We have screened porch that currently has outdoor carpet on the floor. We want to get rid of the carpet and maybe tile the porch. There is standard decking under the carpet. I have been told by both friends and a flooring contractor that we can just put cement board down and tile over it. However, there are, of course, small gaps in the decking, so some moisture will come up from the ground under the deck. My questions are:
- Can I just use regular cement board for this application?
- What thickness would I need?
- Are there any other considerations I am missing?
I have tiled a couple of of bathrooms and a fireplace and would like to tackle this project myself to save some money. Thanks.
Best Answer
One of the joys of actual ceramic tile (as opposed to various plastic tile products) is a high tolerance for moisture.
The major consideration for any ceramic tile job is how solid the floor under it is - what it won't tolerate is much movement/flexing. Depending on the specifics of your existing deck/floor, that may be a reason to add layers to stiffen it.