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We are "remodeling" a 2nd floor bathroom replacing a shower and flooring. There is currently some vinyl type floor convering. The general contractor I had give me a quote on it indicated he would tile the floor and didn't talk about doing anything to the subfloor to preclude compliance that might cause cracks.
I may be unduly concrened but we are talking about a 20yr old spec home and little shifts and temperature cycles can cause some things to give and that sort of thing on the first floor gets magnified on the 2nd. I think I have a slab crack in one part of the house that may shift a few millimeters year.
I want a quality job done. Replacing original tiled shower wall and fiberglass pan with cultured marble. No problem there but I am talking myself into rejecting the idea a tiled floor.
Certainly, somewhere down the road if I wanted it tiled it is a very small area and even with the nusiance of having to pull the toilet out it would not be too awful, but just saying that brings back disagreeable memories of past DYI tiling escapades. I do not want to do it myself again.
What to you all think about the wisdom of tiling a 2nd floor bathroom?
We are "remodeling" a 2nd floor bathroom replacing a shower and flooring. There is currently some vinyl type floor convering. The general contractor I had give me a quote on it indicated he would tile the floor and didn't talk about doing anything to the subfloor to preclude compliance that might cause cracks.
I may be unduly concrened but we are talking about a 20yr old spec home and little shifts and temperature cycles can cause some things to give and that sort of thing on the first floor gets magnified on the 2nd. I think I have a slab crack in one part of the house that may shift a few millimeters year.
I want a quality job done. Replacing original tiled shower wall and fiberglass pan with cultured marble. No problem there but I am talking myself into rejecting the idea a tiled floor.
Certainly, somewhere down the road if I wanted it tiled it is a very small area and even with the nusiance of having to pull the toilet out it would not be too awful, but just saying that brings back disagreeable memories of past DYI tiling escapades. I do not want to do it myself again.
What to you all think about the wisdom of tiling a 2nd floor bathroom?
Check out the Shluter shower system for the stall and the floor.
I did mine a while back and it is 100% water PROOF and easy to use.
The bid I recieved for cultured marbel stall and pan plus the tiled floor is a bit much but worse still would be to have it done and have problems shortly thereafter.
I would be so bold as to do it myself if it were not on the second floor. Then a something like the shower kit would Schluter shower kit would be an easy choice.
What to you all think about the wisdom of tiling a 2nd floor bathroom?
I have no idea where the "wisdom" would apply-
Tiled floors on wood substrates have been accomplished for at least 100yrs. And there's very little that has changed about the process.
The number one thing is having a solid substrate on which to apply the tile. A mud-bed place upon the wood substrate with a reinforcement of expanded metal was/is the standard for tile installation.
Today, there are alternatives that are just as good- DUROCK, DENSSHEILD, BACKERBOARD, etc. They all have specific design applications, and of course require correct installation to work properly.
And there also isolation membranes- Schluter Ditra Anti-Fracture / Waterproof Membrane- Probably the best one the market and the only one I use.
I'm also a big proponent of cultured marble- as much as I would love to have tile (and there is some gorgeous tile out there) for a shower stall- it's just not worth the hassle of keeping it clean. Cultured marble panels cover the whole wall section- meaning only caulked joints in the corners. Add that to a cultured marble pan/base and maintenance becomes a breeze; even if it is a bit nondescript.
I am speaking about the floor of the bathroom exclusive of the shower itself. I understand there are materials and techniques for putting tile down in an application such as the one I described.
What I didn't get from my contractor was a clear indication that he planned on putting down some kind of base over the existing floor to preclude any give that might cause the tile to crack.
I will follow up and ask again as maybe we just miscommunicated.
I will follow up and ask again as maybe we just miscommunicated.
I understood correctly alright, he was proposing assessing what the plywood floor deck look like and maybe tiling right over it. My attention to potential problems and concerns did get sorted out though with a plan to put a proper base for tiling irrespective of what that plywood looks like.
