Lay the tiles on the plank floor. How to lay tiles on wood floors: an overview of basic installation options. Bonding on a special mixture

On a wooden floor will require significant effort in the preparation phase

How to lay tiles on a wooden floor yourself: difficulties and features of the process

Generally speaking, ceramics are far from the best option for combining with wood. This is due to the different characteristics of these two materials:

wood tends to change its size as a result of external factors: with an increase in humidity, the tree expands, with a decrease, on the contrary, it can dry out. In many cases, this leads to deformation of the tile covering and the appearance of cracks;
unlike tiles, wood is highly susceptible to all sorts of destructive processes and is much inferior to the service life of ceramics. Therefore, it is often possible to face a situation when, due to the destruction of the wooden substrate, it is necessary to dismantle the tile;

the tile covering, together with the water-repellent glue, blocks the oxygen access to the wood, which is necessary for the full service of the wood. As a result - a significant reduction in the duration of the base's service life;
only the lightest tiles can be used for laying on top. Otherwise, its weight will be too heavy for the wooden base and over time the tiles will fail.

So, can you lay tiles on wood floors? Can. But this is a rather complicated process. If you are still confident in your decision to put ceramic tiles on top of a wooden floor, be prepared that you will need to put in a lot of effort. But the result is worth it, so let's move on to preparing the foundation. Let's consider step by step how to lay tiles on a wooden floor.

Helpful advice! It is strongly discouraged to lay tiles on top of a wooden floor that has not been installed at least two years ago. This is fraught with cracking during shrinkage.

The main requirements for carrying out these construction works are as follows:

provide oxygen access to the lower layers of the coating (wood);
evenly distribute the permissible loads over the entire surface;
ensure the immobility of the base.

In order for all these points to be observed, it is necessary to plan the order of work and follow the outlined plan. It will also be useful to watch various videos on how to put tiles on a wooden floor.

Assessment of the condition of the coating: can the tiles be laid on the wooden floor?

The first stage involves a thorough examination and assessment of the condition of the wooden base. To do this, it is best to remove the top boards and carefully examine all structural elements: beams, logs, each board on both sides, insulation, etc.

For any signs of damage, it is imperative to replace or repair the base area. What you should pay special attention to:

the presence of rotting. There are many types of rot, so you need to carefully inspect the surface. Regardless of the type of fungi that give rise to this process, the wood softens, changing its color or texture. The check for the presence of rotting elements is carried out as follows: an awl must be inserted into any fragment that arouses suspicion in you. Easy penetration is a reliable indicator of destructive processes in wood. All affected elements must be eliminated, and the adjacent parts must be treated with special antiseptic agents for wood;

carpenter beetle larvae. These insects destroy wood, gnawing through many passages in it. To solve the problem, the same approach is used as in the first case - replacement of the damaged area and careful treatment with a special compound.

Most of the destructive processes for wood develop as a result of high humidity. Therefore, installing tiles on a wooden bathroom floor requires special attention. In dry rooms, the development of fungi can occur as a result of a violation of the integrity of the insulating layer. Given these factors, it is worth carefully checking the waterproofing materials for damage. You may need to add an extra layer.

Helpful advice! Fungal spores are found in almost any wood. The only way to prevent them from spoiling the floor is to carry out high-quality treatment with antiseptics and create the most unsuitable living conditions for them.

If none of the above deficiencies were found on your floor, or you have already eliminated all existing defects, then you can lay the tiles on the wooden floor.

How to lay tiles on plywood: preparatory stages of work

Before you start preparing for laying ceramic tiles on a wooden floor, you need to make sure that the distance between the joists does not exceed 50 cm. Otherwise, you need to install additional supports, otherwise the structure may not withstand the weight of the coating and fall through. As a useful source of information, you can use the videos presented on the network: how to put tiles on a wooden floor is discussed in them in sufficient detail.

Helpful advice! Do not forget to treat all new wooden elements with antiseptics.

