Ceramic Over Luann

scottstef

Hey folks,

i was wondering if setting ceramic tile over luann would be ok. We had a kitchen floor that was originally supposed to be vinyl squares, laid 1/4 inch luann over 1/2" cdx to patch a few week spots in the floor. After we finished nailing the luann down every 4" with 1 1/2 " ring shank nails, the homeowner and i decided to lay ceramic tile instead of vinyl squares down. i plan on putting 12x12 ceramic tile on the floor. i would rather not add cement board to the floor because of height requirements.

sage

Tough situation. I feel for you.

Tear up the Luan if height is an issue. Do not tile over the luan.

Luan is to smooth, it can release oils that will inhibit the bond of the thinset and it has no compression strength. The Luan could compress when you roll something heavy over it like a full fridge and result in popping or cracked tiles over time.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

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R&D Tile

What's under the CDX?, that should be removed also.

sage

Didn't catch that. Good look R&D. 1/2 inch cdx:rolleyes

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dayspring

Here are a couple of webpages I found, very interesting reading concerning sub-floors and backer-board:

http://www.ctioa.org/reports/fr81.html

http://www.ctioa.org/reports/fr46.html

Hope it helps.

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Bud Cline

The tile industry specifically excludes the use of luan as a substrate for any tile installation.

Luan has a low compressive strength, little tensile strength, and is known to delaminate simply from the moisture in the tile adhesive. Therfore tile cannot be installed directly over luan and it also cannot be in a floor sandwich as a sub-underlayment due to it's minimal laminations .

POOLMANinCT

so can i tile of luan???

just kidding
ray

osborn

You need an inch and a quarter under tile. Like 3/4 subfloor and 1/2 cement board. You dont want the floor to be spongy below your tile.

Floorwizard

too much deflection = cracking.

solid as you can on the substrate.
Luan is at the bottom of the list

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"in 20 years you will regret more what you did not do than what you did"

Teetorbilt

Luan has very thin laminates and the bonding glue is not waterproof. The moisture in the thinset could set off a bad chain reaction. (top laminate swelling, loosening)

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Bud Cline

Actually, luan IS NOT "at the bottom of the list."
Luan isn't even on the list.

In fact, LUAN IS SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED from all lists with the exception of one, and that is the list of materials that should never be used in a tile substrate.

catalfanoc

put down a nice wet bed and then just put reducers at the doors

MattCoops

luan is for canoes and hockey sticks
not houses

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Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

Teetorbilt

Use lots of epoxy with both.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Bud Cline

The truth is....

Luan is used (after flooring underlayment) primarily for furniture drawer-bottoms and furniture backs. Even as an underlayment under sheet flooring it is still a poor choice.

Lazarus

Luan is to tile like Kryptonite is to Superman. NEVER use it. It'll "delaminate" faster than you can say.......well, whatever...

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BreyerConstruct

So I think the general consensus is:

Don't keep the Luan.

Though what to do to fix it... you're on your own there.
(might just have to pull the floor)

~Matt

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Floorwizard

oops, I meant to say Luan is at the bottom of my drawer

__________________
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"in 20 years you will regret more what you did not do than what you did"