- A common plywood type used for sub floors, or the final flooring's support layer, is CDX. CDX's structural composition consists of many thin layers of southern pine glued together for a strong plywood shape. CDX has tongue and groove edges, allowing installers to interlock the wood sheets for a durable floor layer. Each CDX sheet can vary in thickness, between 5/8 or 3/4 of an inch. However, most CDX sheets have a common installation size of four by eight feet.
- Modified cement based tile adhesive is an altered form of the basic cement based tile adhesive used to attach ceramic tiles to concrete sub floors. The modified adhesive has added polymers (specialized plastic), as well as rubber within its composition. This adhesive works well with small flooring movement generated by wood's natural ability to expand and contract with temperature changes.
- Timber floor tile adhesive is another modified type of glue. Flexibility within the adhesive is specially designed for wood flooring applications. Typically, timber floor tile adhesive is a two part gluing system. Two proprietary ingredients combine just before application, creating a chemical reaction for strong adhesion.
- Selecting the correct tile adhesive also includes choosing a complimentary grout. Grout is a filler material that occupies the spacing between each installed tile. Stiff grout will not move with the wood's expansion and contraction properties, causing cracks within the tiles. Flexible grout should be used, along with the flexible adhesive, for creating a sturdy tile flooring that can move with small shifts of the wood sub floor.
- Wood is not a suggested substrate for attaching ceramic tiles, states Ceramic Tile And Stone Consultants. Wood's shape fluctuations, with temperature variations, can easily crack newly installed tiles. In fact, stepping on a tile, that is misaligned from wood movement, will crack underneath the person's foot. Ceramic Tile And Stone Consultants recommends using a thick backer board, made of cement, over the CDX surface. The tiles would apply on the cement board, rather than the wood, creating a better surface that withstands temperature changes.
- Basic tile adhesive is relatively inexpensive. However, the modified adhesives needed for CDX and ceramic tile attachment cost more due to the added rubber and polymers. Consumers should take this cost into consideration before deciding on a sub floor and final flooring material.
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