Next, you need to check how even the logs are, for which the building level is used. As a rule, in the process of shrinkage, irregularities appear due to uneven subsidence of wooden parts. All these defects must be eliminated by cutting off unnecessary elements with a plane, or vice versa - additional lining of small pieces of bricks or any other material. If it is not possible to push the missing element under the bottom, you can fill an additional board from above, trimming it to the required height.

After leveling, it is necessary to treat the coating against fungus and bacteria. To do this, use the product with the longest possible interval between repeated treatments and follow all the recommendations specified in the instructions.

The most common surface treatment before ceramic tiles is laid on wooden floors is hot drying oil. For high-quality protection, it must be reapplied several times (up to five). The product is a completely natural, environmentally friendly impregnation. Each next layer of drying oil is applied after the previous one has completely dried. You can make sure that it is dry by touching the surface - it should not be sticky.

The main thing in the process of processing linseed oil is not to let it cool down, because its antiseptic effect directly depends on the temperature: the hotter it is, the better it destroys larvae, spores and bacteria. In addition, in a hot state, drying oil is more liquid and can penetrate deeper into micro-crevices.

Helpful advice! Heating drying oil is an unsafe process. Its vapors can be flammable, therefore it is strictly forbidden to place the container on the stove. While heating the septic tank, hold it over the stove and, just in case, prepare a piece of tarpaulin that can be used to extinguish the ignition source.

How to Lay Tiles on Wood Floors: Cleaning the Planks Needed

If all previously removed boards are in satisfactory condition, they can be reinstalled, after having previously cleaned of the old varnish or paint with which they were covered. This can be done while you are waiting for the antiseptic solution to dry completely.

The following methods can be used to remove varnish and paint residues from the surface of the boards:

construction hair dryer, set to a temperature of 200-250 ° C. A stream of hot air must be directed at the paint, as a result of which it will begin to bubble up. Use a spatula, knife or scraper to remove it. In some sources you can find recommendations on the use of blowtorches, but this is not a good idea. There is a high probability of overheating of wood, and, as a result, deterioration of its technical characteristics;
chemical washes are gel-like mass and are sold in almost all hardware stores. Such a remover must be evenly applied to the surface and after a while removed with a spatula along with softened paint. The only drawback of this method is the considerable cost of the material when it comes to processing a large floor area;
mechanical cleaning involves peeling paint off the surface with a spatula or sandpaper without the use of auxiliary materials. It is cheap but very time consuming. A grinder will help speed up the process at times.

If, after removing the coating, you find any defects that were not noticed before, it is better to replace the damaged areas. In addition, all boards are subject to an antibacterial treatment. After the impregnation is completely absorbed, you can start laying the sub-floor under the tiles.

How to lay ceramic tiles on wood floors: sub-flooring

The process of sub-flooring begins with the laying of an insulating layer. The material you choose must be non-absorbent. This will keep the tiles dry and prevent bacteria and fungi from growing there. Also, the material should have a minimum weight in order to create as little stress as possible.

Extruded polypropylene foam can be considered a suitable option. Due to its synthetic origin, it prevents the development of any living organisms on its surface. True, this material also has disadvantages: it does not allow air to pass through well and has a considerable cost.

Alternatively, you can use expanded clay. It is natural and conducts air perfectly. However, it has more weight and a more hygroscopic structure.

Whatever insulation you prefer, it must be laid out on top of the layer

Mineral wool was used as insulation for the flooring.

If you want a warm floor under tiles on a wooden floor, then in this case it is better to seek professional help. The installation of the system is quite complex and requires a certain level of skill.

When all boards are laid and secured, they can be putty and then smoothed using a sander. All cracks must be sealed with polyurethane foam. It is resilient enough to allow the wood to expand, while also supporting the weight of the tiles and glue.

