Ceramic Tile install in Trailer

4X4Dodger wrote:

westend wrote:
I've done it in three different RV's but not a whole floor's worth because of the weight. My current travel trailer has a tiled entry and a tiled enclosure around the heater. The fully pictured installation is in the restoration thread in my signature line.

If you go forward with this you'll want to make sure you have a stable subfloor. That eliminates most composite panel floors. If you have that, an additional layer of plywood or tile backer will need to be installed. Setting of the tiles would be done with a modified mortar containing polymers. Get the best you can find. Grouting is also done with a modified product, either latex or polymer. Beyond this, it is a standard installation.

Tip: I used a 6" "quarry tile" in my trailer. It is a double-fired tile that is about the most impervious to moisture and the most durable. Porcelain would be close to this. Common single-fired clay tiles should be avoided for this application but if the Wife falls in love with one, you could try it. You may have some breakage due to stresses with the clay products. Buy replacements at the time of purchase.

Thanks for the input. What you have written is pretty consistent with everything Iv'e read so far. There are several companies that specialize in installing tile in MH's and TT's and I beleive this is what they do.

By all that I can see and know of my floor it is 3/4 plywood.

I of course am concerned about the flexing that can occur but with my slides, adding an additional underlayment of plywood isnt feasible across the entire floor.

For what it costs I could do it as a test if I wanted too. But the work of re-doing it is what gives me pause.

As always, no guarantees on a project like this. I've found that a good installation with the materials mentioned is really very stable. If you need a flooring solution that will withstand most anything and be more attractive than vinyl, you could install a laminate product. The additional rubber/plastic underlayment makes it soft on the feet and tends to keep the footsies warm. That is what I used in the Hilton and don't regret it a bit. FWIW, I bought about the cheapest stuff I could find at Lumber Liquidators and it is holding up well.

Here is the underlayment previously mentioned:
http://www.schluter.com/6_1_ditra.aspx
Keep in mind that it, and the tile, raise the floor level.

westend wrote:
I've done it in three different RV's but not a whole floor's worth because of the weight. My current travel trailer has a tiled entry and a tiled enclosure around the heater. The fully pictured installation is in the restoration thread in my signature line.

If you go forward with this you'll want to make sure you have a stable subfloor. That eliminates most composite panel floors. If you have that, an additional layer of plywood or tile backer will need to be installed. Setting of the tiles would be done with a modified mortar containing polymers. Get the best you can find. Grouting is also done with a modified product, either latex or polymer. Beyond this, it is a standard installation.

Tip: I used a 6" "quarry tile" in my trailer. It is a double-fired tile that is about the most impervious to moisture and the most durable. Porcelain would be close to this. Common single-fired clay tiles should be avoided for this application but if the Wife falls in love with one, you could try it. You may have some breakage due to stresses with the clay products. Buy replacements at the time of purchase.

Thanks for the input. What you have written is pretty consistent with everything Iv'e read so far. There are several companies that specialize in installing tile in MH's and TT's and I beleive this is what they do.

By all that I can see and know of my floor it is 3/4 plywood.

I of course am concerned about the flexing that can occur but with my slides, adding an additional underlayment of plywood isnt feasible across the entire floor.

For what it costs I could do it as a test if I wanted too. But the work of re-doing it is what gives me pause.

Colo Native wrote:
the weight of the tile is a lot to add to a trailer, they put it in mostly diesel MH because they can haul more.

The weight issue is not a problem. A few square meters of tile only weighs a hundred and fifty lbs or so and this is not an issue as the weight is distributed all over the floor.

Also I have more than enough excess capacity in the trailer to accommodate what amounts to the weight of both my dogs.

I've done it in three different RV's but not a whole floor's worth because of the weight. My current travel trailer has a tiled entry and a tiled enclosure around the heater. The fully pictured installation is in the restoration thread in my signature line.

If you go forward with this you'll want to make sure you have a stable subfloor. That eliminates most composite panel floors. If you have that, an additional layer of plywood or tile backer will need to be installed. Setting of the tiles would be done with a modified mortar containing polymers. Get the best you can find. Grouting is also done with a modified product, either latex or polymer. Beyond this, it is a standard installation.

Tip: I used a 6" "quarry tile" in my trailer. It is a double-fired tile that is about the most impervious to moisture and the most durable. Porcelain would be close to this. Common single-fired clay tiles should be avoided for this application but if the Wife falls in love with one, you could try it. You may have some breakage due to stresses with the clay products. Buy replacements at the time of purchase.

I think weight would be a real issue.

Tom

I did a tile floor in a diesel pusher, very strong frame and not flexing. I put tile in the entrance also, was very small area and not very stiff. I glued the tile down and grouted it with a siliconized colored caulk, worked like a charm.

They make material which can be put under tile to stop cracking. Personally I would be on one of the DIY tile forums looking for info.
Jim

I watched them install tile in a motorhome at the Winnebago factory. Looked like they had 2 sheets of 3/4" plywood underneath to prevent flexing. Most likely too much weight for a trailer.

Ceramic tile does not like to be twisted, a trailer will twist going down the road, those big motor-homes go from park to park and have pretty strong frames, the tile needs to be glued and the minute the trailer flexes the tiles will crack, from your post I read that you do go on rough roads one trip and you will have a lot of cracked and chipped tiles, and they are hard to remove once glued down.

You are better off with floating laminate, that is what I did after removing the carpet on my RV.

navegator

the weight of the tile is a lot to add to a trailer, they put it in mostly diesel MH because they can haul more.