floor tiling questions

[reeves1985]

I will be tiling my bathroom floor as part of my bathroom refub
Just want to get some opinions on prep for tiling

The floor area is only small less than 5 sqm over old floorboards.

Just wondering what the best was to go about prepping the floor and what to use as a sub base

As it stands the boards are in good condition and solid which I will be adding screws to.

The tile I'm going to be using is a 7mm ceramic

 

[rj1884]

Hello. I would make sure the boards are solid with no bounce and are not damaged in anyway. If this is the case I would fix hardie backer down which will give you a decent surface to tile to. Use adhesive and screws to fix the boards down. Remember where the pipes are though.

 

[reeves1985]

Thanks what would be a decent adhesive to use to lay the hardy on to

 

[rj1884]

Use a cement based adhesive, I normally use a rapid flexible adhesive. The aim of the adhesive is to just fill any voids between the floorboards and backer boards. I always prime the floor prior to laying boards.

 

[reeves1985]

Thanks I'll look into it although it's only a tiny area I don't want to do it wrong
Final question what's normal practice for tiling order floor or walls first
Floor tiles are square wall tiles are rectangular

 

[rj1884]

What sizes are they.

 

[reeves1985]

Wall tiles are 300x400 8mm floor tiles are 330mm square 7mm

 

[rj1884]

If the tiles are different sizes then I always try and do the floor first if I can and tile down to it as it gives a better finish in my opinion.

 

[reeves1985]

That was my thinking as I'm doing the whole room it's no problem to do the floor first
Especially as its the only bathroom in the house and my partner has crohns and not long since had a bowel resection so I need to have the toilet in a working condition asap which by doing the floor first will help

 

[rj1884]

Ideal mate.

 

[reeves1985]

Thanks for the help buddy

 

[rj1884]

No problem

 

[Perfect Tiling]

I prefer to tile the walls first leaving out the bottom row. Then tile the floor leaving a perimeter expansion gap...then put in the bottom row to cover the gap and give a neat line. This way if you drop a tile or tool you don't damage the lovely floor you've just laid. You can always cover the tiled floor with wood etc...each to their own...