What Type Of Subfloor For Bathroom

When installing a ceramic tile floor on a concrete subfloor you don t have to worry about flexing as long as the concrete slab is at least 1 1 8 inch thick which most slabs are.

What type of subfloor for bathroom.

Tile floors are especially heavy with layers of cement board mortar tile or stone and grout. The bathroom floor gets wet. By choosing the right material from the start your bathroom will stand a better chance of withstanding long term damage. These are not good choices for a bathroom subfloor as they soak up water and they tend to swell.

Also rotten wood will flex a lot and this will crack all the joints and tear silicone caulk in the corners. Choosing the wrong subfloor for your needs or having one installed incorrectly can have disastrous consequences further down the road. Some form of subfloor is found beneath every type of floor whether it is hardwood carpet cermic tile natural stone vinyl or laminate and choosing the right subfloor material and installing it correctly is the key to a great floor that performs well and lasts for decades. For more information download our pdf about types of subfloors.

Preparation for installing floor tile depends on the type of subfloor in the room you are tiling. A full bathtub is very heavy it needs a solid support. If installed over concrete the recommended subfloor is either 3 4 inch thick plywood or 2x4s and a vapor barrier of either asphalt felt and mastic or polyethylene film is required. That usually means the underlayment and the subfloor also get wet.

So your subfloor must be able to withstand this type of environment if water should get to it. A subfloor is the bottom most structural level of your floor. The floor must also handle the weight of the tub shower tiles and other fixtures. Excess moisture in the subfloor is a common reason for early replacement of bathroom flooring but it can be prevented by choosing the right material from the beginning.

Some engineered wood flooring can be installed as floating floors over a wood subfloor or consrete slab. However you re not out of the woods. Using the right type plywood ensures a long lasting floor. Concrete expands and contracts and that type of movement can also crack the tiles and the grout.

My question is what type of wood should i use for a bathroom sub floor. Because of issues of moisture movement and adhesion ceramic tile will work well with certain types of subfloor underlayment systems and can go dramatically wrong with other subfloor materials. It supports your decorative floor finish whether it s carpet hardwood vinyl laminate or tile. It is important to choose the right type of subfloor for your surroundings climate and purpose as it will have a big effect on the finished result.