small bathroom remodel

[ricky57]

Beginning my bathroom remodel. I plan on installing new cast iron tub and ceramic tile in tub inclosure. Either ceramic tile or sheet vinyl on the floor. Question: Does the tub always sit on the plywood subfloor or is it better if the finished floor is installed first and then the tub on top?

[river-wear]

I've only seen tubs installed over the plywood subfloor. Makes it much easier if you want to change out your finished floor someday.

Welcome to the forum!

[Saldibs]

Never seen a tub installed on top of a finished floor, unless of coarse its a claw foot Tub.

[Soup2Nuts]

Hi Ricky. The tub should go on the subfloor because 99.9999% of the time the tub will have to be shimmed on one side or the other to get it level. Then the finished floor is run to the tub and hides the gap created by the shim. Also, it's usually not recommended to maneuver a cast iron tub around on a newly finished surface.

Good luck with your project.

[ricky57]

I plan to install a ceramic tile floor in my bathroom remodel. I'm starting with a plywood subfloor. Is ditra vs. cement board merely a personal preference or is one clearly a better method?

[Saldibs]

Is ditra vs. cement board merely a personal preference or is one clearly a better method

You will find many here that will tell you that Ditra is much better, including me.

[TileArt1]

What Sal said.

[ricky57]

I know nothing about Red Guard except what I read on their package at HD. Is this a product that could be applied over cement board in a tub enclosure to act as a vapor barrier instead of using 6 mil poly?

[ddmoit]

Yes.

[ricky57]

thanks for your opinions but, you haven't offered any reasons.

[JTG]

Ditra is easier to carry, cut, and install.
Good Luck
JTG

[ricky57]

Dan, will Red Guard lessen (or interfer with) the bond between ceramic tile and cement board if thin set or mastic is used? Would you use Red Guard on top of the cement board or poly behind it?

[JTG]

Ricky
Please keep all of your posts on one thread. Makes it easier for us to follow along on you project.
JTG

[TileArt1]

Ricky,
Both provide decoupling action to a certain extent. This is basically the idea that if your plywood floor moves a bit (which it will), the tile above the membrane will not. Cement board does this by basically floating above the floor and becomes a solid part of the tile itself, in a manner of speaking.
Ditra, on the other hand, is itself a two part system with the bottom (webbing) being firmly attached to the plywood subfloor and the top (waffle) becomes part of the tile. The two move independently of one another with movement of the plywood subfloor.
Does that make sense? Someone who has been to the school can elaborate more definitely, I'm sure.
Bonus: Ditra is a lot easier to haul up seven flights of stairs.

[cx]

Welcome, Ricky.

I've combined all your threads here. As Jerry (JTG) said, please don't start a new thread with each question, but keep all your project on this thread so's folks who wanna help can see the history of what you're doing. Bookmark it with your Favorites so you can always locate it again.