tiling onto hardboard?

[l sharp]

Hi all i'm new to all this and need some advice from people in the know I have purchased some beautiful high quality porcelain floor tiles and have 2 different surfaces to tile onto. The first is chipboard flooring the second in hardboard glued very well onto concrete. Can i tile onto hardboard? Should I put plywood over the top of the hardboard prior to laying the tiles? I have also uncovered a manhole cover. None of this has phased me but just wanted some advice. Thanks lisa

 

[Tony73]

rip hardboard off i'd say. chipboard is also not good to tile on to.

 

[DHTiling]

You have a lot of preparation work there Lisa, not a straight forward project, you also have the issue with tiling to two different substrates..

 

[Tony73]

hardboard off and lay Ditra Matteverywhere first, and then tile

 

[mattle40]

What are the levels like where the two surfaces meet, if there's a step its a little tougher but if they're level I would personally over board everything with 6mm hardi backer screwed at 300mm centres or if the chipboard is solid with no bounce then ditra matting is a good option

I assume the hardboard has been put down to make the surfaces level yes?

 

[l sharp]

Yeah hardboard down to make both areas level. Where can i buy ditra matting from? Is it expensive?

 

[mattle40]

Honestly don't know prices off the top of my head I think in the region of £10-13 per sq metre but someone will correct me... Where in the country are you?

 

[mattle40]

Just found a 30sq metre roll for £280 online so there's a ball park

 

[l sharp]

The chipboard doesn't bounce. If I take up the hardboard the 2 areas will not be level. Under the hardboard is concrete. What could I put onto of the concrete to level it with the chipboard in the conservatory? I have a flexible adhesive that is suitable for wooden floors.

 

[Tony73]

SLC on concrete and then Ditra

 

[mattle40]

Just a thought but how big is the total area to be tiled, as If it needs an expansion joint anyway then this would be the perfect spot

But yes, as above ;-)

 

[l sharp]

How does ditra work.it appears to be a waterproof layer. Does it also even out surfaces?

 

[mattle40]

No it prevents failure due to lateral movements like expansion and contraction from winter to summer etc and of course in ur situation you have two different rates of expansion to bridge

 

[Tony73]

it is also waterproof, just need to tape the joints

 

[l sharp]

I was advised to buy a flexible adhesive as this would sort out the expansion? So no to plywood on top off the concrete then?

 

[Tony73]

no need for ply. just SLC and Ditra, and yes flexible tile adhesive

 

[l sharp]

Thanks.for your advice. Has anyone heard of or used durabase before? How would i stick ditra/ durabase to the concrete/ chipboard?

 

[Tony73]

durabase is the same thing

 

[mattle40]

3mm notch bed of flexible tile adhesive

 

[l sharp]

Durabase seems to be half the price of ditra! Do you just spray glue it down?

 

[mattle40]

It's like anything really you get what you pay for, iv never used durabase so can't say anything against it but I can vouch for ditra as a to product
German products tend to be quality as standard lol
Definatly use flexy tile adhesive to fix tho

 

[l sharp]

And then on top of the durabase you use more flexible tile adhesive to secure the tiles?

 

[Tony73]

yes use flexi tile adhesive on ditra/dura. don't use rapid set adhesive if you are not PRO tiler . good luck

 

[mattle40]

And then on top of the durabase you use more flexible tile adhesive to secure the tiles?

Yes that's right, it's hard to explain unless you have seen the product but they have lots of voids on the surface of the Matt which need to be completely filled with adhesive with the flat side of the trowel then Combe more adhesive on the surface with your 10-12mm notch

The adhesive doesn't actually stick to the membrane, it locks into these voids so it's very important that they are filled properly

 

[kilty55]

hi l sharp this is a job for a pro imo

prep is very important and not just a case of sticking things down,if you get the prep/fixing wrong it will cost a fortune to fix