood base is considered complete. Next, the stage of installing tiles on plywood begins.

Installation tiles on plywood

How to lay tiles on plywood? This is possible if you comply next order actions:

• mark the base;
• prepare the adhesive composition;
• lay in even rows using special delimiters.

Marking

It is necessary to apply the required markings to the surface of the plywood. It is performed in accordance with the previously selected pattern (in a checkerboard pattern or diagonally).

With a conventional arrangement, the position of the first and next row should be noted. This is necessary so that after completion of the work it is possible to carefully trim the rows to make connections directly to the walls. Laying should be done from the far wall to the entrance to the room, this will make it possible not to walk on previously laid tiles.

Preparation of the adhesive composition

A special glue is used for the work; surface preparation usually does not cause problems.

The glue is prepared in small volumes, but sufficient for the installation of one square meter surfaces. The composition is applied directly to the prepared plywood surface, preferably in a thin layer, because the strength of the future cladding depends on it. The tile is pressed against the base and holds for several seconds.

To maintain neat laying of tiles, you need to constantly check the evenness of each row using a level and apply rubber hammer to correct installation. Such measures are necessary to ensure that the tile covering is even.

Panel laying process

When laying tiles, it is best to use special dividing crosses, with the help of which the thickness of the seams is adjusted.

The tiles laid using these tools have an aesthetic appearance and are easy to use and maintain.

The result of work done correctly should please you throughout many years operation of the coating. The question of how to lay tiles on plywood is not difficult if you follow simple rules tiling devices.

When people want to lay some surface with tiles, they are interested in the result being extremely smooth and aesthetically pleasing. With each such repair, the question arises - how much primer is needed before laying the tiles? Previously, people often resorted to laying tiles on cement mortar– the wall/floor treatment was completely carried out regular glue PVA type. Times have changed, mixtures have become more reliable and of higher quality. Specialized solutions are sold in different construction stores in exceptional diversity. Is it worth resorting to them when finishing the next room, or can you do without them? Or do you need a primer for the floor under the tiles?

About the primer

A primer is a special composition that is usually applied to the floor/wall before the actual process of laying tiles. Its main tasks include improving adhesion between the cladding and the base. There is also an improvement in water-repellent and antiseptic properties. In some cases, when the base is metal, there is protection against corrosion, so the question of whether it is necessary to prime the floor before laying tiles does not even arise.

The mixtures are produced on the basis of various high-quality components that combine film-forming properties. These are drying oils, various resins and other similar components, varying each time. Modern soil mixtures are technologically advanced, diverse, and highly reliable; there are many options for which primer to use before laying tiles.

Should I prime the floor and walls?

This question is for experienced craftsmen may seem incorrect, because the role of primer in any modern repair and decoration work is very great. Do I need to prime the floor before laying tiles? Almost always yes. If the surface is loose, porous or crumbling, this process is mandatory; there is no doubt about the need to treat the floor/wall. Dense concrete base or properties similar to it do not need to be primed, although it is advisable to do so. A number of reasons make this process important. She:

• Helps strengthen the surface by playing a binding role. The composition will densely saturate the pores, significantly strengthening its structure, making it less dependent on dynamic/static loads. A primer for walls under tiles in the bathroom reduces the sedimentation of bacteria.
• Reduces the consumption of material used for subsequent processing. This is especially true with ceramics, but is also true with painting and wallpapering.
• Improves grip. The adhesive component will stick to the treated wall/floor better than to the untreated one, so the layout will be of better quality. It is important to consider the combination of the type of soil and the adhesive component used.

Choice

There are several types of primer compositions used in residential areas. They are similar in application, but have different properties and characteristics.

Important: try not to take cheap soil. Such soil is easily determined. It is quite easy to identify from the packaging, where there will certainly be a text warning about the potential need for reapplication. If this warning is present, the need for reapplication arises in the vast majority of cases. But it will not be of such quality. This primer for tile adhesive is not optimal. It’s better to overpay a little for soil than to get insufficient quality results.

