Subfloor too high for tile


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Old 05-25-16, 01:14 PM
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Subfloor too high for tile

I am prepping a floor for tile. I have been told by forum members to use plywood, then thinset and durock, then tile. 1/4" ply + thinset + 1/4" durock + tile/grout = approx. 1-1/8". This is very high considering it butts up to a doorway with carpeting. The tile edge will sit about 1/2"-9/16" above the carpet. The carpet is just pad/carpet on the T&G subfloor. Any suggestions appreciated. thanks.
 
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Old 05-25-16, 01:49 PM
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1/4" plywood cannot be part of the flooring, it's too flimsy.

What do you have now for subfloor and what's the size, spacing and unsupported span of the floor joists?
 
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Old 05-25-16, 02:25 PM
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It is 3/4" ply on 2x12 16 OC.
 
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Old 05-25-16, 02:27 PM
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How long are the floor joists, how far between supports?
 
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Old 05-25-16, 02:33 PM
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the floor joists span about 15 feet between two bearing walls on the floor below. The bathroom is not in the middle of the span. One side of the bathroom is on a bearing wall.
 
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Old 05-25-16, 04:52 PM
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The sandwich should be 3/4" ply + 1/2" ply + thinset + 1/4" cement backer board + thinset + tile. Use a piece of marble at the door threshold to accommodate the height difference. Tile floors almost always have a step up as the subfloor needs are completely different from that of carpet. The two never line up.
 
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Old 05-25-16, 05:01 PM
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No one on this or any forum I've ever seen would have suggested using 1/4 plywood under tile unless they where a first time DIY suggesting it.
 
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Old 05-25-16, 09:48 PM
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Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to go with 1/2" ply + thinset + hardie + thinset + tile.
 
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Old 05-26-16, 07:18 AM
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It won't save a lot of height but you could use Ditra instead of the cement board. That said, it will increase the cost of the job. Other than that, I think you're now on the right track.
 
 

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