Ceramic tiles are placed on a specially prepared base. It must be distinguished by a high level of strength and reliability, because it must be able to withstand a lot of weight. The best option, perhaps, may be a leveled base made of concrete screed.

Is it possible to put tiles on a wooden floor? The masters will unequivocally say: “Yes”. However, we must not forget that wood is a living material and is highly dependent on environmental influences, which imposes special requirements on the preparation of the base. So, start by preparing your foundation. The amount of work to be done directly depends on the condition in which the wooden floor is located.

Work begins with checking the quality of the foundation. Ideally, the boards should not bend or creak, should be flat, and should not have dents or grooves. The type of future coverage also matters.

How to assess the condition of the coating

A correct assessment of the wood flooring can only be carried out if it is "bare", that is, without a paint and varnish layer. There are three options for removing paint or varnish:

thermal. The surface is heated up to about 600 ° C using a building hair dryer, after which the paint and varnish layer can be easily removed using a conventional spatula;
chemical. Dissolve the paintwork using special compounds or solvents
mechanical. The layer of varnish or paint is removed using power tools with metal attachments, such as brushes. The cleaned surface is sanded with sandpaper.

It will be much more convenient to work if the emery is first screwed onto a small block.

After cleaning, the condition of the floor is assessed.

The first sign of poor floorboard condition or lag is noise and squeaks when walking. Before putting tiles on a wooden floor, they should be removed using the following technology.

The condition of the beams is checked. If there is mold or mildew on the surface, it must be replaced.
Adjusting the sub floor level. For this, special gaskets are installed under the logs.
Warming. It is done if the level of heat loss is high. As a material, you can, or mineral wool.
Possible replacement of the rough coating. Before laying the tiles on a wooden floor, it is necessary to check its ability to withstand mechanical stress. An alternative to standard boards can be fiberboard or particle board for the floor. It is important that they have a moisture-proof impregnation.

How to lay the tile on the floor with your own hands if its wooden surface is not adapted for the adhesive composition? In order to avoid premature destruction of the rough base, direct contact of natural material with glue or concrete mortar must be prevented. This can be done in several ways.

Often, floor boards change their configuration during operation. To level the floor surface, you can increase their clamping to the beams by hammering in a few additional nails.

Formation of a damper layer

The main problem with this type of substrate is its thermal expansion. Under the influence of external factors, it can change its size or curvature. Therefore, it is impossible to put tiles on a wooden floor without installing an intermediate layer.

It should have a soft base to compensate for possible floor movements. Most often, rubber or a similar material is used for this. The upper part has a hard surface. You can put the tiles on the floor correctly on it without fear of possible shifts.

Post-installation technology consists in performing the following actions:

Fixing the damper base.
Pouring concrete screed. Its minimum thickness can be 2 cm. Wait until the screed is dry before placing the tiles on the wooden floor. This process can take 7 to 20 days.
Installation of ceramic decorative elements is in progress.

The advantage of this technology is the minimal likelihood of movement of the wooden surface. The disadvantage is the increased floor height. If this indicator should be minimal, it is necessary to put the tiles in a different way in the bathroom, kitchen or hallway.

To remove moisture, an air gap is left between the insulation and the floorboards. Its size is usually 7 to 10 mm.

Preparation of the base

Good condition

Let's say the evaluation showed that everything is in order with the subfloor. Then chipboard sheets are laid on top of it, providing for deformation gaps between the surface of the flooring and the wall.

The chipboard layer is treated with a special impregnation or heated drying oil. Heat the drying oil very carefully, as it is quite flammable.
The deck must be reinforced. First of all, latex is applied. The latex layer is assumed to be thick enough. It is more convenient to do this with a wide brush. Without letting the latex dry completely, a paint net is laid out on it
When the structure is completely dry, the mesh is additionally secured with self-tapping screws so that it adheres more tightly to the floor.
It remains to carry out additional leveling of the surface. There are several options for the mixture: simple, or home-made, the main component of which is large-format sand and water in a ratio of 2: 2: 1. It is impossible to continue installation work immediately, since it is possible to put on a wooden floor only if the previously prepared surface is completely dry.

