Detra vs. mesh vs. ply

I'm about to tile my kitchen floor, but have never done any tiling before. I have some friends who are knowledgable, but are giving me conflicting info. One says I can tile directly over the half inch plywood (screwed to the original 7/8 floor boards). Another is telling me to use mesh and mortar, and another says detra. I'd happily go with the detra, but it's friggin expensive ($6 per sq. foot). If detra's really the best (or only) way to go, I'll suck it up and pay, but if the other ways are just as good, I'd prefer to go with one

I don't know who to believe.

(I'm using 12 x 12 tiles, btw)

Use 1/4 inch hardibacker

WHAT? $6.00 per sq. ft. NO WAY! Maybe a lineal ft.? Yes that makes sense. That would be about $1.83 a sq. ft.

Ditra is a great way to go. I'm not sure I'd pay (1.83) if I had to install it myself though. Of course a fair price installed would be close to $3.00.

Jaz

Look at WonderBoard, Hardi and PermaBase also.

Ditra or 1/4" cement board AFTER putting down a layer of 1/2" plywood. You can't go directly over dimensional lumber (the 7/8" boards)