DITRA versus 1/4" concrete backer board
#1
12-01-13, 07:56 AM
DITRA versus 1/4" concrete backer board
By the time you put down the thin-set and roll out the DITRA on top of it, will it be about the same thickness as just using 1/4" concrete backer board?
This will be going down over top of 1/2" Sheeting under 3/4" in particleboard underlayment.
This will be going down over top of 1/2" Sheeting under 3/4" in particleboard underlayment.
#2
12-01-13, 09:33 AM
Hope you meant OSB and not "particleboard". Ditra and cbu serve the same purpose. Ditra doesn't save a ton of height, but some. CBU is cheaper.
#4
12-01-13, 10:18 AM
Member
Unfortunately, the particle board needs to come up, it is not structurally stable enough for use under tile. Any sign of moisture and it swells and disintegrates. Will totally ruin all your hard work and effort to put down a new floor. I have torn up many a floor worth of particleboard and still find it hard to believe that you can still buy this garbage at your local box store.
#6
12-01-13, 12:34 PM
Why did they use it in the first place??
#7
12-03-13, 08:42 PM
Originally Posted by greg
By the time you put down the thin-set and roll out the DITRA on top of it, will it be about the same thickness as just using 1/4" concrete backer board?
Sorry about the particle board. It really needs to be taken to the curb.
Originally Posted by greg
This will be going down over top of 1/2" Sheeting under 3/4" in particleboard underlayment
Jaz
#8
12-13-13, 01:41 PM
Sorry Jazman.. missed your post.
When I ripped up the old floor, I found 1/2" OSB covered by 3/4" particle board underlayment. The tile was installed over top of that.
I patched up the 1/2" OSB.. replacing the rotted section. Then removed all particleboard and put down 5/8" OSB in its place.
1/4" backerboard in going down on top of this.
Finally, 12x24 porcelain tile will go in.
When I ripped up the old floor, I found 1/2" OSB covered by 3/4" particle board underlayment. The tile was installed over top of that.
I patched up the 1/2" OSB.. replacing the rotted section. Then removed all particleboard and put down 5/8" OSB in its place.
1/4" backerboard in going down on top of this.
Finally, 12x24 porcelain tile will go in.
#9
12-13-13, 05:05 PM
Greg,
Oh ok, good. At first I thought you were upset cuz my Michigan State Spartans beat your Buckeyes last week and spoiled their perfect season. 
Particle board was widely used in the '70's and '80's by cheap-ass builders to save a few hundred per house. They thought they were geniuses. It's terrible stuff. Now we have OSB. Some of the OSB is pretty good. This is mostly the OSB designed as a subfloor, it's t&g 3/4" thick and thicker. Problem is that people are tempted to buy the square edge sheets they see at the big box stores, less $$$. If you've noticed these are very porous and are liable to be unstable too.
So, let's review. Your subfloor is 1/2" OSB? How did that happen? Please tell us it's not so. You removed the PT and installed 5/8" OSB as the underlayment . How about the joists? Are they stiff enough for tile? Anyone look at a span chart?
Any plans for the setting materials yet?
Jaz
Sorry Jazman.. missed your post.
Particle board was widely used in the '70's and '80's by cheap-ass builders to save a few hundred per house. They thought they were geniuses. It's terrible stuff. Now we have OSB. Some of the OSB is pretty good. This is mostly the OSB designed as a subfloor, it's t&g 3/4" thick and thicker. Problem is that people are tempted to buy the square edge sheets they see at the big box stores, less $$$. If you've noticed these are very porous and are liable to be unstable too.
So, let's review. Your subfloor is 1/2" OSB? How did that happen? Please tell us it's not so. You removed the PT and installed 5/8" OSB as the underlayment . How about the joists? Are they stiff enough for tile? Anyone look at a span chart?
Any plans for the setting materials yet?
Jaz
