It is often thought that problems such as cracking and lifting floor tiles are due to cheap tiles being used. However, in many cases, this is not true and the main reason is due to how the tiles were installed initially.
Below are a few tips of what to do to ensure the best results when tiling onto a wooden or concrete floor.
✔️Ensure you are tiling on an even surface
✔️Tile on concrete that is dry and dust-free
✔️Always use the correct adhesive
✔️ Ensure the surface is clean and free of oil and grease
✔️ For optimal results ensure the surface is stable and secure
✔️ Apply adhesive across the surface of the tile
Assess the Surface
Before considering the tiling of your floor, you need to assess the surface the tiles are to be laid on.
Is the surface wood or concrete?
Is the surface clean and free from dirt and dust?
Is there any movement in the surface?
Tiling on a Wooden Surface
Most wooden floor surfaces have a degree of movement and therefore will need to be secured before tiling can begin. The best way to achieve this is to cover the wood surface with plywood. To comply with British Standards the plywood needs to be at least 15mm thick.
Alternatively, you can use No More Ply boards which are a cement fibre construction. They are superior to plywood boards, are BBA-approved plus they come with a 25-year guarantee. At only 6mm thick they also do not raise the floor level as much as plywood.
Tiling on a Concrete Surface
Make sure the concrete flooring is free from loose or broken areas and is level and dry. Newly laid concrete needs at least 6 weeks to dry and if you are using a screed or self-levelling compound on an existing concrete floor, this will take approx. 3 weeks to dry.
Correct Adhesive
All adhesives have helpful information on our product pages such as mixing ratio, setting times, coverage and suitability for use. Always use full coverage of adhesives on your tiles as dotting and dabbing can leave voids that could cause a problem later on.
For wooden floor surfaces which have been covered by plywood or No More Ply, use a cement-based flexible adhesive and grout for fixing your tiles to counteract any slight movements that may occur over time.
For concrete floor surfaces, any rapid-setting cement-based adhesive suitable for floor tiles will do the job. If you are installing underfloor heating, you will need to use a flexible adhesive.
If you are tiling onto any surface that is not wooden or concrete, we advise you to seek professional guidance before starting your project.
We hope this helps with your tiling projects, don't forget our expert support team is always here to help!