Seven Tiling Designs to Go to for the Tile’s Underlayment

If you are interested in tiling your bathroom in the best possible way, then you can consider the underlayment options provided by Platinum Tiling in this blog, the best Bathroom Tilers in Sydney. We understand that the underlayment is a crucial component to ensure your tile’s durability and longevity. A good underlayment provides a stable surface for your tiles, which further prevents the following events:

• Preventing Cracks
• Preventing Water Damage
• Preventing Issues from Leakage

Choosing a bathroom tile underlayment is a much deep topic when we are on top of it, or, underneath it.

Top Seven Underlayment Options for Bathroom Tiling in Sydney

For making such comparisons, we have arranged the seven most popular options well-suited for the unique climate as well as the construction requirements in the buzzing city of Sydney. We advise you to choose the right underlayment from the provided option to ensure that your tiles look stunning and can withstand the test of time.

Cement Board

Cement Board is the most reliable choice for bathroom tiling because it holds high moisture resistance and stability.  It is an excellent option for high humidity areas with frequent exposure to water like shower walls and bathroom floors. You can easily install a cement board by following the manufacturer’s guidelines, such as:

• Proper Sealing Treatment
• Proper Joint Treatment

Plywood

Another cost-effective and readily available underlayment option is plywood, which is often used for bathroom renovation purposes. Many existing subfloors are plywood or wood-based. We consider choosing exterior-grade plywood crucial if you want such a design for wet areas. The plywood needs to be adequately sealed with any of the following to prevent any kind of moisture infiltration:

• Waterproofing Material
• Primer

Many people don’t think of plywood as the best choice for excessive moisture-prone areas like the floor tiling in showers and bathrooms.

Fiber Cement Underlayment

This cement underlayment offers multiple benefits of cement and fiberglass application, such as the following:

• Excellent Moisture Resistance
• Stability against Mold and Mildew
• Protection against Mold and Mildew

The fiber cement underlayment option is highly durable. It can withstand heavy loads, such as bathroom floors, and offers the additional advantage of thermal insulation properties. However, one must follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper installation/sealing to ensure optimal application.

Uncoupling Membrane

Another fascinating option is of uncoupling membrane. If you have a bathroom with concrete subfloors or movement-prone areas, an uncoupling membrane can help you absorb stress and movement which can further prevent cracks in the tile installation.

These membranes provide excellent waterproofing material on both floors and walls. Such membrane option’s installation process requires careful attention to detail for the application procedure. The cases of sensitivity for such an option are the following:

• Embedding the membrane in thin-set mortar
• Ensuring proper seam overlaps

Rubber Underlayment

Known for its soundproofing properties, rubber underlayment is an ideal option for multi-story buildings where noise reduction is of utmost priority. This underlayment option provides moisture protection along with additionally cushioning the underfoot.

You can find the rubber underlayment in various thicknesses, from which you can choose the level of comfort and sound absorption for your bathroom. This underlayment option is specifically designed for wet areas to meet the building code requirements.

Schluter DITRA

One of the widely recognized and trusted underlayment systems, Schluter DITRA is a type of underlayment that offers uncoupling as well as waterproofing benefits to protect your tile installation from any further cracks and water damage. It is a polyethylene membrane with square-shaped cavities for proper tile bonding to reduce stress. It is a compatible underlayment option with a variety of easy-to-install subfloors. However, one must follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the recommended tile materials for optimal bathroom tile application.

Waterproof Membrane

If you want to go for the maximum waterproofing option in your bathroom, you can go for the liquid/sheet waterproofing membrane, as it creates a robust barrier against moisture, and prevents water from seeping into the substrate.