Comments on: Can I tile over roof felt paper without worrying about plywood underlayment expansion?

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:30:59 +0000

If you need to you can staple the roofing paper and wire lath down, then pour a thin layer of concrete down to accept your tile. I do not recommend it though. People have been setting tile on plywood for years because they didn’t know any better or they did not have concrete boards back then. I would use a 1/4" concrete board for your floor then tile over it. They make transition strips for such applications to help with different floor levels. The Tile Counsil of America has a hand book that shows all of the proper applications for installation. You can look this up at the link I will provide to you below. You can also find the transition strips at the other site i will give you as well.I recommend that you look into the installation guidelines and follow them. You will be wasting your money if you do not install your flooring correctly.

http://www.tileusa.com/ For the Tile Counsil of America
http://www.schluter.com/index.aspx For your trim and transition strips.
References :
http://www.schluter.com
http://www.backsplashandfloors.com

By: stretch

stretch — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:07:59 +0000

I agree with ICBTW with regard to adhering the tile directly to the felt paper. You must adhere the tile to a solid, sturdy and stable sub-floor. My question is why can’t you tile directly over your plywood sub-floor. Provided you haven’t removed a layer of flooring, it should already be according to code, meaning it will support the added weight of the tile. You may have a seam where the plywood meets in your foyer, but the layer underneath your top layer, can’t have a seam in the same place as the top layer. In other words, seams on two layers of flooring can’t be in the same place.
Notwithstanding any rot, or damaged flooring, you could apply your thin-set and tile directly on the wood floor. I’ve done that many times and the tile floor turns out fine. Backerboard is fine, but if it raises the flooring higher than required, I wouldn’t use it. Folks have been tiling over plywood for a long time with good results. If you have any doubts, surf the net, or check out a book on tiling. I have one by Michael Byrne that is very comprehensive.

Main thing is to ensure subfloor is as thick as required to support the weight.

good luck
References :
DIY tiler

By: I cant believe this website

I cant believe this website — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:48:59 +0000

You can't tile directly to the roofing felt. You would essentially just have a tile floor that is just stapled to the plywood and won't last long enough to grout. The roofing paper would work as an isolation membrane but will not supply the tile with a properly adhered substrate. There are isolation membranes you can use that will only raise the floor a 1/16, but will add to the install cost. They do make a 1/4 inch backer board if that helps to keep from raising the floor to much. Good luck with the project.
References :

By: Don S

Don S — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:03:59 +0000

Layng tile directly on a wood subfloor, (regardless of how stable you think it is), is never a good idea simply because it moves enough to break your glue bond and grout lines. Putting roofing felt over the seam is a band-aid that will serve no purpose. A cement backer is the only way to assure that your tile will stay in place. They do now make a thin 1/4" board that I have used with good success.
References :