Should I Install Ceramic Tile Or Laminate In The Kitchen And Bathroom Of My ‘79 Singlewide Mobile Home?
I had originally planned on installing ceramic tile, but some people say that you need to lay down 1/4 cementboard, and some say you need to lay down 3/4 plywood AND the cementboard. The floors are very solid and don’t have any flex that I can detect (the bathroom subfloor has been replaced with plywood of an unknown thickness and the kitchen is original particleboard of an unknown thickness). Can I get away with just backerboard, since the plywood is going to make a nasty difference in surface height between the kitchen and living room? Or if I use laminate instead, does that stuff hold up well in a bathroom (I would guess not)??
whats on the floor now….is it a vinyl floor now….the thickness of the floor if using tile needs to be 3/4 inches thick…..most floors when built used 3/4 inch wood….so u already have the thickness, but if your floor is vinyl now then I’d go over it with 1/4 inch good one side plywood ….remove the toilet…lay the plywood down with the smooth side up….screw it down every 4 inches along the sides and every 6 inches inside the field ( the middle )….use a mesh tape over the joints and and a thin layer on mortar over the tape ….with the tile and plywood double the wax ring when installing the toilet….use plywood….not chip board or particleboard becuse if it get wet then it swells up
If the floors are solid I see no reason for more plywood before the tile but you do need to put down cement backer board. If your living room is carpet you can probably transition between the two easily enough with a nice wooden thresh hold. Check with someone at Lowe’s or Hole Depot. They should be able to tell you what you need to do. I have laminate in my kitchen and haven’t had any problems but I don’t have kids either! Good luck
I just moved into a house 9 months ago, and the geniuses before me put laminate in the bathroom, hence tonight after the kids go to bed, i am ripping it out, since moisture has gotten under it, it STINKS, and i cant bleach it to get it out, i will only wreck the laminate…..DOES NOT hold up well in the bathroom, however it is in my kitchen too, and so far so good there!
For tile in a mobile home, you can not tell for sure if the flooring will need support unless you have a professional look under your home for proper bracing.
From what I understand: Cermaic tile is more durable, looks nicer, is easier to clean, and will add more value to your home.
Of those two, don’t choose laminate. It won’t take moisture. If your fridge leaks, it will ruin the floor. I’ve had laminate and will never use it again. Before you decide, go to Home Depot and check out their floating vinyl flooring–it sticks to itself but not the floor. I’ve used it in my house(a mobile) and like it very much. It’s easy to install, the price is good, and like most vinyl it’s pretty bulletproof. Comes in planks or tiles with good patterns. The only surface prep you’ll need is to fill any cracks or holes, vacuum before each piece goes down to make sure there’s nothing under it.