Satisfactory condition

This category includes floors in which there are no special claims to logs or roughing boards, while the topcoat responds with a creak when walking and slightly bends. How to carry out the work in this case, how to prepare the foundation? The sequence of actions is as follows:

dismantle the old finish coating and underlay.
it is assumed that the old base does not creak and it can be left, having previously leveled: the subfloor must be carefully lifted and the joists must be leveled using a level.
wooden surfaces are impregnated with various compounds, antiseptics, fire retardants to prevent premature deterioration.
when the impregnation dries up, the interlag space along the entire height is filled with fine-fraction expanded clay.
lay the floor on self-tapping screws, keeping a gap of 3–9 mm between the boards. The wooden one is sealed by spreading the impregnated parchment paper over the surface, after which a substrate of gypsum fiber board or particle board is laid. The sheets are staggered and fixed with self-tapping screws with a pitch of 150-200 mm. A prerequisite is the presence of a gap between the flooring and the walls of about 10 mm, which is filled with polyurethane foam.
the final stage is a primer. It must be dry when proceeding directly to the installation of a tiled floor on a base of wooden elements.

Bad condition

The floor is completely dismantled and the joints between the floor and the wall are sealed. For example, you can lay a cement-sand screed. Before the screed hardens, liquid glass is applied to its surface.
The concrete floor is primed and then leveled along the lighthouses. The alignment process is performed in a specific sequence:

markings for beacons are performed according to the level, laser or water. They are installed at a distance of 0.9–1.0 m from each other with a minimum distance of 100 mm from the wall;
lighthouses are attached to plaster marks;
the leveling mixture is poured.

Screed options

After the preparatory stage for adapting the wooden floor for the installation of decorative coverings, they begin to pour the screed. It will serve as the basis for the final formation of the plane. One of the conditions is whether the minimum weight, as it can affect the strength of the plank surface.

At first glance, filling with a dry screed would be the best option. It is easiest to put the tiles on the floor on it with your own hands. However, one must take into account the height of the base, which is formed due to the wooden flooring. Therefore, summarizing the above, we note that in the case of a wooden floor, such indicators are achieved in three ways:

classic cement screed. It is laid in a thin layer - only 30 mm, so that it does not overload the wooden flooring. The screed is poured onto a metal mesh, fixed with self-tapping screws to the subfloor. To reduce the likelihood of cracks appearing during the drying process, the surface must be moistened with water from a spray bottle;
universal glue, the main component of which is liquid glass, or polyurethane. And in fact, and in another version, it has a denser structure than a concrete mixture. In small rooms, tiles can be laid on a glue base on a wooden floor without prior arrangement of a screed. In addition, it has a good elasticity index, and can compensate for temperature shifts in the base without damaging the decorative surface. The solution can be prepared by yourself - for this you will need cleaned sand, water and liquid glass. The proportions are 1: 2: 2;
in rooms where the percentage of moisture is low, another option is used - DSP or GKLV. They are laid "at random" at an angle of 30 ° to the direction of the location of the rough boards. Laying tiles on the bathroom floor using this technology is prohibited.

Installation can only be started after the base has completely dried and hardened. If it is additionally installed, it must be disabled at all stages of preparation. Including - during the laying of tiles.

Regardless of the type of concrete screed chosen, it is necessary to install a damper tape around the perimeter of the room.

How to lay the tiles correctly

Installation of a tile covering involves the implementation of processes in the following sequence:

make surface markings,
prepare an adhesive composition,
laying tiles
rub the seams.

There are several styling methods:

diagonally,
at a run
parallel,
with a specific pattern.

As a rule, the desired option is chosen before the start of installation work and the floor is marked in accordance with it.

