At Tile Pro Depot, we highly recommend Laticrete Strata Mat. Ditra is waterproof, while cement board lets water through but won't be damaged by it. These are good questions. 1. Then you simply use thinset and tile over the DITRA like any normal tiling situation. This creates a bond between the concrete and the DITRA. Ditra is more expensive, maybe, but its easier to install. While I prefer using 1/2” cement backer board over a plywood subfloor, you may be able to get by with 1/4” backer board instead. That said, some folks use cement board over SLC and have no problems, but for DIY it might be best to not take that chance. There are one or two code inspectors here who will say: no, that you can only put Kerdi or a waterproofing membrane over cement board in a wet area inside. A saw will cut it too, but produces silica dust particles — a razor blade is the better choice. No matter what you’re told at a home center, it’s not a good idea to install tile directly over plywood, especially in a damp area like a bathroom. If you really want to use the cement board, then add Step 1.5 to the previous list: It is made of polyethylene creating a waterproofing layer protecting the substrate. 1/2-inch Yes, writes Doug McEvers, Ditra will insulate the concrete slab from the tile and lower the potential for thermal How thick should backer board be for tile? Ditra is a decoupler, meaning (in this case) there's no chemical bond between the tile and the subfloor. Correspondingly, can you use Ditra over cement board? Even if you use a waterproof underlayment membrane, the floor will still be either 1/4″ or 1/2” higher than the subfloor, plus the thickness of the tile and adhesive. Schluter says you can put Kerdi over drywall - … The thickness of the tile assembly is minimized by using Ditra, which is only 1/8 in. Personally I have no time for particle board, therefore would be very! When you consider the cost of the cement board, the screws, mesh tape and the time involved to handle the cement board, the costs are probably similar. Replacing old tile can really update any room in the home. Tool Guy - Kg This may make Ditra a better choice if moisture from below is a concern, such as with some outdoor applications or installations over concrete. Primarily because cement board is heavy, adds height to your tile installation, and needs to be waterproofed.DITRA has been out for a long time and most professionals use it because it will prevent tile from cracking, it will be easier to install, and it will lessen the height between your tile adjacent flooring. It provides a degree of protection against cracks in the tile due to expansion/contraction of the underlying substrate as well as deflection of the floor joists. I have looked at the website and it seems almost too good to be true-lighter, quicker to install, waterproofing. That is why cement boards are preferred for most of the jobs because they inherit more strength than ditra. When installing a ceramic tile floor on a concrete subfloor, you don't have to worry about flexing as long as the concrete slab is at least 1 1/8-inch thick, which most slabs are. Ditra is needed over concrete, especially if there is movement in the cement. Additionally, if you didn't install the board with thinset mortar underneath, it needs to come up anyway. It can be glued over concrete in much less time. thick. If you’re working over a wood subfloor, cement board is the right choice for your tile base. The anchoring fleece is embedded in thin-set mortar to provide a mechanical bond to the substrate. How to Install Tile Over Old Thinset. You can use Ditra XL where it’s not heated. The cement board will add no structural value, and will only give you more height. Well, Ditra is a premium product that is considered an "uncoupling membrane." Both ditra and cement board will do the job. Tile is installed over DITRA using the thin-bed method in such a way that the mortar becomes mechanically anchored in the square, cutback cavities of t… Cement board is stiff and unforgiving. In fact, nearly every bare substrate you find in a modern house would be considered an approved substrate – shiny linoleum is not one of them … … If the subfloor doesn't have enough stability, you can usually (but not always) remedy the situation by installing cement backer board, also called cementboard. That said, according to Schluter-DITRA and Schluter-DITRA-XL: Wood Substrates you can probably get away with keeping the particle board down on the floor. tempted to take it up and replace it with plywood (fixed down appropriately). Cement board can be scored with a razor blade and then snapped for a clean edge. 1/2-inch Installing Tile Directly on Concrete Ceramic and porcelain tile are so frequently installed at or above grade level on a cement board underlayment or directly on plywood that it almost seems novel to install tile directly on concrete. If you tile directly over it you risk having the partical board swell with the moisture in the thinset, not likely, but possible. First you put down a layer of thinset (follow manufactures spec sheet closely for the type) and lay the DITRA in that. However, when it comes to application, both ditra and cement boards are good and resilient. Using a flat trowel, Jim and Rich filled all the cut-back cavities with Ditra-Set. In nearly 30 years I have never been asked to use something other than cement board. On the contrary, cement boards are a bit different. If I had the choice to have more plywood vs. cement board under Ditra, I'd go with more plywood every time. Schluter-DITRA is really easy to work with. Click to see full answer. Ditra gives you peace of mind as it is used to uncouple the tiles from the concrete and prevents the tiles from cracking by allowing them to move independently when a home shifts. Uncoupling mats can also be easily cut with a utility knife with no dust, while it’s more difficult to cut backer board because it’s made of cement. It provides uncoupling to prevent cracked tile and grout. Schluter®-DITRA is a polyethylene membrane with a grid structure of square cavities, each cut back in a dovetail configuration, and an anchoring fleece laminated to the underside. I've never encountered that problem but I've heard from several people who have. Fill DITRA Cavities. Installing ditra over an approved substrate is much, much easier. I have a customer who wants to use Ditra in place of cement board on the floor of his bathroom. 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