Main types:

The choice depends on your specific needs and the characteristics of the floor/wall you intend to work with.

The compositions may differ in their properties - some are designed for deep penetration into the material being processed, others improve “adhesion” without providing such impregnation. It is necessary to read the instructions for use before working directly with the mixture.

For different materials

When you work with different materials, then the requirements for primer compositions may vary greatly, and the technology for working with them may also differ.

How to wash?

Let's figure out how to wash the primer from the tiles. You should start with a regular wet rag. If the mixture gets into a place where it is not needed just now, there is a chance to wash it with regular warm water, to which you will add soap. Rub thoroughly; the primer may come off the ceramic. Try not to miss a minute, absorption occurs quickly. You can cover the stain with damp cloths for a couple of hours and try again. If this method does not help, take special remedy for cleaning plumbing fixtures. What cleans sanitaryware should also cope with ceramic products. A good option is windshield wipers.

If there is more difficult situation and time is lost, you need to resort to a special foam cleaner. It is necessary to soak the resulting stains, then remove them with a scraper.

If there is no cleaner available, any available solvents found in the house will do, preferably alcohol-based ones. This can be gasoline, acetone, turpentine, kerosene and other options. If all else fails, you will have to remove the stains from the tiles using a special scraper with a rubber blade. An undesirable option, but a necessary one.

But try not to let the soil get on the ceramic; it is usually quite difficult to remove the stain.

Always follow the instructions when preparing the mixture, because it is usually sold as a concentrate, which must be diluted strictly according to a certain rate.

Laying tiles on plywood yourself

Always pay attention to the specifics of the concentrate, as you may not be purchasing a mixture general purpose, but a special one that will be suitable for specific highly specialized conditions. As an example, a primer for bathroom tiles should provide greater bactericidal protection due to high humidity.

After the mixture has dried, perform an initial check by running your palm over it. If it smudges, it’s worth reapplying the primer; if not, you can proceed to laying out the tiles. It is better to apply the mixture using a soft roller. The differences in unevenness should not exceed 10 mm.

Laying tiles on plywood

Before laying tiles on plywood, you need to prepare the base.

Specifics of laying ceramic tiles on plywood

Laying tiles on plywood involves using plywood laid in two layers so that the tiles lie evenly on the base and do not peel off. Thus, the minimum thickness of plywood is 2.2 - 2.8 cm. Even better, to increase the overall strength, plywood glued in two layers is suitable. In addition, the plywood should be secured very tightly to the base to minimize deformation.

Preparing the base

The plywood needs to be sanded and cleaned. Any surface for tiles must be level. Two layers of primer are applied to a perfectly flat and smooth surface. After you apply a coat of primer, you should wait until it dries for five hours, then do the same for the second coat. If laying tiles is done in the bathroom, then the plywood must be treated before applying the primer special solution for waterproofing.

You should choose an adhesive that is designed for problematic surfaces (plywood, drywall). Before purchasing it, read the instructions to make sure that this mixture is suitable for working with plywood surfaces and your type of tile. In addition to traditional tile adhesives, special two-component polyurethane adhesives can be used.

Laying tiles

Laying tiles should begin from the second row, since the first row will be trimmed to the right size and it fits into the very last place. It is recommended to install the first tiles on the farthest wall of the room. The horizontality of the laid tiles must be constantly checked by a level.

For some time, until the glue has hardened, the tiles can be adjusted to achieve the desired result. To accurately align the seams, crosses are installed between the tiles. The size of the seams, as a rule, is 2-3 mm, but if the room has high humidity or constant temperature fluctuations, the seams can be increased to a size of 5 mm.

The adhesive mixture dries within 2-4 hours, so it is better to prepare small portions. To stir the glue, use a special mixer to achieve homogeneity of the glue mass. Tile laying is also done on small area at a time within 1 sq.m. The glue applied to the surface of plywood and tiles will begin to set within 20 minutes. Therefore, all manipulations for laying and adjusting the tiles must be done during this time.

The final stage is grouting, but in this case it is no different from the usual tile laying procedure.