To begin with, find the center of the room: connect the midpoints of opposite sides with a coated cord and draw lines. The center will be at the intersection of these lines.
The next step will be the direct laying of the ceramic floor. The layout is performed taking these lines as a reference point. Installation begins with a right angle at their intersection. The adhesive solution, prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions, is evenly applied to small areas of the prepared wooden floor with an area of about 1 sq. m. using a spatula or a special spatula. Glue is also applied to each floor element separately, then the rough side is pressed against the base.

Putting each one, check its horizontalness and compliance with the level of adjacent tiles. The height of the masonry is regulated by the thickness of the glue. To make it fit better, you can slightly tap on it with a special rubber mallet.

Laying is continued until the entire area with the applied glue is finished, adhering to the marking line. Not everyone has the skill to ensure the evenness of the seams, therefore, it is recommended to insert construction crosses between the individual elements of the coating: two on each side. Having finished one half of the room, they move on to the second.
There are cracks near the base of the walls, which are sealed with pieces of tiles cut to size.
The canvas is left to dry for a day and covered with a primer.

When buying floor ceramics, be sure to read the instructions first, as some models already have a primer.

The last stage is grouting. In all inter-tile gaps, apply evenly with a thin line. To do this, use a scraper, which has a rubber pad or spatula. In the latter case, an acute angle of the instrument is used. Excess mortar is removed with a damp sponge while it is still fresh, then the surface is polished dry.

Additionally, watch the video instruction.

Expenses

How much does the work usually cost? Prices may differ, but in any case it will be more expensive than arranging a tiled covering on concrete. This is due to the costs that usually accompany the preparatory phase. As for the immediate final stage - directly laying the tiles, then its price can also vary. The cost depends both on the material used and on the method of installation. The most expensive is the floor, lined with a pattern, or from an exotic type of material.

You can learn about the features of laying in rooms with high humidity from the video.

Tile is widely used as a laying material in the bathroom and in the kitchen. Therefore, its installation is one of the most frequent types of installation work. Most often, the tiles are installed on a concrete base, but there are not standard situations in life and it becomes necessary to lay tiles on wooden surfaces. How to put tiles on a wooden floor and whether it is possible we will analyze in the article.

Wood and ceramics are practically incompatible with each other. Their operating conditions and characteristics are too different. Therefore, if you want to combine these two materials, you will have to puzzle additional work to create a comfortable environment for each material.
The tree reacts sharply to changes in temperature and humidity. In cold weather, it swells. And in the summer, on the contrary, it dries up. Those. it turns out that the floor is constantly "walking". Such movements can affect the tiles. The glue will begin to loosen, and with it she, which will lead to the fact that it can rise or even crack.
The weight of the tiles is quite heavy. The tree may simply not be able to withstand it.

In addition, the facing coating does not allow air permeability, which is so necessary for a wooden base, this will lead to the formation of microflora and, as a result, decay, which will also result in tile movement and loss of appearance.

Another criterion in favor of stacking is the service life. Tiles will live much longer than wood, and the latter needs constant renewal.
If, despite all the difficulties, you are still tormented by the question of whether it is possible to lay tiles on a wooden floor, then the answer is yes. But careful preparation of the wooden base will be required, and this is a waste of your time, effort and money.
Therefore, think carefully before starting work if you need it. The only option when such an option is not possible is the wooden covering no more than three years old. In this case, she has not yet had time to fully adapt to all conditions, and in addition, she can still sit down. In this case, any repair work on the floor is not possible.

Tiling technology

If you still stand your ground and want to lay the tiles, then get to work. The installation process will consist of several stages, the largest of which is the preparation of the base.
Laying tiles is not an easy process that requires careful measurements and some knowledge. In principle, anyone can cope with the preparation of the base, but in terms of labor intensity, this process takes much more time.

