Marble Tiles and Subflooring
Is it always necessary to do a concrete ‘mud’ base to install marble tiles or mosaics? My contractor is trying to convince me it can be done on heavy duty wonderboard in order to save on height. The bathroom is less than 7-1/2′. Thanks.
Is it always necessary to do a concrete ‘mud’ base to install marble tiles or mosaics? My contractor is trying to convince me it can be done on heavy duty wonderboard in order to save on height. The bathroom is less than 7-1/2′. Thanks.
Try to find out if the manufacture has subfloor requirements, or specs. Also ask the vendor what they think, not all marble is the same, they behave differently. Most of the time cement board installed with thinset, on 3/4 ply will do the job, but i would make those calls.
i use 5/8 wonderboard over 3/4 plywood glued and screwed to the existant subfloor at the joists, and never have a problem….of course that is 1 3/4″… no savings in thickness
A mud job is not always necessary. Wonder board will work as long as it it is well fastened with no voids below.. You might consider a Ditra or Schulter or Laticrete anti-fracture, waterproofing membrane. Most cracks are caused by a lack of stiffness in the sub floor or a poor installation. The larger the tile the more stiffness/protection you need.
I’ve never had a problem with wonderboard. Just don’t use 1/4″, that’s not rigid enough and it will crack. If the subloor under the wonderboard is at all buckling, strip it off to the joists and make sure everything gets levelled off.
I had a friend whose contractor did this — tiles started to get tiny cracks after 6 months.