Level the surface using a wood filler.
Attaching tile to plywood wall.
Remove any obstacles from the installation area.
The joists if they re 2x8 newer code and not 2x10 older code must be braced every four feet with cross braces which minimizes independent flexing of each joist and the subfloor above.
Tips for laying tile on plywood subfloor.
Tiling onto plywood using a standard tile adhesive can be problematic initially i would make sure that the plywood surrounding the pipe work is secure and that you don t have any movement in it.
For wall installations plywood is overkill beneath the concrete or fiber board which is designed in five eighths inch material for wall settings.
Use the right type of plywood.
Then i would remove any loose tiles and scrap away any adhesive that is left on the ply and tile you want the ply and tile to be perfectly clean for the next stage.
The best method is to refasten the subfloor then add a layer of plywood.
According to backer board manufacturers and tile setters installing backer board directly over an old solid wood subfloor is risky for a couple of reasons.
Backerboard can double the thickness of an installation which can be troublesome in some locations.
Space the field and edge fasteners.
For flooring use intervening sheets of plywood.
Unscrew switch plate and outlet covers and set aside.
There are thin set dry set mortars design specifically for adhering ceramic tile to plywood that is designated as an ansi a118 11 thin set mortar.
Unscrew register covers and save the screws.
Then in either case the subfloor should probably be about an.
Fill in all large gaps and holes as these will prevent proper adhesion of the tiles.
The silicone or urethane adhesives should work too but the thin set mortars are easier to work with and easier to get full adhesive contact between the tile and its substrate.
However the floor must be properly reinforced to minimize flexing.
How to glue tile to wood.
Use thinset with a higher latex content.
You may also want to tile an outdoor shed or tile plywood boards for display.
You can bond tile directly to a plywood subfloor and expect it to last.
If possible you should always use concrete board underlayments rather than plywood.
There may be times when you want to bond tile directly to plywood or another wood surface rather than screwing down backerboard first.