Required tools and materials

Before starting directly to work, it would be nice to stock up on everything you need. First of all, take care of buying tiles. Depending on the permeability of the room, its wear resistance class is selected. The hallway has the highest traffic, so the class needs the most durable - 4. For the rest of the rooms it is possible to have a smaller one.
The tile is laid on glue, which means you need to purchase it as well. The modern market offers many different options, but the most important criterion is dry and ready-made mixtures. If you have repeatedly encountered kneading, then you can save money and buy a dry one, but if you are dealing with this type of work for the first time, then we advise you to buy a ready-made composition.

A lot depends on the glue, and if the dosage is incorrect, you can ruin everything.

What else is needed during the installation process

Floor preparation

Above, it was said that the preparation of the base also depends on how the facing coating will lie. Therefore, you should not neglect any of the points of this stage.

Remember that installation is only possible if the age of the wooden base is three years old. First you need to inspect the base for defects. It is necessary to inspect not only the boards themselves, but also the logs under them. This means that the floor will have to be opened.
After you have lifted the boards, carefully inspect the logs and beams. If there are places of decay somewhere, then these elements must be removed and replaced with new ones. Rotting must not be allowed. This will make the floor even less durable and there is a risk that after the tiles are laid, the entire floor will simply collapse.
The lags should be installed in increments of no more than 50 cm. If the distance is greater, then additional elements will have to be installed. The distance between the lags affects the strength of the structure. The wood flooring may simply not be able to support the weight of the tiles.
Check the evenness of the structure with a level, all the logs must be at the same height. If there is a discrepancy somewhere, you can put a wedge or a piece of plywood.

When everything is in order, treat the wooden elements with an antiseptic compound against the formation of rot and mold, which will increase the service life.

The free space must be covered with expanded clay. If one already exists, then it is quite possible to leave it. They used to love to lay glass wool. Here it is necessary to get rid of it in any case and replace it with expanded clay. The expanded clay layer is leveled by the rule, it should be two centimeters below the lag level.
After that, proceed to inspect the boards. If they have been painted, then the paint must be removed without fail, you can heat the paint with a construction hairdryer or remove it with a special solvent. Examine the planks for rot. If the lesion is small, then you can get rid of rot with sandpaper, and then treat it with a primer. If the percentage of defeat is very high, then the board needs to be replaced.
After that, all boards are covered with a soil composition on both sides. After the composition has dried, you need to fix the boards on the logs. This can be done using self-tapping screws. The hat should sink a little, and not protrude on the surface. After that, the tree is treated with linseed oil or latex impregnation.

Deck leveling

Before placing ceramic tiles on a wooden floor, the base must be leveled. This can be done in two ways: dry and wet. The dry method is a more common solution. Sheets of moisture-resistant plywood are simply laid on the flooring. The lightness of the structure does not put pressure on the base. Plywood sheets can be laid on logs or fixed with self-tapping screws. Then the joints between the sheets are treated with a sealant and the entire area is primed. The wet method consists in pouring a cement screed. The layer thickness should be significantly less than when poured onto a concrete base. No more than 3 cm. Wooden flooring may simply not support the weight. At the same time, it makes no sense to make a smaller thickness, since then the screed will not be strong. After the screed is poured and dried, the surface is treated with a soil composition.

Laying tiles on a wooden floor

After all the preparatory measures have been completed, you can finally proceed with the installation of the tile itself. How do I lay tiles on a wooden floor? First, the markup is done. Even an experienced specialist will not dare to lay the tiles "by eye". Find the center point of the room and draw two lines through it: horizontal and vertical.
Then try on the tiles. Lay it out in exactly the same sequence as the drawing goes. The layout goes from the center to the edges. At this stage, you need to cut the tiles for the required areas. If everything fits together, then the tiles can be removed.
Knead the glue if you have a dry mixture or open a ready-made one.

You need to mix the composition clearly according to the instructions. Much depends on its quality: no lumps and bubbles.

