floor materials to use in bath remodel

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Name: Pjay Posted: Tue, Aug 5, 2008 at 1:59 pm MST
Topic
2nd floor Bathroom remodel and extreme tight budget has me tackling this project myself, but I think I have information overload and need some help about what materials to use. Existing floor is ceramic 4”x4” and showing signs of hairline cracks across their face and in grout joints (mostly within 4”-6” of side of tub. Tub sits directly on subfloor ½” plywood. Tile & mortar bed butts up to side of tub and sits on bed of cement mortar ~1-3/8”thick. Joist are 16”oc. The subfloor is fastened to joists with nails (looks like #8 common nails) and the grain is with joist (opposed to being perpendicular). Tile area is rectangular ~21-22 sqft. (4.25’x 5’). The floor seems to slope approx. 1/4”-3/8” from one wall to the opposite wall, the length of the tub. OK, I removed the steel tub and will be replacing with Cast Iron. I completely removed the tile floor & mortar bed, down to the ½” subfloor. I plan to lay another layer of plywood across the entire bathroom floor (Including under the tub and vanity). But I don’t know what to do about the sloping issue under the tub and I do not feel skilled enough to “float” a mortar bed. I do not wish to change the toilet flange height either (again, I think I only have 1-3/8” from subfloor to finished top surface where toilet sits). That’s where I am. Don’t know what the best plywood underlayment thicknesses to use and also which backerboard thickness, or kind of backerboard (Hardieboard, Durock, etc.) should I use. And does Ceramic tile come in a standard thickness? Thank for any advise.

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