Prepare the Base for a Successful Terracotta Floor Installation: Tips and Strategies
Installing terracotta flooring is a great way to bring a touch of beauty and durability to any room in your home, but you need to make sure that the subfloor is properly installed and prepped before doing so. If the subfloor is not prepared correctly, your tiles could crack due to the weight of the tile and any other imperfections in the floor.
When preparing a subfloor for terracotta tiles, you need to make sure that you have identified the subfloor as concrete or plywood. Depending on what type of subfloor you have, you have different options for getting it ready for your terracotta tiles. If you have a plywood subfloor, you can use either a double plywood subfloor or cement backer board. If your subfloor is concrete, you can either apply the tile directly to the concrete or prepare a mortar bed on top of the concrete.
For a plywood subfloor, the double plywood subfloor installation method is the most ideal. You need to use 5/8 inch plywood for the second layer of plywood. Use at least 1 1/4 inch corrosion-resistant screws to fasten the plywood to the framing members. Be sure to walk on the floor and refasten any squeaky places. After that, you can apply a bond coat, and then set your terracotta tiles down. This application is best for areas where there is no apparent moisture.
If you are installing terracotta in a kitchen or bathroom, a cement backer board installation is the best option. The backer board should be placed 1/8 inch apart to give the tiles the room to expand and contract. Begin by laying down a bond coat layer and then laying the backer boards down perpendicular to the subfloor panels. Bond the boards to the subfloor with a bonding mortar, and then finish up with joint tape. Then, apply a second bond coat on top of the backer board before setting the terracotta tiles.
For a concrete subfloor, you have two options. The first option is to apply a bond coat, followed by the mortar bed directly to the concrete subfloor. You should make sure that the mortar bed is permanently bonded to the concrete, or the tiles could crack. If necessary, you can also add a waterproof membrane between the mortar bed and the concrete slab, particularly in areas that are prone to moisture. The second option is to apply a bond coat, followed by a cleavage membrane, reinforcing wire, a mortar bed 1 1/4 inches thick, and a bond coat. This choice would be best if your cement floor is uneven or has some other imperfections.
The final option, which should only be done if you are sure your cement floor is perfectly level, is to apply the terracotta tiles directly to the concrete subfloor. Floor leveler is a great way to make sure the floor is level. This cement-like substance can be mixed and poured on the subfloor to fill in any low lying dips and make the floor level enough for tile.
No matter which terracotta floor preparation method you choose, making sure you adequately prepare the subfloor is key to avoiding any potential stress, such as tile cracking. Take all the necessary steps to make sure that your subfloor is laid down and prepared correctly, and you will have a beautiful terracotta floor in no time.