The glue sets quickly enough, so do not spread too much at once. Rinse the nozzle each time, otherwise you will not wash it off of the glue. The adhesive is applied to the substrate with a notched trowel and leveled. The tile is laid on the glue, press it lightly, but not hard. Keep a sponge handy to immediately remove excess glue. Check the first tile in level so that it is even, and level the rest on it.

This fills the entire room. Insert crosses at the joints between the tiles so that the seams are even. It is not necessary to completely drown them; only one end can be inserted. This will make them easier to reach.

After the entire perimeter of the floor is covered with tiles, it must be left to dry completely. You cannot walk on the surface. When the glue has dried, crosses are taken out and the seams are filled with putty. Then the tiles are cleaned of excess putty.

Things to Remember

Laying tiles on a wooden base that is less than three years old is impossible;
If you are pouring a concrete screed, its thickness should be exactly 3 mm;
Repair of the wood flooring is required. If you do not check the joists and beams, this can lead to the destruction of the floor;
The primer is needed not only as a better adhesion, but also as an antiseptic. Processing boards, logs, beams, concrete base, plywood sheets is a must.

Tile has long been considered a good facing material. It is used today in commercial and residential construction. There are many types of tiles.

It can compete with any coating with its patterns, textures, colors and other external characteristics. Its main advantage is durability, excellent fire-resistant and water-repellent properties.

Laying tiles on a wooden floor

Tile is most commonly used for bathroom or kitchen cladding. Craftsmen increasingly began to use it in work and living quarters. Is it safe to lay ceramic tiles on a wooden floor, how effective is it?

Many tile manufacturers declare that their products should not be placed on wood. The plank base does not guarantee strength and rigidity for the structure.

If a movable wooden floor begins to rot, the concrete screed on it will begin to crack in a situation when the boards begin to sag. Then the tiles will collapse, and cracks will begin to appear in the floor.

New techniques are now emerging that allow tiles to be laid on a wooden floor. In this technique, the quality of the preparation of the base plays an important role.

Preparing a wooden floor for tiles

At the beginning of the workflow for laying a new floor on top of the old floor, it becomes important to correct the defects and shortcomings that the previous coating has. The key point when choosing a tile is a wooden base with a high level of rigidity and strength.

Floor preparation

The process of preparing a wooden floor can be divided into the following stages:

First, the entire wooden floor must be sorted out, the boards that are flawed, rotten or cracked, we remove. The frequency of installation of lags should correspond to their bearing capacity. The weight of the floor together with the tiles will be increased several times.
After dismantling and bulkheading the floor, check its evenness. We use a level that can measure the horizontal lag. With such a check, you need to leave a gap of 10 mm between the rough base and the walls. These gaps are insulated with polyurethane foam. To give the floor resistance, expanded clay is used, which will increase the energy efficiency of the floor and will be an excellent sound insulator.
Then the wooden base is laid. You can use boards in good condition, plywood with a thickness of at least 12 mm. Such plywood is well suited for a tiled floor in the form of a base, it will be able to withstand its weight.
All remaining rough coating and logs should be treated with special chemical impregnations, which will clean them from rot and fungus.
We fix plywood and boards, providing ventilation due to the presence of gaps between them, having a width of up to 5 mm.
Waterproofing made of bitumen, parchment or plastic foil is laid on top of the rough base.

We mount the base under the tiles

Laying tiles on a wooden base

There are three methods of installation under the base tile. Each of them has its own technology:

The first case is the use of a conventional screed, which is light and thin. For this, a metal mesh is used, attached with self-tapping screws to the subfloor using beacons. Then the cement screed is poured, its thickness is approximately 3 mm. Self-leveling screed can be used.
The second case involves the use of a base made of polyurethane adhesive with a liquid glass base. After drying, it forms an excellent moisture barrier. Such joints are adapted for laying the tiles on top of a wooden floor. It can support a lot of weight.
The third case is the installation of cement-bonded particle board, moisture-resistant gypsum fiber or drywall on the waterproofing. It is recommended to use from these materials - gypsum fiber. This material is distinguished by its insulating properties, ductility and greater strength. The flooring is attached to the rough surface with self-tapping screws. It is important to avoid overlapping floor elements and gypsum fiber joints. The seams of the base are glued with special means. Then the slabs or sheets should be covered with a primer until completely dry. This option is good when laying tiles on a wooden floor in a wooden house.

