Tiler trying to tile directly on top of a 9mm OSB sheet, using standard adhesive. Is this a good/bad

Discussion in 'Builders' Talk' started by cownorris, Mar 6, 2023.

  1. cownorris

    cownorris New Member

    Recently started to renovate the flooring in the house - we had carpets and we want to get tiles. However as I read on the topic, I became a bit concerned about how the contractor is doing our flooring. The contractor is supplying all of the materials apart from the tiles themselves.

    The old carpets were on top of a timber base, where some planks were loose. The tiler fixed the old planks into place, and added a substrate on top - a 9mm OSB, this one in particular: https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Gen...nd-Board-3-OSB-3---9-x-1200-x-2400mm/p/102972 They then bought some standard adhesive (but haven't used yet) https://www.wickes.co.uk/Mapei-Fast-Set-Ceramic-Tile-Adhesive-Grey-20kg/p/234986, and are planning to use them directly on the OSB subfloor. However, earlier today I saw in the product documentation they were "unsuitable" for wooden substrates, and another "flexible" one shoudl be used to lay on top of wood.

    This concerned me a bit and so I checked through the rest of the set up. I found the majority of resources online are suggesting that laying tiles on OSB boards are a bad idea, and in any case the 9mm is too thin. Instead something like this should be laid instead to tile on top of: https://www.wickes.co.uk/NoMorePly-12mm-Fibre-Cement-Construction-Board-1200-x-800mm/p/225437

    This did not look good to me of course and I am planning on brining this up with them tomorrow. As I'm not very familiar with flooring, I'm not 100% sure of my conclusions and so would really appreciate a second opinion on this! How big of a problem is this?
     
  2. longboat

    longboat Screwfix Select

    You have every right to be concerned, I'd let them take away the materials they haven't used so far and pay for the materials + labour to date.
    Then tell them you're changed your mind, you now want carpets again.
    Don't let them back in.
    The OSB already laid won't be a problem, just go over the lot with 6mm ply, and find someone with a bit more of a clue about what they're doing to lay the tiles.
     
    gadget man likes this.
  3. AnotherTopJob

    AnotherTopJob Screwfix Select

    It's best not to use any type of wood under tiles, cement based boards are a better alternative.
     

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