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Tiling on Cement Subfloor or Wood Subfloor?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I live in San Francisco and we are not near any water tables that I know of. We are remodeling our Garage to add rooms which currently has a cement slab that is not level. Initially we signed a contractor and the Contractor wanted to do a Wood Sub Floor that we can tile over. Now he wants to pour a concrete and level it out and put a tile over that. He assured me that there would be no moisture because he would put a vapor barrier and then cement over the vapor barrier. Also he said that putting tile over the wood sub floor that the grout may crack within a year since the wood is still settleing. Is this all true?

Which option would you guys go with? We would be using tile planks.

Comments (5)

PRO
Kingston Flooring LLC
9 years ago
Install your tile over the concrete, don't use a wood subfloor. The flexibility of a wood subfloor allows to much movement which will crack your grout and tiles. Concrete is a much better subfloor for tile.

Depending on how out of level your floor is, you can probably use a self leveling concrete compound that will take care of the out of level situation.

Does the floor have moisture problems at the moment?
gqchynaboy
Original Author
9 years ago
No the floor doesn't have any moisture issues and I'm sure he will use self leveling concrete. Just wanted to confirm that concrete is a better base for long plank tiles.

Thanks for your input!
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@Renovator8 @AuroraWA @Trebruchet Thank you I appreciate your help I had no clue and they kept telling me it's fine No sort of wood was placed to cover the holes Only cement board then hot mop over it I'm so upset I'll have to have it torn out and redone I will be reporting them I've had other issues since that post Drain not centered to shower not lined up with shower faucet Was floated and it's flat no kind of sloping toward drain I was told the job would take one week but asking for two in case any thing came up It's been three weeks they have worked 3hrs tearing out tub & built shower bench about 2.5hrs for plumbers 3hrs total used cover holes with cement board because they had no wood and to hot mop 1.5hr to tear out & install vanity base lastly two 8hr days tiling shower & still not completed I'm lost on what I can do I call them every day to get information to find out why they are not here when promised or with questions about quality of work example vanity is missing screws and wobbling Any advice
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jellytoast
9 years ago
" ... he would put a vapor barrier and then cement over the vapor barrier."

Is that the proper application to put the moisture barrier between the slab and the leveling compound?
PRO
Kingston Flooring LLC
9 years ago
No vapor barrier should be between the leveling compound and the concrete slab. That would compromise the leveling compound.
southerncanuck
9 years ago
Everything Kingston said X2. If a moisture barrier is laid between the self leveler there is a good actually very good chance that the top coat will lift as it does not have anything to give a good set for the new floor leveler or a layer of new concrete. Tile on concrete always if available. It has the best deflection rate of any material for tile setting.

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