But a number of precautions must be taken to ensure a successful installation.
Ceramic tile over plywood walls.
While most floor tile these days is installed onto a layer of cement board or similar backerboard it is possible to lay tile directly over plywood.
Installing over wood.
A number of different types of substrate are used for tile including plywood.
Ceramic tile stone and or cementitious backer unit installations utilizing any luan species will not be warranted by custom.
If possible you should always use concrete board underlayments rather than plywood.
The basic answer to whether you should lay ceramic directly over plywood or osb is simple.
For wall installations plywood is overkill beneath the concrete or fiber board which is designed in five eighths inch material for wall settings.
Plywood and osb expand and contract with humidity and temperature much more than ceramic tile.
To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile.
Problems with ceramic directly on plywood or osb.
For the best results please follow these instructions.
You shouldn t do it.
Laying tile over a plywood subfloor can be tricky but.
Under british standards bs 5385 part 1 plywood is not a suitable substrate for the direct fixing of wall tiles therefore when tiling onto walls a tile backer board is required however tiling onto plywood overlaid floors is acceptable under british standards.
Plywood in ceramic tile installations.
Chipboard cushioned vinyl flooring particle boards of any type oriented strand board osb interior grade plywood tongue and groove planking and hardwood floors are unsuitable substrates for direct installation of ceramic tile.
Laying tile over a plywood subfloor can be tricky but if you prepare the sub floor properly your tile floor will last for a lifetime.
Luan plywood is an unacceptable and unapproved substrate to receive tile or cementitious backer units cbu.