Suitable Tiling Substrates
Every 5 years there is a review of British Standards which takes a look at changes within the tiling industry.
BS 5385 Part 1: 2018 has now been published.
The main change is that the use of plywood for tiling on has now been removed as a suitable backer board for tiles.
“The use of sheets or boards that are subject to movement from changes in moisture content should be avoided. Plywood and other wood-based sheets or boards should not be used for direct tiling”.
When tiling over floor board in a bathroom we stopped using plywood many years ago and mainly use a cement based water resistant board which is installed prior to tiling which gives added strength to the floor and minimises movement in the floor boards. Not only does using cement based boards add strength but it also means you can use a 6mm cement board rather than 12-18mm plywood which helps keep the threshold between tile to carpet down.
As always if you need any support with a project and advice or simply want to see the materials we use prior to us carrying out your project we would be more than happy to bring examples of what we work with.