My floor is getting a little creaky in my bathroom. Unfortunately, it has ceramic tile over it (along with mortar and backer board). What I need to do is drill a clearance hole through the grout and then put a screw through the subfloor and into the 2×8 boards beneath it, but I need to locate them first. What are my options in locating these 2x8s?
Tile – How to locate the 2×8 boards beneath subfloor, backer board, mortar, and ceramic tile
ceramic-tilejoistssqueaksubfloor
Related Solutions
Here is an idea to consider. If the tile comes off the cement board fairly easy, you could leave the cement board, scrape off the thinset and lay your foam and laminate over the cement board. Just a thought depending on the overall thickness you need to achieve.
1/2" plywood is for temporary applications, exterior sheathing and used as gigantic shims. It does not belong as a floor or a roof; minimum 5/8" exterior grade.
What subfloor should HardieBacker board be installed over? The minimum subfloor specified is 5/8" exterior grade plywood or 23/32'' exterior grade OSB subflooring. HardieBacker board must be installed in accordance with local building codes and the floor must be engineered not to exceed the L/360 deflection criteria, including live and dead design loads, for the specific joist spacing used. HardieBacker board is not designed for use over concrete.
Subfloor should be minimum 5/8" exterior-grade OSB or plywood.
For the subfloor, securely glue and fasten minimum 5/8" (16 mm) exterior grade plywood or OSB panels (PRP-108) to the floor joists. Floor joists should be spaced a maximum of 16" (40 cm) o.c.; a 3/4" (19 mm) Exterior Grade Plywood or OSB subfloor with I-joists spaced a maximum of 19.2" (48 cm) o.c. is also acceptable.
For the threshold you don't want something that overlaps, like this:
For a Hardwood transition, you want the type that abuts the tile, like this one-sided beveled threshold: (I've had luck filling against them with grout; complementary colored caulk is also available for tile-to-wood transitions. Standard thresholds can be ripped down, length-wise, to remove one bevel and then the bottom sanded down for a custom fit. Endeavor for absolutely perfect cuts along the doorway.)
Since you are transitioning to Carpet, I'd use something like this or this: (an abrupt leading edge is more of a concern then a reasonably high threshold)
Related Topic
- Tile – How to use to seal around the perimeter of a tile floor
- Tile – Cutting Wall Tile with Oscillating tool
- Wood – Installing floor threshold/transition – should I remove existing grout between wood laminate and ceramic tile
- Flooring – Should I replace particle board underlayment before installing ceramic tile
- Flooring – Installing ceramic tile on top of wooden bathroom floor
- Tile – How to best repair the tile
- Install heat mat and backer board over cork flooring
- Flooring – Pulling up fiber board to install new tile flooring
Best Answer
Assuming you do not have access from below, (if you do we have a completely different solution) you need to drill holes in the perpendicular grout line apx 16 inches from the parallel wall to the joists to start with. You may have to drill a couple of holes until you find a joist. Then calculate every 16 inches on center and drive screws. When driving the screws, they should bite and countersink themselves if you have hit a joist. Since you will have to re-grout the seam anyway, strip the grout and find the joists. Even doing this, I am not totally convinced a few screws will solve your problem. The best solution will be securing the subfloors from the bottom.