Laying steps

When the base for the tiles is prepared, it is necessary to check its horizontalness with a building level. Then the tiles are laid.

Laying steps:

Preparatory work.
Markup.
Sticking.
Styling.

The preparatory work consists in the correct calculation of the amount of material. Often they take into account up to 10% of the area reserve, in comparison with the total area of the room. It is important that at this stage the acquired ceramic tiles are truly floor tiles, not wall tiles. These two types of tiles are similar to each other, but fragile wall tiles are not suitable for flooring. It also has no anti-slip effect.

Then the tiles should be laid out in the room over the entire area in order to assess the appearance of the future floor externally and determine the places for pipe holes and other communications.

It is necessary to check whether the height of the new floor allows the opening of the doors. Otherwise, you will have to change the height of the doors, outweigh them on higher hinges before installing the tiles on the wooden floor.

So that there is no air in the tile, it is soaked in water for 15 minutes. If the tile does not withstand such a procedure and stains form on it, then the surface of the tile should be cleaned with a damp brush.

Layout and preparation of glue

It is necessary to make the markup in such a way that fewer cut tiles have to be used when they are placed near the walls. When laying diagonally, you will have to cut a lot of tiles, and laying along the wall is carried out, starting from the opposite side to the entrance of the room.

If, according to the design decision, a special drawing is supposed, then it is necessary to act according to this plan. It is important to take into account the requirements for the optimal floor height, communications and other preparatory nuances.

Then the glue is prepared. Tiles are laid on a wooden floor using special cement glue. For its manufacture, use ordinary water, purchased dry powder and a certain amount of plasticizers.

Such mixtures have a short drying period (no more than 4 hours), so the glue must be used immediately or prepared in small portions. For a high-quality glue consistency and good styling, it can be mixed with a construction mixer.

Apply the adhesive in even stripes using a notched trowel. The application begins in the center of the room, in one of the corners. For each tile size used, a separate trowel size must be selected. The trowel teeth should be 30 to 40 times smaller than the width of the tile.

The glue dries up in a fairly short time (about 15 minutes), so it should be applied on about 1 square meter, and the tiles should be applied immediately.

Laying on a wooden floor

Features of glue for laying tiles on wood

When tiles are laid on a wooden floor, they should be pressed against the adhesive using a rubber mallet. The fit is sealed with light blows. Each area of the surface of the treated edges must be covered with tiles. Then another area of the room or the next square meter is processed.

First, whole pieces of tiles are laid on the wooden floor. Then they begin to fill the free space near the walls. The required tiles can be cut with a special tile cutter.

After installation, the floor is cleaned with a rag to remove the remnants of the glue. Wait for drying within two days, then the seam joints are closed. They are rubbed with fugues, which gives the floor a more aesthetic appearance.

The joint is applied with a rubber trowel using diagonal movements. All seams must be filled, then the remains of the fugue removed. After 30 minutes, the fugue is dry, and the floor should be wiped with a damp cloth, and after 1 hour with flannel. Then the tiled floor on the wood floor is ready.

The coating is completely identical to the tile, which is laid on a concrete screed. It is quite durable if no mistakes were made when processing boards, plywood and logs. Treated wood can serve for a long time as a base under a tiled floor. It also guarantees good thermal insulation.

The impregnation of the wooden floor, the use of special compounds and expanded clay improve the reliability of the tile covering, which eliminates its own shortcomings. Even the simplest floor will be an excellent base for laying floor tiles on wood.