Read our reviews on Atlanta tile installers
Dry floors. Dry floors are floors that remain dry most of the time, such as those found in a kitchen or foyer. Cracking is the biggest problem with tiled dry floors. Tile is generally very brittle compared to other building materials, such as wood, and fractures instead of flexing when subjected to load. It should only be attached to a solid, nonflexing subfloor. Since a standard wood subfloor flexes slightly when walked upon, it should be reinforced prior to tile installation. One common reinforcing method involves attaching an additional sheet of plywood to the existing subfloor with special adhesives and screws.
Wet floors. Wet floors, such as those found in a bathroom, exhibit similar cracking problems, but are also routinely exposed to small amounts of water. The Tile Council of America's handbook specifies a variety of acceptable wet floor installation methods, including the historical method of installing tiles over a cement mortar and metal lath. First, the installer nails a metal lath or mesh directly to the subfloor. Then, the cement, or "bed" in industry lingo, is poured directly onto the wood subfloor and lath. The mud bed follows and fills any irregularities in the subfloor. Once in place, the mud bed is allowed to set, and then the tiles are attached directly to it. The mud bed provides support for the tiles to prevent cracking, and it also protects the wood subfloor from water.
