Can I tile directly over finished wood flooring that is in good condition?
– Melanie
Hi Melanie,
You shouldn’t tile directly over hardwood flooring, since it can expand, contract, and cup due to seasonal changes in temperature and humidity.
If the hardwood flooring is composed of narrow boards with a very smooth, flat surface, you could leave the flooring in place and screw cement backer board down on top of it before applying the tile.
The best approach would be to remove the wood flooring and screw down a layer of 5/8” or thicker plywood followed by a layer of 1/2″ cement backer board before laying the tile.
Good luck with your project,
