How to glue and lay tiles on wood?

 

While wood is an aesthetic and pleasant floor covering, it is a fragile material that is not suitable for all rooms. For comfort and for easy maintenance, some individuals prefer to replace it with tiling. Note that it is possible to avoid disassembling your parquet and placing your tiles directly on the wood. However, for an optimal result, it is important to be well equipped and to perform the correct installation techniques. Here are our tips.

How to glue and lay tiles on wood?

How to lay tiles on wood?

Before you start laying your tiles on parquet, be aware that it is not possible to perform such an operation if the floor is in unfixed floating parquet or if the parquet is placed on a crawl space.

Keep in mind that while it is possible to lay tiles on parquet, you are associating two very different materials. If the tile is inert and rigid, the wood is solid, but deformable since it moves over time. It is therefore necessary to take certain precautions.

Prepare the wooden stand

Prepare the wooden support to facilitate the laying of the tiles. To do this, sand the floor and remove the varnish or wax covering it. Make sure that the blades are stable and fix those that are most mobile with suitable screws.

Clean your parquet by vacuuming it completely, including between the boards. Use flexible silicone sealant to seal the slits between the boards and around the room to obtain a perfectly flat and watertight surface. If the flatness of the floor is not absolute, proceed with a leveling.

Before laying, we recommend that you apply a primer to the wood, with a wool roller. Leave to dry well for the time recommended on the manufacturer's instructions, generally between 1 and 3 hours. Then cover the joints with glass cloth and smooth for a perfect result.

If the room is wet, add a flexible waterproofing membrane before laying the tiles.

Glue the tiles

You can now glue your tiles as you would on a traditional surface. However, we recommend that you proceed with a double gluing, especially if the tiling tiles measure more than 400 cm².

Make the joints

After a 24 hour break, apply silicone sealant to the ends of the part. This will prevent your joints from disintegrating with the natural movements of the support floor. Then proceed with the installation of the tile joints with a suitable coating.

Let dry at least 24 hours before walking on the tile, and wait at least 4 days to dispose of the furniture.

What are the risks of laying tiles on wood?

As we mentioned earlier, laying tiles on wood is possible, but the combination of two such different materials can expose you to certain constraints.

The wood is liable to swell on contact with the tile adhesive. Some products are also not suitable for this type of association. However, the expansion of the wood can then lift the tiles in places. Make sure to seal the support well before installation.

The wood can warp under the weight of the tiles, especially if it has been improperly laid or if the floor is not properly level. The joints can then dissociate.

The joints will always remain sensitive spaces, since wood is a material that moves. It is not uncommon for them to shear over time.