How Do I Pull Nails Out Of Subfloor

Tile Floor.

This finished tile floor is installed over a plywood and cement capitalist lath subfloor.

Installing tile over a wood subfloor is a lot easier today than it was when I started my remodeling career.

The old-fashioned mud method of floating a thick mortar bed in preparation for the tile has given way to using cement backer board over a plywood subfloor.

Cement board is inexpensive ($10 or less for a 1/two″ thick, three′ x v′ sheet), easy to install, and sufficient for about installations. Among the trade names you'll see are Durock, made by U.Due south. Gypsum Corp., and PermaBase, from National Gypsum Co.

Manufacturers provide clear installation instructions with cement backer lath, but at that place are a few other important points yous need to know to guarantee a long-lasting installation.

For example, I always similar to remove the old flooring material so I can check the subfloor for any water damage. Years of h2o seeping forth the border of a bathtub or shower can cause areas of rot that need to be repaired.

If everything is in good shape, you tin can then cut the cement capitalist lath (always wear an approved respirator or mask when dry-cut cement based products).

Next, use a notched trowel to apply thin-ready adhesive to the plywood, set the capitalist lath in it while it's even so wet, and drive corrosion-resistant screws fabricated for countersinking into the backer lath through the plywood. Practice this at intervals recommended in the backer lath instructions (usually every 8 inches) to ensure a business firm foundation for the tile.

Use a cordless drill to spiral cement backer board to a plywood subfloor.

Set the heads of all screws and any existing nails slightly beneath the forest surface, then use a lightweight gypsum leveling chemical compound to fill and level voids or low spots. If you take this kind of care with the prep piece of work, the finished tile won't scissure over time.

Finally, lay out the location for the tile, apply a coat of sparse-prepare to the backer board, and lay the tile. Once the tile has set, employ grout to the joints between the tile, wiping off any excess with a damp sponge.

Setting tile on cement backer board with spacers used to marshal the tile.

The proper fasteners, mortar, tile adhesive and joint tape are all specified past the manufacturer, but don't apply drywall screws since they can corrode.

Another mistake I often run into is grout wedged between the last row of tiles and the tub, cabinets or doorsill. Grout in these transitional areas will cleft as the floor expands and contracts. These areas should get a bead of acrylic or silicone caulk instead and then the joint remains flexible.

I'one thousand oft asked by homeowners if it's possible to lay down new tile over an existing tile floor. This is not my favorite way to install tile, but information technology tin can exist washed, every bit long as the existing tile and subfloor are in good condition, and the sometime tile is thoroughly cleaned and scuffed upwards with sandpaper to let the new mortar to grip.

The combination of newly practical mortar and tile volition raise the level of the floor by at least three/8″. Trimming the bottom of the bathroom door and building upward the doorsill commonly hide the fact there are two layers of tile instead of one.

Trimming the bottom of a door casing with a jamb saw so the tile volition fit under information technology.

The subfloor under the tile should exist at to the lowest degree 1 one/8″ thick, with a minimum of v/8″ thick exterior form plywood topped by one/2″ cement backer board.