Mrmichaeljmoore
Member
I am having a full basement bathroom installed and just wanted to ask a few questions regarding tile installation.
Half of the basement is already finished. So, we will be breaking through the wall that separates the finished from the unfinished side and adding a bathroom there.
My friend is a contractor who is doing the work, including tiling (except electrical and plumbing).
Here is his plan he gave me for the tile installation.
He said he and his guys are good a the tile work and he even offered to show me jobs he has completed....
Floor:
2x4 sleepers to get the bathroom level with current finished area
Plywood subfloor (3/4" tongue and groove underlayment)
Plywood screwed down (apparently he said they use a lot of screws to secure the plywood)
Thinset and Ceramic Tile over plywood floor
Shower:
Swanstone shower base (bulit up on same sleepers and plywood as rest of bathroom floor)
Quikcrete Sand topping mix under Swanstone base for support
Durarock walls
Thinset
Ceramic Tile
NOTE: 2 of the 3 shower walls will be exposed on the backside. The third wall will be the inside wall of an adjoining closet.
Question: What should I use for a vapor barrier? Plastic sheeting behind the Durock or a roll-on membrane applied to Durock?
I have read that tiling over 2x4 sleepers on concrete is a bad idea.....
Apparently, moisture/dampness in the voids created by the sleepers can cause movement in the 2x4 sleepers...thereby possibly causing cracked tiles/grout. True? Any remedies for this?
Overall, does the plan look good? Any criticisms or suggestions would be helpful.....
If more info is needed, please let me know and I wil provide.
Thanks.
mm
Half of the basement is already finished. So, we will be breaking through the wall that separates the finished from the unfinished side and adding a bathroom there.
My friend is a contractor who is doing the work, including tiling (except electrical and plumbing).
Here is his plan he gave me for the tile installation.
He said he and his guys are good a the tile work and he even offered to show me jobs he has completed....
Floor:
2x4 sleepers to get the bathroom level with current finished area
Plywood subfloor (3/4" tongue and groove underlayment)
Plywood screwed down (apparently he said they use a lot of screws to secure the plywood)
Thinset and Ceramic Tile over plywood floor
Shower:
Swanstone shower base (bulit up on same sleepers and plywood as rest of bathroom floor)
Quikcrete Sand topping mix under Swanstone base for support
Durarock walls
Thinset
Ceramic Tile
NOTE: 2 of the 3 shower walls will be exposed on the backside. The third wall will be the inside wall of an adjoining closet.
Question: What should I use for a vapor barrier? Plastic sheeting behind the Durock or a roll-on membrane applied to Durock?
I have read that tiling over 2x4 sleepers on concrete is a bad idea.....
Apparently, moisture/dampness in the voids created by the sleepers can cause movement in the 2x4 sleepers...thereby possibly causing cracked tiles/grout. True? Any remedies for this?
Overall, does the plan look good? Any criticisms or suggestions would be helpful.....
If more info is needed, please let me know and I wil provide.
Thanks.
mm