There are specific substrates that need to be used for each type of flooring surface. Its not enough to just go with plywood. There are different plywood materials, joining methods, thickness, etc. Some are dry grade (can’t get wet) and outdoor grade, which can withstand more elements.
Never skimp on the subfloor.
First of all, no contract should recommend using an existing subfloor if they have not seen an inspected the entire subfloor. A) They don’t know the material used and B) They don’t know the condition. It’s always a good idea to have a contingency in your quote and budget for subfloor replacement unless the subfloor has already been inspected.
There are a number of ways to out bad contractors.
Arm yourself with knowledge. There is plenty of information out there on substrates for tile. So get a list of what substrates are acceptable for a long lasting installation. When you interview contractors, ask them what subfloor is installed there now? Ask them how thick it is and what variety of material.
Ask the question, "why?" When they tell you they'll just use the existing subfloor, ask them why that is acceptable. Ask them if they think it will be better to replace it with new materials. Lazy people and crooks often can't answer why they do this or that. That said, there are still plenty of smooth talkers who can BS their way through a question if you don't know the facts.
Get more than one quote.
CRITICAL!! Check references, request a photocopy of their insurance bond certificate before work begins and check state business license.
The guideline for all professional tile contractors is the Tile Council of North America Handbook. It has architectural cut sheets and plain English descriptions of the various council-approved / recommended tile systems available to you. You can get one from the TCNA or from your local tile distributor.
By the way, the "2nd story/wood frame" is a non-issue. Your conditions are easy ones in which to apply a tile system. The TCNA handbook can help you select the right system for your bathroom floor.
Ok guys I kno these post are a couple years old but I typed my problem in google an this came up. My apartment is on the second floor and my bathroom floor sucks its old ass rigged up and I have and old bathtub with the claws or feet idk but I kno it has to be heavy heavy but the faucet leaks and about a month ago the maintenance man put a shower in there for me which he was suppost to when I was 5 months pregnant and my baby is almost 9 months anyway, I have read on my local laws on how to go about getting it done right, so I'm going to do it myself, but unlike the guy who posted this my floor is for real about to cave in I don't have 2,000+ my rent is only 500 and the law is I can fix it legally after 14 days and have a record of everything but it can only b half my rent if it is major or minor things it can't be over 100.... Habitat for humanity is up the st. I just need to kno what I have to get to not be able to see and hear my neighbor lady down stairs and to not fall threw the floor with and old ass bathtub, my shower is also freaking is a handheld shower with 8 long skinny peices of wood nailed to the ceiling I forget what they r called they seem uhm real steardy lol but the shower head is held up there by the dam shower curtain rod.... Wtf please help me. ��
Ok guys I kno these post are a couple years old but I typed my problem in google an this came up. My apartment is on the second floor and my bathroom floor sucks its old ass rigged up and I have and old bathtub with the claws or feet idk but I kno it has to be heavy heavy but the faucet leaks and about a month ago the maintenance man put a shower in there for me which he was suppost to when I was 5 months pregnant and my baby is almost 9 months anyway, I have read on my local laws on how to go about getting it done right, so I'm going to do it myself, but unlike the guy who posted this my floor is for real about to cave in I don't have 2,000+ my rent is only 500 and the law is I can fix it legally after 14 days and have a record of everything but it can only b half my rent if it is major or minor things it can't be over 100.... Habitat for humanity is up the st. I just need to kno what I have to get to not be able to see and hear my neighbor lady down stairs and to not fall threw the floor with and old ass bathtub, my shower is also freaking is a handheld shower with 8 long skinny peices of wood nailed to the ceiling I forget what they r called they seem uhm real steardy lol but the shower head is held up there by the dam shower curtain rod.... Wtf please help me. ��
I'm sure there's a lot of exaggeration on your part, but your BEST course of action is to find another place to live. You're under the thumb of a slumlord not a landlord. You don't go fixing a floor- especially the structural part(s) on someone else's property.
What does the floor have to do with the faucet, have to do with the shower?
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Thanks for the tip!
