Plywood in tiling

[Ian]

This is a subject that usually causes a bit of a stir but, I'd like to see what everyone thinks. With the exception of replacing floors onto joists, is there really a place for ply in tiling anymore? There are so many better products to use as an alternative to ply. Then there's the question of how thin can you get away with?

 

[martin1c]

Don't even consider it anymore. The job I'm on currently has ply floor but I'm still boarding over it.

 

[Andy Allen]

For some reason builders seem to love the stuff, false walls, boxing in, stud walls.....always made of ply.

 

[John Benton]

I saw a builder fitting a bath made out of ply the other day, fitted loads and never been called back he told me!!!

Not really, but I only use backerboard now, feel more comfortable after seeing plywood damaged by water in the past!!!

 

[rubi man]

Ditra matting over the top job done

 

[Mr Tiler]

I saw a builder fitting a bath made out of ply the other day, fitted loads and never been called back he told me!!!

Not really, but I only use backerboard now, feel more comfortable after seeing plywood damaged by water in the past!!!

a bath made out of ply? a bath?

 

[Ollie02948]

I used ply about 3 years ago on a job. It was a small bathroom floor approx 5sqm. Over boarded with 18mm ply. Customer phoned up about four months later saying floor had hairline crack of about 18inch on a tile. It had done it where two sheets of ply had joined together. I ripped up whole floor reboarded with hardie and then re tiled. It's been fine ever since, I learnt the hard way, I still don't understand why people don't take the advice of not using it.

 

[J Sid]

I know some people on here love the stuff, not me.
Rip it out or Ditra over it.

 

[widler]

I wouldnt use ply, only as a underlay for cement boards.
Ive never used ditra though, how is a mm or so of plastic going to stop tiles cracking if the ply swells ? Wouldnt screwing of cement board be better, at least if the ply gets damp the screws and glue would stop it from moving to much, id not ditra only guaranteed for a mm or so of movement ?
Just curious in my little head that is all !

 

[beanz]

We still use ply, but usually Ditra over the top now. I've had the same problem as Ollie, shrinkage in the ply. There are three reasons I use it over Hardie. It's cheaper (although probably not with the Ditra), quicker, and less harmful to your health.

 

[Peter]

Still tile it regularly for builders. Know which adhesives work and which ones don't so don't mind tiling it. Usually spec backer board for my own jobs though.

 

[PaulSmith]

Which addy's work.... out of interest?

 

[area tiling]

I've ditched plywood all together now , unless am overboarding it with backer boards ! Builders in our we country love it ESP on shower walls, if I have to use it then it's a rubber crumb , 2 part adhesive !

 

[High Peak Tiling]

Not keen on ply, apart from the downsides of the usual problems which arise.
I have found a lot of ply layers delaminates ...

 

[Mr Tiler]

How to tile over marine ply. 365Drills used plyboard to strengthen shower fittings - YouTube this is a cupboard! lmao

- - - Updated - - -

so how bad/good a job is this? he at least tanked it so is that a good job done or a bad job?

 

[beanz]

I don't see the reason for using marine ply!?! What's wrong with strengthening the wall with stud work? Not entirely sure why they haven't tanked the whole shower area either!?!
as for whether the job is any good... Only time will tell. I wouldn't call it good tiling method. I wonder if they used a 2 part addy, or rubbed gear... Lol

 

[Mr Tiler]

lol yeh when he said he tanked the 2 ply areas that's what I thought.

 

[Bob Howard MBE]

Tiling to ply or timber in general should be avoided where ever possible if you are tiling to a timber substrate please refer to BS 5385 Parts 1 & 3. The TTA are currently revising a technical document which refers to tiling to boards and sheets which will include timber and backerboards. Bob Howard MBE

 

[cam_low]

I jackoboard everything I can. Boxing in... Bath panels... Its so light... Strong... And easy to cut!